Recently, the number of international passenger ships arriving in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area has recorded an increasing trend, affirming the increasingly clear position of the City on the map of cruise tourism destinations in the region. In 2024, the area welcomed 65 ships with about 287,000 passengers; in 2025, it is expected that there will be 48 ships with about 180,000 passengers, mainly large-scale luxury ships with long schedules, and by the end of 2026, there will be about 118 ships registered to dock with a total of more than 260,000 international passengers.
Based on the recommendations of international travel agencies and shipping agents on difficulties in the process of receiving ships, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has urgently compiled information and reported to the City People's Committee on the proposal to pilot the reception of international passenger ships in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area until the end of December 2026. This pilot period will help units have more basis to complete procedures for adding functions according to legal regulations; at the same time, support management agencies to assess the practice, prepare for the official operation phase. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will continue to closely coordinate with the Maritime Port Authority and relevant functional agencies so that the reception of international passenger ships takes place smoothly and safely; contributing to promoting maritime tourism activities.
Previously, on October 15, 2025, Royal Caribbean Group (USA) sent a document to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and relevant agencies regarding the reception of international cruise ships in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area. Specifically, according to the announcement from port partners of Saigon Newport Corporation, ports in Phu My ward, Ho Chi Minh City will stop receiving cruise ships from October 2025, including: Tan Cang - Cai Mep Joint Stock Company (TCCT Port), Tan Cang - Cai Mep International Port Limited Liability Company (TCIT Port) and Tan Cang - Cai Mep Thi Vai Port One Member Limited Liability Company (TCTT Port).
In the document of Royal Caribbean Group, it is stated that the reason for stopping receiving ships is related to the procedure of adding the function of receiving cruise ships at Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster as requested by the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration. However, this sudden cancellation of the journey seriously affects the schedule and operations of the group. Specifically, on October 18, 2025, the Ovation of the Seas ship carrying more than 4,000 passengers scheduled to dock at Tan Cang - Cai Mep Port will not be able to proceed, causing great damage to passengers and the group. If the above incident is not resolved immediately, ports in the Ho Chi Minh City area will not be able to receive large international passenger ships.
Similarly, Saigontourist Travel Service Company also sent a document to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism to support the proposal to unify the policy for container ports and general ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area to pilot receiving international passenger ships to ensure tourism activities in the city.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/kien-nghi-tao-dieu-kien-don-khach-quoc-te-tai-cang-thuoc-khu-vuc-cai-mep-thi-vai-20251017121604687.htm
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