Hanoi (VNA) - The launch of a tourism route connecting Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay marks more than an administrative milestone. It signals a shift from managing heritage sites within administrative boundaries to a more integrated approach to destination governance.
A long-standing bottleneck within Vietnam's first inter-provincial UNESCO World Heritage site – Ha Long Bay–Cat Ba Archipelago – has been removed as Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city officially launched a cross-boundary passenger transport service linking the two bays.
Tickets for the new routes went on sale on April 4 at Tuan Chau Passenger Port and Ha Long International Cruise Port.
For years, although the two bays belong to the same Gulf of Tonkin ecosystem, they were managed separately, preventing visitors from enjoying a seamless travel experience and limiting the full tourism potential of the shared heritage.
The new coordination mechanism establishes a unified framework for licensing, regulating and supervising cruise operations between the two bays, enabling tourism businesses to optimise itineraries, develop new products and improve services.
The integrated routes also create a continuous heritage corridor, linking Ha Long Bay's spectacular limestone caves and geological formations with Lan Ha Bay's beaches, Cat Ba's forests and traditional floating fishing villages.
Four new itineraries now allow visitors to explore two or even three bays on a single journey. Instead of the traditional two-day-one-night cruises, tourists can choose more flexible two- or three-day itineraries featuring kayaking, cave exploration, beach activities and visits to local fishing communities.
Longer stays are expected to increase visitor spending, particularly among high-end travellers, a key target market for Vietnam's tourism industry.
Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Quang Ninh People's Committee, said the joint regulations governing cruise operations between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay marked a new stage in tourism cooperation between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong and would provide fresh momentum for the 2026 summer tourism season.
She said the new mechanism would unlock significant tourism potential for both localities by attracting more visitors and enhancing the value of the shared heritage.
To ensure effective implementation, the Ha Long–Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board has been instructed to work with cruise operators to standardise operating procedures and ensure vessels comply with technical safety and environmental regulations. Border guards, inland waterway police and port authorities have also been tasked with facilitating vessel operations while maintaining security, enforcing regulations and ensuring a safe, sustainable business environment.
According to the Ha Long–Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, the new mechanism is expected to attract an additional 5,000–6,000 domestic and international visitors each day, with more than 50 overnight cruise vessels travelling between Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay daily.
More importantly, the initiative represents a fundamental shift in heritage management. Rather than treating the two bays as separate destinations divided by administrative boundaries, it creates a unified tourism space where their natural and cultural assets complement one another, offering visitors a richer and more coherent experience while establishing a new model for integrated destination governance in Vietnam./.
