The number of foreign cruise ships registered to visit Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh next year has reached pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. According to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, as of December 15, a total of 51 international cruise ships had registered to bring tourists to Halong Bay in 2024, compared to just two dozen in 2023.
The list includes well-known cruise ships such as Viking Orion, Silver Muse, Celebrity Solstice, Silver Whisper, Le Lapouser, Seven Seas Explorer, and the World. The Chinese cruise ship Zhao Shang Yi Dun, which arrived in Halong in November, is scheduled to return at least eight times in 2024. This demonstrates positive signs for the recovery of Chinese tours to Vietnam after the pandemic. Halong is expected to welcome up to six cruise ships in the early days of 2024.
Halong Bay is considered a convenient destination for foreign shipping companies as it is situated on a crucial maritime traffic route in Asia. It is also the nearest point of access to other Northern Asian markets such as Taiwan (China), South Korea, and Japan.
Tourists on cruise ships to Ha Long often combine their visit with other destinations in the north, such as Hanoi and Ninh Binh, for 1-2 days. However, to attract more tourists, Ha Long needs to diversify its tourism products, particularly in the areas of culture and history, as suggested by representatives from travel firms. In addition to tours to households in Van Don Island, similar tours have also been launched in Bang Ca Commune in Ha Long City.
Source: vietnamnet