Quang Ninh Targets 100,000 Cruise Passengers in 2026

Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province expects about 100,000 cruise passengers across roughly 70 international ship calls in 2026, as it expands overseas promotion and develops shore excursions. Cruise tourism is part of the province’s effort to attract more than 5 million international visitors during the year.

Through the first 10 months, Quang Ninh received more than 50 international cruise calls carrying over 60,000 passengers. Some arrivals now bring 2,000 to 3,000 visitors, while an August call by Adora Magic City brought nearly 4,500 Chinese tourists.

Larger ships and overseas promotion

Viking Orion and Azamara Pursuit arrived on November 2 with a combined total of nearly 1,600 passengers from markets including Europe, the United States and Australia. They berthed at Ha Long International Cruise Port, which can process up to 10,000 passengers a day when two large ships visit simultaneously.

The call included an overnight in port. Over the two days, passengers visited Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu, Yen Duc village and cultural attractions in Ha Long’s central Bai Chay area.

The Adora Magic City visit followed promotional work and cooperation between the province and Adora Cruises. It brought large-scale cruise traffic back to Ha Long after a gap of several years and formed part of Quang Ninh’s efforts to bring in more Chinese visitors by sea.

Beyond China, the province is promoting itself in India, Australia, Russia, other Commonwealth of Independent States countries and Southeast Asia. It is also working with international travel businesses to get Quang Ninh onto cruise itineraries.

Ly Dac Nam, director of Khang Huy Holiday Co., Ltd., said the province was using the advantages of its dedicated international cruise port to develop its cruise business. Quang Ninh also wants large vessels carrying 5,000 to 6,000 passengers to return.

Shore excursions for short stays

Local travel businesses are assembling packages that combine transport, attractions, meals, shopping and cultural activities within passengers’ limited time ashore. In Bai Chay, one option links a double-decker sightseeing bus tour with a boat excursion on Ha Long Bay.

“The company continues to add local cultural experiences, cuisine, and traditional folk singing of fishermen in Ha Long Bay to its tour itineraries,” said Ha Thi Thuy, business director of Vietnam Sightseeing Joint Stock Company’s Quang Ninh branch.

Thuy said the company was widening its distribution channels and working with domestic and international travel partners to reach additional visitor markets.

Yen Duc’s rural tourism activities are drawing cruise passengers, particularly from Europe and the United States. Excursions include rice milling and pounding, fishing with traditional traps, water-puppet performances, visits to old houses and opportunities to learn about life in the Northern Delta. American Viking Orion passenger David Heiner said trying rice processing for the first time gave him a greater appreciation of Vietnamese farmers’ work, while residents’ friendliness left a strong impression.

Tour operators are also connecting the village with nearby cultural sites, including Tran Dynasty relics and Yen Tu, to broaden the available itineraries.

More than 20 international cruise calls are registered for the remainder of the year, including visits by Celebrity Millennium, Diamond Princess, Westerdam, Celebrity Solstice and Silver Muse. Those calls are expected to bring between 600 and 3,000 passengers each.

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