Travel

Quang Ninh welcomes first ship on Beihai – Ha Long route in cruise tourism season

It is expected that during the 2025–2026 cruise season from October 2025 to April 2026, there will be nine trips on the Beihai – Ha Long route bringing visitors to Quang Ninh.

Blue Dream Melody arrives at Ha Long International Cruise Port on November 14. (Photo: VNA)
Blue Dream Melody arrives at Ha Long International Cruise Port on November 14. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Ninh (VNA) – The Ha Long International Cruise Port on November 14 welcomed China’s luxury cruise ship Blue Dream Melody, carrying more than 1,100 tourists to the northern province of Quang Ninh.

This is the first liner of the 2025 cruise tourism season on the Beihai (China) – Ha Long (Vietnam) sea route. Passengers plan to enjoy sightseeing on Ha Long Bay, as well as Ha Long – Bai Chay city tours.

It is expected that during the 2025–2026 cruise season from October 2025 to April 2026, there will be nine trips on the Beihai – Ha Long route bringing visitors to Quang Ninh.

On November 13, the port welcomed the Malta-flagged Celebrity, carrying 2,800 European and American visitors to Quang Ninh province.

From the beginning of this year to the end of October, the Ha Long International Cruise Port handled 44 international ship arrivals, with a total of 56,647 visitors, up 9% year-on-year. Tourists mainly come from Europe, the US, and China, indicating a strong recovery in the luxury cruise tourism segment.

quang-ninh-welcomes-first-ship-on-beihai-ha-long-route.jpg
Quang Ninh officials welcome the crew and passengers of Blue Dream Melody on November 14. (Photo: VNA)

The continuous arrival of international cruise ships at the port clearly demonstrates the resurgence of international tourists coming to Vietnam by sea. Ha Long Bay, a heritage and wonder destination, is making a strong comeback on the regional tourism map, reaffirming its position as a gateway connecting the world with Vietnam’s heritage.

The port expects to welcome 10 international cruise ships in November, raising this year's total number to 23.

In the remaining two months of 2025, Quang Ninh aims to attract approximately 2.77 million visitors, and earn a total tourism revenue of nearly 8.64 trillion VND (328 million USD), in order to achieve the annual targets of 21.2 million visitors and 58 trillion VND in revenue./.

VNA
#Blue Dream Melody #Ha Long International Cruise Port #Beihai – Ha Long sea route #Quang Ninh #cruise tourism Quang Ninh
Follow VietnamPlus

International integration

Post-pandemic recovery

Related News

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang speaks at the cultural event. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Cultural event held in Quang Ninh to strengthen Vietnam – EU connection

The event aimed to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between Quang Ninh province, other Vietnamese localities, the EU Delegation, and European embassies in Hanoi, contributing to the comprehensive partnership and cooperation that is moving towards a higher level of cooperation.

Cruise ship Piano Land carrying about 1,000 tourists from China docks at Ha Long International Cruise Port. (Photo: VNA)

Chinese tourists stream back to Quang Ninh province

Large-scale events like such as a MICE tour of nearly 1,000 Chinese visitors traveling by land, the Beihai–Ha Long cruise routes, and the charter flights between Shenzhen (China) and Van Don (Vietnam) have been a robust signal to the local tourism, which is striving to welcome 1.25 million international arrivals in Quarter 4 to complete its yearly target of 21.2 million visitors, including 4.09 million foreigners.

Quang Ninh attracts international cruise ships to visit Ha Long Bay. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Ninh accelerates tourism stimulus campaign

Quang Ninh welcomed 17.11 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025, up 9% year-on-year, with total tourism revenue reaching 44.25 trillion VND (1.68 billion USD), a 20% increase.

See more

A view of the talkshow within the conference in Hue on December 12 to review and discuss strategic orientations for the 2023-2025 roadmap to reduce plastic waste in the local tourism sector. (Photo: VNA)

Hue accelerates shift toward green, low-plastic tourism models

Over the past three years, Hue tourism authorities have strengthened communication and advocacy for plastic waste reduction through 10 training sessions with 690 participants, “Coffee Talk” events, professional Zalo groups, and direct engagement with businesses. As a result, 102 enterprises and business households have signed commitments to reduce plastics, and 12 hotels have pioneered plastic-reduction practices.

The inaugural flight from New Delhi lands at Phu Quoc International Airport (Photo: Sun Group)

Phu Quoc welcomes new direct flights from India

Phu Quoc International Airport welcomed over 180 Indian travellers on a new direct flight from New Delhi on December 10, marking the start of a month-long flight series that will link the two destinations and bring a fresh wave of visitors to Vietnam’s pristine island.

Visitors pose for a photo at Ben Thanh Market in HCM City (Photo: VNA)

HCM City speeds up digital tourism to draw more travellers

Following its goal of building a friendly destination, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is rolling out a range of local stimulus programmes, with a focus on bringing the city’s signature attractions closer to domestic and international visitors through digital platforms.

Foreign visitors are touched to receive meaningful gifts from their Vietnamese friends (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnam welcomes more than 19 million international visitors in 11 months

A UN Tourism report highlighted Vietnam’s performance as one of the most notable recoveries worldwide. While tourism across the Asia–Pacific has rebounded to only around 90% of pre-COVID levels, Vietnam is among a select group of destinations, alongside Japan, recording rapid and sustained growth, it said.

Foreign visitors explore Hanoi’s old quarters by cyclo, admiring the city’s timeless beauty. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam draws French holidaymakers during Christmas, New Year

Patrice Caradec, President of the Syndicate of French Tour-Operators (SETO), said the country has not attracted as many French tourists since COVID-19. As Vietnam reopened later than several Asian destinations, pent-up demand has surged with the full recovery of tourism. The “S-shaped” nation has now returned to pre-pandemic levels of French arrivals.

Tourists enjoy leisure activities around the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi posts sharp rise in visitors, revenue

In December, the Hanoi tourism sector will focus on completing a project to reform the management, conservation and promotion of the Huong Son (Perfume Pagoda) Special National Relic Site; continue surveys on community-based, agricultural and night-time tourism offerings; and host the 2025 Hanoi Craft Village and Craft Street Cuisine and Tourism Festival. Preparations are also under way for participation in the National Green Tourism Forum in Lam Dong.

In November alone, the capital city receives 2.5 million visitors, an increase of 14.7% year-on-year (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

Hanoi attracts nearly 31 million visitors in January-November

The city received 2.5 million visitors in November alone, up 14.7% from the same period in 2024. Of these, foreign tourist arrivals reached 851,100, rising 25%, while domestic tourists totalled 1.65 million, up 10%. Tourism revenue in November was estimated at 11.36 trillion VND, up 18.4%.