Ha Long Bay captivates international tourists

Renowned for its breathtaking, majestic, and uniquely rare natural beauty, paired with a fresh and pristine marine environment, Ha Long Bay has established itself as a premier destination, especially among international visitors who seek relaxation, exploration, and adventure in Ha Long and Quang Ninh.

Over the years, the number of international travelers visiting this UNESCO World heritage site and natural wonder has steadily increased, fueling growth in Quang Ninh’s tourism sector.

A compelling testament to Ha Long Bay’s allure is its performance in the first quarter of this year, welcoming approximately 700,000 visitors, of whom 90% were international tourists. Ticket revenues totaled nearly VND 240 billion, marking a 6% year-on-year increase and achieving 24.8% of the province’s annual revenue target.

During the April 30th - May 1st holiday, Ha Long Bay continued to be a magnet for tourists. Over the five-day break, the bay attracted nearly 98,400 visitors, including around 33,000 international guests.

The bay’s enduring appeal stems from the proactive efforts of local authorities, tourism departments, and service providers who have continuously developed new tourism products and enhanced visitor experiences. Special emphasis has been placed on attracting high-end travelers and international tourists with strong spending power.

This year, to prepare for the peak sea and island tourism season, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has crafted comprehensive plans and readied essential conditions to launch and implement ticketing for three new sightseeing routes starting May 1st, 2025, under Resolution No. 51/2025/NQ-HDND dated February 26th, 2025, issued by the Provincial People’s Council. The new routes include: Ha Long Bay Route 6 from the port to Hon Chan Voi - Vung Ba Cua - Tung Lam Island - Hon Cap Bai (ending near Gia Luan, Lan Ha Bay, Hai Phong), or vice versa; Ha Long Bay Route 7: an integrated route combining sightseeing routes 1, 2, 3, and 4; Ha Long Bay Route 8: from Tuan Chau International Passenger Port - Ha Long International Passenger Port - South Cau Trang area.

The Ha Long Bay Management Board is advancing a project to restore the Cua Van Floating Cultural Center and the traditional fishing villages of Cua Van and Vung Vieng, laying the foundation for developing unique cultural tourism products. Notably, preparations are underway to welcome over 200 European billionaires who will attend the “Art for Climate - Ha Long Bay 2025” event in June 2025.

With a well-developed, modern, and diverse transportation infrastructure, Quang Ninh has positioned itself as a key destination for international cruise lines. Since the start of 2025, the province has welcomed dozens of international cruise ships from Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Northeast Asia, bringing tens of thousands of international visitors to explore Ha Long - Quang Ninh.

This April 30th holiday, the Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed a chartered cruise carrying 1,700 Japanese tourists aboard the Pacific World, operated by Peace Boat (Japan). This marked the first time Quang Ninh had received a charter cruise directly from Japan to Ha Long, opening promising opportunities to expand cruise routes connecting Japanese ports with Quang Ninh. It signaled a positive development from one of the province’s key, high-spending international markets. During their stay in Ha Long, the group visited several attractions to experience local culture and cuisine, engage in cultural exchanges, and attend exhibitions and art showcases.

In 2025, Quang Ninh expects to host around 70 cruise ships, welcoming nearly 90,000 international cruise passengers. The province’s tourism sector is actively promoting and expanding partnerships with international travel agencies, tourism businesses, and cruise lines to attract more visitors to Ha Long - Quang Ninh. Alongside the luxury cruise ships that have previously docked in Ha Long such as the Celebrity Solstice, Mein Schiff 6, Westerdam, Seabourn Encore, and Silver Whisper, the province anticipates welcoming new cruise lines, including Brilliant Lady, Luminara, and Pacific World.

Quang Ninh has set an ambitious goal of attracting 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million international tourists.