New information on entrance fees in Ha Long Bay

From May 1, tours on Ha Long Bay will apply new fees.

Quang Ninh announces new toll rates on Ha Long Bay - Photo: NAM TRAN

On April 26, the Ha Long Bay Management Board (Quang Ninh province) informed about the implementation of fee collection for new tourist tours on Ha Long Bay. This fee collection level is based on Resolution No. 51/2025/NQ-HDND dated February 26, 2025 of the People's Council of Quang Ninh province.

According to Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Head of Ha Long Bay Management Board, in the process of implementing the collection of entrance fees for 3 new routes VHL6, 7 and 8, Hai Phong City Tourism Association and Lan Ha City Yacht Association have sent a document requesting permission for Cat Ba tourist boats that are qualified to operate under current regulations to take tourists on 4 itineraries VHL3, 4, 5 and 6 instead of only one itinerary VHL6 as at present.

Ships are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at ports and wharves (two international passenger ports Tuan Chau and Ha Long) of Quang Ninh in compliance with the regulations of the province and the port and wharf management unit.

Every year, a large number of tourists, mainly foreign tourists, travel from ports and wharves of Quang Ninh to Cat Ba (nearly 500,000 people) and no entrance fee is charged.

Quang Ninh will collect fees from these passengers from May 1, 2025 at a rate of VND 150,000/person/day on route VHL6.

For the VHL3 and VHL4 itineraries, due to their distance from the center, the number of visitors on these two itineraries only averages 200 - 400 visitors/day (equivalent to 6,000 - 12,000 visitors/month), which is a waste of tourism resources.

If the proposal of Hai Phong City Tourism Association and Lan Ha City Yacht Association is resolved to bring tourists to Cat Ba to visit on the VHL3 and VHL4 itineraries with a fee of 200,000 VND/person/time, the number of visitors to Ha Long Bay will increase by about 400,000 - 500,000 people every year, and the collected fee will be from 80 - 100 billion VND.

Faced with the above reality, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has proactively developed a fee collection plan for three new Ha Long Bay tourism tours, thereby contributing to increasing connectivity and raising revenue for the two localities.

Regarding ensuring traffic routes and tourism capacity, according to the working results between the Department of Construction of Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city, current traffic conditions ensure connectivity and safety between the two sides.

Hai Phong city's tourist transport vehicles taking tourists on VHL3 and VHL4 routes do not create conflicts with Quang Ninh's vehicles and current visitors to Ha Long Bay (current visitors to Ha Long Bay are concentrated on VHL1 and VHL2 routes).

When operating on the connecting tourist tours between Ha Long and Lan Ha bays, Cat Ba (Hai Phong) vehicles must comply with the regulations of Quang Ninh province on standards, vehicle quality, registration of operations and signing of contracts with the Ha Long Bay Management Board.

From May 1, connecting tourist tours between Ha Long and Lan Ha bays will be officially put into operation, including VHL3, 4, 5 and 6 tours connecting to tourist tours on Lan Ha bay and vice versa.

Cat Ba tourist boats that are qualified to operate under current regulations are allowed to transport tourists on the above itineraries and pick up and drop off passengers at ports and wharves of Quang Ninh according to regulations.

These cruise ships must register and sign a contract to operate in Ha Long Bay with the Bay Management Board.

Tourists wishing to visit the above itineraries must purchase tickets to visit Ha Long Bay according to regulations.

According to the announcement from the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the content on the entrance ticket has been adjusted as follows: change the phrase "Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 5" to "VHL1 Journey, VHL2 Journey, VHL3 Journey, VHL4 Journey, VHL5 Journey" and keep the same fee level.

For three new tours on Ha Long Bay including VHL6, VHL7, VHL8, fees will officially be collected from May 1, 2025.

VHL6 itinerary: wharf - Chan Voi islet - Ba Cua lagoon - Tung Lam island - Cap Bai islet (the final destination of the itinerary adjacent to Gia Luan, Lan Ha bay, Hai Phong) or vice versa with a ticket price of 150,000 VND/person/time/day.

VHL7 itinerary: visit Ha Long Bay on itineraries VHL1 + VHL2 + VHL3 + VHL4, fee 600,000 VND/time/person.

Route VHL8: Tuan Chau Passenger Port - Ha Long International Passenger Port - Nam Cau Trang area, with a fee of 70,000 VND/time/person.

VNA - NGUYEN HIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thong-tin-moi-ve-thu-phi-tham-quan-tren-vinh-ha-long-20250426161322937.htm