It is unclear when international cruise ships will be able to return to Nha Trang port.

Nha Trang - Ảnh 1. — An international cruise ship that once docked at Nha Trang port, at pier number 3 (completely collapsed into the sea on April 20, 2024) - Photo: PHAN SONG NGAN

According to the general planning of Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province until 2040 approved by the Prime Minister, Nha Trang is "the center of seaport tourism services of the South Central region and the whole country" and "build Nha Trang port combined with international tourist port, receiving passenger ships up to 225,000GT".

On December 20, 2023, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Province Tran Hoa Nam signed and issued a document on "temporarily suspending operations of Nha Trang port for maintenance, repair and overhaul" with a requirement of no more than 6 months.

Specifically, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province agreed to temporarily not receive domestic passenger ships at Nha Trang port, but "continue to receive international tourist ships through Nha Trang port during the period of maintenance, repair and renovation" as proposed by the Department of Transport.

Regarding Nha Trang port, according to the Prime Minister's previous regulations, it is a "national general seaport, regional hub type I" managed by the state-owned enterprise Nha Trang Port Company Limited under Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines).

Before equitizing Nha Trang Port One Member Co., Ltd., the Minister of Transport approved the investment project to build and upgrade Nha Trang Port (phase 1).

Vinalines invested nearly 86 billion VND to implement the above project and it was completed, accepted and put into use at the end of December 2013. Accordingly, Nha Trang port can receive cargo ships of 40,000 DWT and international cruise ships of up to 70,000 GT.

After Vinalines and Khanh Hoa province sold all state shares at Nha Trang port to private enterprises, on April 3, 2020, the Ministry of Transport issued a document agreeing on the policy of lowering the clearance height of the cable car line through the port waters.

On September 1, 2021, the Vietnam Maritime Administration decided to close wharf No. 4 of Nha Trang port (the inshore wharf of the 20,000DWT wharf).

On December 9, 2023, Nha Trang Port Joint Stock Company sent a document requesting the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province to allow the company to temporarily suspend receiving cruise ships at Nha Trang port for 6 months to serve the maintenance, repair and upgrading of the port.

But Khanh Hoa province only agreed to temporarily not receive domestic passenger ships during the port's maintenance, repair, and upgrade period and "continue to receive international tourist ships through Nha Trang port".

Then, according to the report of Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority, at about 3:00 a.m. on April 20, 2024, wharf No. 3 (protruding into the sea, 215m long, 34m wide) of Nha Trang port had an accident and collapsed completely into the sea.

The wharf that collapsed completely into the sea was capable of receiving general cargo ships up to 40,000DWT and international cruise ships up to 240m long, with a load capacity of nearly 70,000GT.

Therefore, since then, international cruise ships are no longer allowed to dock at Nha Trang port to bring tourists directly to Nha Trang.

Responding to the press recently, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Tran Hoa Nam said that after international cruise ships could no longer enter Nha Trang port, Tan Cang - Petro Cam Ranh Company Limited supported, resolved procedures, and received international cruise ships coming to Khanh Hoa to dock at Cam Ranh international port (at Cam Ranh Bay, in Bac Cam Ranh ward, Khanh Hoa province) and so far "has met the demand".

So when will international cruise ships be allowed to return to Nha Trang port? In response to this, Mr. Nam said the province "owes an answer" and will inform when a decision is made.

SILVER RIVER

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bao-gio-tau-du-lich-bien-quoc-te-duoc-tro-lai-cang-nha-trang-2025072518421412.htm