Under the 2026 operating schedule, Ha Long International Cruise Port will continue to welcome cruise ships operated by international lines, bringing visitors from the United States, Germany, the UK, Canada, China and various European countries to Quang Ninh.

In the first seven months of the year, Ha Long International Cruise Port received 45 cruise ship calls, up 22% year on year. Another 30 or so calls are expected from now until the end of the year, bringing the annual total to around 75.

The cruise schedule is spread across the year, with the final months expected to remain a peak period. Ship sizes also vary considerably, ranging from vessels carrying several hundred passengers to those with a capacity of more than 2,000.

A notable development in this year's cruise season has been the return of large cruise ships. On August 19, Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed Adora Magic City from Shenzhen, China, for the first time. The ship brought nearly 4,500 passengers and crew members to Quang Ninh. It has a maximum capacity of 5,246 passengers and is among the largest cruise ships to have called at Ha Long Port.

The return of large vessels creates more opportunities for Quang Ninh to connect with international cruise itineraries and include its heritage destinations in routes serving large numbers of passengers. According to the Quang Ninh e-portal, linking the port with destinations and services within the same itinerary also gives visitors more time to explore and spend in the locality.

Expanding markets, diversifying cruise experiences

Cruise passengers are regarded by Quang Ninh as an important segment in its strategy to attract international visitors. This segment typically involves short stays onshore but large numbers of passengers per call, requiring not only sufficient port capacity but also well-organised tours, transport, services, security and safety.

To meet these needs, travel companies have developed flexible sightseeing programmes tailored to the schedules of individual cruise ships. Products focus on major attractions such as Ha Long Bay, the Quang Ninh Museum and Library, as well as cultural, culinary and shopping experiences. They also connect with Tuan Chau, Van Don and resort areas, giving visitors more options. Quang Ninh has also developed short tours lasting around four to six hours to suit the limited time cruise passengers spend ashore.

The source markets are becoming increasingly diverse. Alongside Northeast Asian passengers travelling on large vessels, European and American visitors aboard premium cruise ships such as Celebrity Solstice, Seabourn Encore and Le Jacques Cartier are a focus for Quang Ninh, given their spending capacity and demand for heritage experiences.

At the beginning of the year, Celebrity Solstice brought more than 3,000 European, American, Australian and Canadian passengers to Ha Long International Cruise Port. During the Lunar New Year holiday, Seabourn Encore, Piano Land, Le Jacques Cartier and Adora Mediterranea successively brought thousands of international visitors to Ha Long.

The combination of premium cruise lines serving European and American markets and large vessels from Asia is creating a passenger mix that is expanding in both volume and the quality of international visitors to Quang Ninh.

Welcoming larger ships, improving cruise operations

With its infrastructure advantages, Ha Long International Cruise Port can accommodate two large cruise ships simultaneously, with a capacity of around 10,000 passengers a day. This provides Quang Ninh with a basis for further expanding its ability to receive large groups of passengers on international cruise itineraries.

Alongside increasing the number of cruise calls, Quang Ninh is seeking to improve the quality of cruise operations by developing new products and strengthening connections between the port and sightseeing attractions, services, shopping and resort facilities. The approach aims to make better use of cruise passengers' limited time ashore while encouraging a wider distribution of visitors across Quang Ninh's tourism areas.

In the first eight months of 2026, Quang Ninh welcomed nearly 17.1 million visitors, up 6% year on year. Overnight visitors reached nearly 6.6 million, while tourism revenue exceeded VND51 trillion. The city is continuing to accelerate efforts in the final months of the year, targeting more than 23 million visitors and tourism revenue of over VND70 trillion.

In this context, cruise passengers not only add to international visitor numbers but also create opportunities for local businesses in tourism, transport, food and beverage, shopping and other services. Maintaining a stable cruise schedule while preparing human resources and services for the year-end peak season will be important to help Quang Ninh make more effective use of this international visitor segment.

Quang Ninh connects heritage sites to boost autumn-winter tourism

As the 2026 autumn-winter tourism season gets under way, the northern coastal city of Quang Ninh is rolling out a series of distinctive cultural, sports and tourism activities aimed at connecting heritage values, extending visitors’ stays and increasing their spending.