Ha Long cruises' progress amid the wave of "luxury with local identity"

Ha Long is changing strongly with high-end cruise ships, in line with world trends. This is a strategic step to help Quang Ninh improve high-quality tourism and attract high-spending customers.

As the global cruise industry moves into the era of “local luxury”, Ha Long Bay is also changing. With the emergence of pioneering brands, heritage exploration cruises are not only about 5-star amenities, but also about touching local emotions and culture, and are part of the high-quality tourism economic strategy of Quang Ninh province.

New trends shaping the world cruise industry

According to CLIA Global Cruise Trends 2025, the cruise industry is entering a new era, where each cruise is no longer just a “trip” but a “personalized emotional experience”, imbued with local culture and oriented towards sustainable development. The concept of luxury does not lie in pure extravagance, but in the art of creating moments where people, nature and culture become one.

From the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia, the trend of “local luxury” is reshaping the global cruise industry. Travelers want to understand the land they are visiting through its food, music , culture and people.

In Vietnam, Ha Long Bay - a world natural heritage, is an iconic destination. In the wave of high-end tourism development, a number of Vietnamese brands are making their mark by bringing Vietnamese identity to the deck. Among them, Paradise Vietnam stands out as a pioneering symbol: the brand has just been honored as Leading Luxury Ocean Cruise Line 2025 at the Navigator Most-Wanted Awards, and is also the only Vietnamese cruise ship nominated for " World's Best Small Cruise Ship " at the World Cruise Awards 2025 - affirming the position of Vietnamese cruise ships on the regional map.

Nearly two decades of journey to raise the standard of resort living on the bay

Since 2008, Paradise Vietnam has pioneered the luxury overnight cruise model to Ha Long Bay. The birth of the traditional wooden cruise ship Paradise Sails, to the generation of high-end iron cruise ships such as Paradise Elegance and Paradise Grand has clearly reflected the progress of Vietnamese tourism, shifting the standard from "good service" to "creating a classy experience".

Luxurious Paradise Grand restaurant space

Overnight cruises such as Paradise Elegance (31 cabins) (Ha Long Bay) and Paradise Grand (39 cabins) (Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba) both offer high-class resort standards, with neoclassical design, rooms with private balconies with modern amenities and full sea views. Regarding cuisine, guests are served a diverse European and Asian buffet and a luxurious set menu dinner with highlights such as baked lobster and Australian beef tenderloin. The entertainment experience is elevated with a sundeck on the upper deck and live music with an international band in the lounge.

In 2023, the brand continues to introduce Paradise Delight , a restaurant and sightseeing cruise. This cruise impresses with a sumptuous buffet of more than 100 international delicacies and offers two unique cruise itineraries. The 4-hour evening cruise takes visitors to enjoy the night scenery of Ha Long with Bai Chay Bridge, Bai Tho Mountain and watch the fireworks of Quang Ninh. The 7-hour cruise explores Ha Long Bay with iconic destinations such as Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave and activities such as kayaking, swimming and bamboo boating.

Paradise Legacy , launched in October , is considered a new milestone for Vietnamese cruises, combining international luxury with Asian cultural imprints, creating a unique experience. The cruise has 42 cabins, notably the Gallery Suites designed like a Presidential suite with an area of 140 m2. The cabins all have full-length glass doors and private balconies, offering a wide heritage view, fully connecting with nature.

Paradise Legacy's 140m2 suite offers breathtaking heritage views.

In the luxury suites, guests can experience the Jo Loves personal fragrance collection (the brand of the founder of Jo Malone). Paradise Legacy is also one of the few cruise ships in Ha Long equipped with an elevator, maximizing convenience for guests.

The restaurant space is designed to be open with a central lounge area. Fine-dining dinner is served with an unlimited à la carte menu, combining elegant Vietnamese dishes with unique European and Asian cuisine. Unlike traditional cruises, Paradise Legacy also has a Vietnamese touch, with guests invited to wear ao dai. while enjoying dinner, turning the culinary experience into a profound cultural journey. Guests can experience Vietnamese afternoon tea overlooking the bay, join a local cooking class, learn to make Trang An dumplings.

High-quality tourist attraction pillar of Quang Ninh tourism

The development of luxury overnight cruise products is not only a market trend but has become a targeted development strategy of Quang Ninh province. Overnight cruises, especially 5-star brands, play a key role in attracting international visitors and increasing the average spending of visitors. The goal is to move towards a fleet that meets international 4-5 star standards.

According to statistics, in the first 10 months of 2025, Quang Ninh welcomed 18.43 million visitors, with total tourism revenue estimated at more than 48 trillion VND, up 21% over the same period in 2024. This impressive achievement further strengthens the strategic position of high-quality tourism, of which luxury cruises are a pillar.

Promoting high-end cruise products is not only about market competition, but also a strategic move to increase the average spending of tourists and affirm the position of high-quality tourism of Quang Ninh on the world tourism map.

Contact: Paradise Vietnam Hotels & Cruises

Hotline: 0906.099.606 (Viber, Whatsapp, Zalo)

Email: info@paradisevietnam.com.

Website: https://www.paradisevietnam.com/

Paradise Vietnam Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseVietnamGroup

Huong Thuy

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/buoc-tien-cua-du-thuyen-ha-long-giua-lan-song-sang-trong-mang-ban-sac-dia-phuong-3385908.html