Cruise tourism gains new momentum
Cruise tourism in Hai Phong is gaining strong momentum through expanded connectivity between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, gradually positioning Cat Ba as an international island and marine tourism hub.
Expanding tourism space
On weekends, Beo Pier, Gia Luan, and passenger terminals across Lan Ha Bay are bustling with tourist boats arriving and departing. Visitors from Europe, South Korea, Australia, and other countries leisurely watch the sunrise over hundreds of limestone islands from overnight cruise vessels, kayak through caves, or enjoy dinner surrounded by the bay's spectacular seascape.
A key difference this summer is that cruise tourism is no longer confined to Lan Ha Bay. The waterway connecting Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, officially launched in late April this year, has opened up an entirely new development space for Hai Phong's tourism. Four itineraries linking the two heritage areas have quickly become popular products among international tour operators.
According to the Cat Hai Special Zone People's Committee, the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago are currently served by 166 tourist vessels, including 87 sightseeing boats and 79 overnight cruise vessels offering more than 1,600 rooms, forming the largest cruise fleet in the area's history.
The expansion of this modern fleet has contributed significantly to local tourism growth. During the first seven months of 2026, Cat Hai welcomed an estimated 3.8 million visitors, up more than 15% compared with the same period in 2025. Of these, nearly 800,000 were cruise tourists, generating more than VND 178 billion in revenue, an increase of 18% year on year.
Most recently, data from Coc Coc showed that Cat Ba ranked among Vietnam's most searched summer destinations in 2026, alongside Ha Long Bay, Phu Quoc, Da Lat, and Nha Trang. The figures reflect the growing appeal of Hai Phong's marine tourism.
French visitor Marie Dubois said that spending a night aboard a cruise in Lan Ha Bay and spotting a Cat Ba langur near Cua Dong was the most memorable experience of her trip to Vietnam.
Toward an iconic tourism product
The cruise industry has improved not only in fleet size but also in service quality. While most vessels previously offered only day trips, many companies have now invested in high-end cruise ships featuring luxury accommodations, restaurants, bars, spas, sun decks, live performances, onboard dinner services, kayaking, coral diving, and sunrise yoga.
Notably, "green tourism" is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage for many operators. Cruise companies are reducing the use of single-use plastics, improving waste sorting, using environmentally friendly materials, and strengthening measures to protect the Lan Ha Bay ecosystem. At the same time, Cat Hai Special Zone authorities have stepped up efforts to improve the quality of cruise tourism products by accelerating the implementation of the Green Tourism Criteria, organizing professional training courses for hundreds of cruise employees, and strengthening inspections of services and overnight cruise operations.
According to Tran Van Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the tourism sector will continue promoting the city and the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage on digital platforms and in key international markets. At the same time, it will further develop high-quality tourism products to achieve the target of welcoming 16.1 million visitors in 2026.
Cruise tourism has therefore become more than just a new leisure product. It is emerging as a symbol of Hai Phong's transition from extensive to intensive tourism development. As every journey through Lan Ha Bay delivers greater value to both visitors and local communities, Hai Phong's marine tourism will be better positioned to achieve its goal of becoming a world-class destination in the years ahead.
NGUYEN DUONG