Quang Ninh expects 22 international cruise ship calls in final 2 months

VOV.VN - Ha Long International Cruise Port is expected to welcome 22 international cruise ship calls in November and December 2026, creating opportunities for Quang Ninh to attract more foreign visitors while diversifying tourism products, connecting destinations and increasing visitor spending.

According to registered schedules, Ha Long International Cruise Port is set to receive eight international cruise ship calls in November and 14 in December, with arrivals concentrated in the days leading up to the New Year holiday. The ships are expected to stay for one to two days, allowing passengers to explore local attractions, culture, services and cuisine.

Diversifying tourism products to increase visitor spending

The growing number of international cruise ship calls not only presents an opportunity for Quang Ninh, but also highlights the need to make better use of this market, particularly given the relatively short stays of cruise passengers.

Most sightseeing, dining and service activities currently remain concentrated in Ha Long. Connecting destinations beyond the area and developing products suited to different visitor groups and their available time are therefore essential to broaden travel experiences and increase local spending.

Vo Anh Tai, deputy general director of Saigontourist Group, told VOV tourism products should be developed around visitors' needs and preferences. Ports, travel companies and destinations need closer coordination in product development, destination management, marketing and promotion.

“Businesses may develop tourism products, but it is ultimately visitors who decide which itineraries to choose. Products and destination management must be tailored to visitor demand, alongside effective marketing and promotion. This will help attract more cruise tourists to Quang Ninh," he noted.

Expanding the domestic cruise tourism market

Travel companies are also looking to attract more domestic cruise passengers. However, information about this form of travel is limited, leaving many potential customers unclear about departure ports, itineraries, booking procedures and necessary formalities.

According to Bui Quang Tuan, director of Ha Long International Cruise Port, domestic travellers are interested in cruise holidays, but access to information and itinerary guidance remains inadequate.

“Many travellers are interested, but there are still few channels providing information about cruise holidays. Social media platforms have yet to offer sufficient guidance on departure ports in northern, central and southern Vietnam, as well as booking procedures. These issues have been identified but have not yet been widely communicated,” he said.

In 2026, Quang Ninh aims to welcome more than 23 million tourist arrivals, including around five million international visitors, and generate over VND70 trillion in tourism revenue.

With 22 international cruise ship calls scheduled for the final two months of the year, cruise tourism is expected to contribute to the city’s growth targets. However, success will depend not only on ship calls and passenger numbers, but also on connecting destinations, diversifying experiences and encouraging visitors to spend more on local services.

Quang Ninh is home to Ha Long Bay which is is renowned for its thousands of distinctive limestone islands rising from emerald waters. Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1994 and recognised for its geological and geomorphological value in 2000, it is one of Vietnam’s iconic international tourism destinations. In 2023, the heritage site was expanded to include the Cat Ba Archipelago, forming the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage site.

Beyond Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh offers diverse attractions, including Bai Tu Long Bay, the islands of Van Don and Co To, and the Yen Tu scenic complex, which is associated with the history of Truc Lam Buddhism and the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Visitors can also enjoy coastal activities, resort services and local cuisine.

In addition to fresh seafood, local specialities include Ha Long squid cakes, mantis shrimp noodle soup, sipunculid worms and ngán, a local shellfish. Dining, shopping for local products and exploring regional lifestyles also offer opportunities to increase visitor spending beyond sightseeing activities.