Gửi bình luận
Cruise tourism in Cat Ba island is growing strongly thanks to larger experience spaces and the active participation of businesses, becoming a flagship product of Hai Phong’s maritime tourism.
Continuing growth momentum
US tourist Joseph Michael Scally said that on his second overnight visit to Lan Ha Bay, he was surprised to see cruise facilities significantly upgraded compared with two years ago.
The fee of around 1,000 USD is considered reasonable for a five-day cruise exploring the stunning scenery of one of the world’s most beautiful bays on a five-star vessel.
According to Cat Hai special zone, in the first 10 months of 2025, the total number of visitors taking tours and overnight stays on the bays of the Cat Ba archipelago exceeded 900,000. Of these, 40% stayed overnight on three- to six-star cruises. Revenue from sightseeing and overnight services on the bays also reached more than 210 billion VND, up over 10% from the same period in 2024.
This result comes from efforts to leverage the advantages of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site, aiming to develop cruise tourism into a key product of Hai Phong’s maritime tourism.
In early 2025, businesses under the Lan Ha Cruise Tourism Association invested in upgrading cruise facilities and improving workforce quality. Many Hai Phong enterprises also boldly built new modern and luxurious cruise ships to meet the growing demand for exploration and experience on the bays of the Cat Ba archipelago.
To date, 14 additional sightseeing and overnight vessels have been launched, bringing the total number of operating boats on the bays to 152.
In addition, Quang Ninh province has added route VHL6 to the Ha Long Bay sightseeing system, connecting Ha Long – Lan Ha for the summer 2025 season, creating favorable conditions for Hai Phong cruise companies to tap into the abundant visitor flow from Ha Long Bay.
LuxGroup, a pioneer in the high-end cruise segment, has successfully expanded its “Two bays – One journey” product line connecting Ha Long and Lan Ha bays since summer 2025, attracting large numbers of tourists.
Enhancing experiences and inter-regional connectivity
Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province held a working session in October on tourism cooperation and passenger transport activities between Lan Ha Bay (Hai Phong) and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh).
The two localities discussed a draft regulation on coordination in managing inland waterway passenger and tourist transport, ensuring feasibility and compliance with current laws, as well as suitability with the characteristics of water-based tourism activities in the Lan Ha – Ha Long area.
Mai Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Hai Phong Tourism Association, said that strengthening tourism linkages between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong in general, and between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay in particular, not only expands tourism space but also helps extend visitor stays, develop two-way premium service chains and create incentives for cruise businesses to innovate their products.
This forms a foundation for both localities to promote tourism development, create unique and distinctive linked tourism products, effectively tap tourism potential and enhance the international profile of Vietnam’s heritage bays.
NGUYEN CUONG
