Elevating the tourism brand in Ha Long Bay.

In the autumn of 2025, Ha Long Bay is awakening amidst a "golden season" of marine tourism. Giant cruise ships are constantly docking, new luxury yachts are launching simultaneously, the international market is experiencing strong growth, and high-end leisure and resort tourism products are flourishing... Each piece is creating a new face for Ha Long Bay, where the World Natural Heritage site is being elevated through investment, innovation, and a global aspiration.

Cruise tourism is experiencing a boom.

Ships are arriving in droves at Ha Long International Cruise Port.

In the final days of 2025, the Ha Long International Cruise Port was buzzing with activity. In just the past month, giant cruise ships like the Westerdam, Star Voyager, and Blue Dream Melody have continuously docked, bringing thousands of tourists from Europe, Hong Kong, and China. Autumn in Ha Long has never been so vibrant, and the cruise tourism season has officially entered its peak period of the year.

“I’ve been to Vietnam many times, but this time I wanted to see Ha Long Bay from the sea. The scenery is beautiful, and the weather is wonderfully pleasant,” shared Sky Koh Boon Chong, a tourist from Singapore. He couldn’t hide his excitement as he talked about pho, banh mi, coffee, and especially squid cake – a “must-try specialty” of Quang Ninh .

From October 2025 to April 2026, Quang Ninh is expected to welcome approximately 60 cruise ships, carrying 70,000 passengers, mainly high-spending international tourists. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 50 cruise ships, equivalent to 60,000 passengers, have arrived. Many cruise lines return 4 to 6 times a year, each trip carrying around 1,000 passengers, a figure that clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of this World Natural Heritage site.

International tourists are eagerly preparing for their trip to Ha Long Bay.

Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet Tan Hong Travel Company, commented: “The demand for exploring local culture is very high. Many experiential tours in Ha Long are effectively utilizing these services, encouraging tourists to stay longer and spend more.”

These tourist flows not only bring in significant tourism revenue, but more importantly, they affirm Ha Long's positioning as a year-round cruise destination, a crucial link in Southeast Asian maritime tourism.

Not only international cruise ships, but the fleet of tourist vessels in Ha Long Bay has also witnessed a strong transformation in recent years. Superyachts with modern designs, large scale, and service quality approaching European standards are constantly being launched. One of them is Dolphin Halong Cruise, a newly launched superyacht with a total area of ​​over 1,800 m² and a 180 m² floating dome stage – an ideal space for spectacular art shows on the water.

Mr. Le Anh Quan, Creative Director and co-founder of Dolphin Halong Cruise, shared: “We want to bring completely new and unique products, contributing a small part to making tourism in our province more attractive. Tourists don't just want to admire the scenery; they need top-notch entertainment experiences and truly distinctive services.”

The Dolphin Halong Cruise ship officially commenced operations in early November 2025.

Following this trend, the fleet of ships in Ha Long Bay is becoming increasingly modern, with many vessels accommodating 500-700 guests and fully integrated with: international standard dining areas, spas and wellness centers, art performance stages with professional artists, and spaces for parties, bars, and events on the bay.

French tourist Raphael Grisoni commented: “I was impressed not only by the beautiful scenery, but also by the quality of the superyacht. Modern design, friendly service, and delicious fresh food. We had a memorable experience and fully enjoyed every moment on Ha Long Bay.”

In early 2026, Ha Long Bay will continue to welcome a series of new cruise ships, including: a 99-seat cruise ship with the highest safety rating in the bay, owned by Viet Thuan Company; and the largest 6-star superyacht in the bay, owned by Hong Phong Cruise Joint Stock Company. To prepare for this boom, Ha Long International Cruise Port has upgraded its passenger reception infrastructure, increased berths, and optimized passenger pick-up and drop-off channels. “The improved infrastructure aims to ensure convenient, safe, and professional cruise ship operations. The terminal and piers are all being upgraded,” said Mr. Bui Quang Tuan, Deputy Director of the port.

Not relying solely on its natural heritage, Quang Ninh is striving to reposition itself with a new ecosystem of unique and high-class tourism products. High-end tourism products are continuously being launched, such as: the "Searching for the Gem" live performance at Vung Duc Cave, the night market on cruise ships in Ha Long Bay, tours exploring pristine islands, unique itineraries in Bai Tu Long Bay, and international branded resorts like Hyatt and InterContinental… These products contribute to enhancing the visitor experience and extending their length of stay – a key factor in elevating the brand.

Aiming to become a global tourism brand.

In the first 10 months of 2025, Quang Ninh welcomed 18.5 million visitors, including 3.6 million international tourists. Total tourism revenue reached 48,400 billion VND, an impressive figure in the context of increasingly fierce tourism competition. In 2025, Quang Ninh aims for 14% economic growth, with tourism continuing to be one of its key sectors. Undeniably, Ha Long Bay possesses rare advantages, having been recognized by UNESCO three times. But to transform this value into sustainable competitive strength, Quang Ninh has been implementing a series of strategic solutions.

Tourists experience rowing traditional bamboo boats on Ha Long Bay.

That is, investing in international-standard tourism infrastructure with the Ha Long International Cruise Port – the first specialized port in Vietnam; a synchronized and modern cruise ship system; and complete connecting transportation infrastructure including: expressways, airports, and coastal roads. In particular, Quang Ninh has strived to diversify its tourism products, focusing on experiential tourism, such as: organizing art shows on cruise ships, cultural and culinary exploration tours, and wellness and healing tourism...

Ha Long Bay currently offers 12 tourism products and services, including 4 organized by the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board (tourism by cruise ship/yacht, experiencing fishing village culture, visiting archaeological sites, swimming at Ti Top beach) and 8 developed by businesses (souvenir sales, trading on floating houses; rowing boats; kayaking; speedboats; tourist transportation services in the bay; onshore restaurant boats; pearl oyster farming model; tourist attractions combined with seafood trading).

Furthermore, the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board is implementing a project to restore the Cua Van floating cultural center and the Vung Vieng fishing village, creating authentic cultural experience spaces where tourists can learn about the lives of fishermen and participate in traditional activities such as rowing bamboo boats, night squid fishing, or learning how to weave fishing nets. Integrating local cultural elements into the journey of exploring nature will help Ha Long Bay become a destination with depth, not only beautiful in its scenery but also rich in humanistic values.

International tourists enjoy kayaking.

The bustling flow of cruise ship passengers, the continuous launch of modern cruise ships, the expansion of the international market, and the ecosystem of new products are helping Ha Long Bay gradually elevate its status. This is not only a picture of developing tourism, but also an image of a heritage being awakened through systematic efforts and great aspirations.

With innovations planned for 2025, Ha Long Bay aims to become not just a summer destination but a year-round tourist spot, offering unique experiences at every time of year. In spring, visitors can explore ancient fishing villages and learn about the culture of the local fishermen. Summer is ideal for enjoying the blue sea, white sand, and water sports. Autumn offers peaceful cruises through the rocky islands, while winter provides a wonderful opportunity for relaxing holidays on the bay.

Today, Ha Long is beautiful not only because of its natural beauty, but also because of serious investment and sound strategies. It's a younger, more modern Ha Long, being elevated to a global level based on its own value. These current achievements will also serve as leverage for Quang Ninh to successfully achieve its goal of welcoming over 20 million tourists by 2025, including 4.5 million international visitors. Ha Long is becoming an international tourism hub, a world-class destination.

Hoang Yen-Hoang Quynh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nang-tam-san-pham-du-lich-บน-vinh-ha-long-3387422.html