(VOVWORLD) - Quang Ninh’s tourism sector has made a strong start to 2026. Several international cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers docked there to explore UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay in the early days of the new year.
 Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed over 2,300 international tourists on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Photo: Vu Mien/VOV-Northeast) |
Last week, the Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed two luxury superyachts — Seabourn Encore and Piano Land — carrying nearly 2,400 international visitors. This was the beginning of a series of five cruise ship arrivals to the heritage region.
The Seabourn Encore brought 570 European passengers, while the Piano Land carried 1,790 visitors, mainly from Hong Kong (China). Following a welcome ceremony, the visitors toured Ha Long Bay and took city tours to explore local culture, cuisine, and daily life.
 (Photo: VOV) |
Ye Zhuo, a visitor from China, shared that she had first visited Ha Long Bay ten years ago but had not had enough time to see all its attractions. Seeing the destination included in this year’s itinerary inspired her to return with her family during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Meanwhile, Pau Overstreet from the United States expressed his surprise at the warm reception and said he was particularly impressed by Viet Nam’s traditional Tet customs. For him, the experience marked a wonderful beginning to his heritage bay exploration.
Following Seabourn Encore and Piano Land, Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed cruise ships Le Jacques Cartier, Adora Mediterranea, and Silver Nova.
Bui Quang Tuan, Deputy General Director of the Port, said: "We welcome visitors with folk art performances. In the first quarter of 2026, we’ve worked closely with cruise operators and travel agencies worldwide to promote Quang Ninh’s tourism image. Infrastructure and facilities have been upgraded, services improved, and safety standards strengthened to ensure visitors enjoy their experience of this heritage region."
This year, Quang Ninh hopes to welcome 22 million visitors, including 5.2 million foreign tourists. The Ha Long International Cruise Port is expected to receive 88 cruise calls bringing approximately 150,000 passengers from the US, Germany, the UK, Canada, China, and other key markets.