On the morning of November 14, 2025, the Blue Dream Melody cruise ship docked at Ha Long International Cruise Port at 6:30 AM, arriving from Beihai City, Guangxi, China, with 1,115 passengers and crew members onboard.

This voyage marks the opening of Vietnam’s 2025–2026 international cruise tourism season and confirms a year-end upswing in Chinese tourist arrivals.

The Chinese-flagged Blue Dream Melody is operating a Beihai–Ha Long–Beihai route, bringing passengers to visit Ha Long on November 14. Upon arrival, travelers were taken on sightseeing tours of Ha Long Bay, the city, and various cultural and historical landmarks in the province before the ship continued its journey.

The return of the Beihai–Ha Long cruise route reflects the strong recovery of the East Asian cruise market. It also helps expand the international tourist base for Quang Ninh during peak season and enhances the province’s standing in the regional maritime tourism landscape.

According to plan, nine cruises from Beihai to Ha Long are scheduled for the 2025–2026 season. Regular service is expected to bring in a steady stream of tourists, especially as Chinese travelers are increasingly returning to Quang Ninh by both sea and air.

Since early November, Van Don International Airport has also resumed charter flights on the Shenzhen–Van Don route, with trips scheduled for November 1, 6, 10, 15, 20, and 24. These two strategic transportation links coincide with the province’s year-end tourism stimulus program themed “Quang Ninh – Heritage experiences, connecting the world,” supporting the goal of welcoming 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million international arrivals.

As of the end of October 2025, Ha Long International Cruise Port had received 44 cruise ships and over 56,600 visitors - an increase of 9% compared to the same period last year. Most tourists came from Europe, the United States, and China, indicating a strong rebound in the high-end cruise tourism segment.

With modern infrastructure, a convenient location for passenger transfers, and international-standard operations, Ha Long International Cruise Port is becoming a favorite stop for major global cruise lines.

Pham Van Hiep, Director of Ha Long International Cruise Port, said: “The Blue Dream Melody cruise opens a new season of maritime tourism and signals the rising demand from Chinese travelers. We’ll continue to collaborate with cruise operators and international travel companies to expand itineraries, diversify offerings, and ensure safe, seamless experiences for visitors to Quang Ninh.”

The arrival of the Blue Dream Melody comes as Quang Ninh is rolling out a series of year-end cultural, sports, and tourism events, boosting Ha Long’s appeal to international travelers. Port service operators have been instructed to coordinate closely to ensure smooth procedures, security, and connectivity for cruise passengers.

Just one day prior, at 10:00 AM on November 13, the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship, registered in Malta, docked at Ha Long International Cruise Port, carrying 2,756 mostly European and North American passengers. The vessel is on an extended Asia itinerary: Singapore – Koh Samui (Thailand) – Laem Chabang (Thailand) – Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Ha Long – Hong Kong (China). During their stay from November 13 to 7:00 PM on November 14, tourists participated in excursions to Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Long city tours, and Ha Long Bay cruises before continuing their journey.

The back-to-back arrival of two large-scale international cruise ships highlights Quang Ninh’s sustained appeal in the global maritime tourism market. These promising signals provide a strong foundation for the province to meet its 2025 international tourism growth targets, particularly as demand for cruise travel surges in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ha Long International Cruise Port is Vietnam’s first dedicated passenger cruise terminal, developed and operated by Sun Group. The facility can accommodate ships up to 225,000 GT and serve two vessels with a combined capacity of nearly 10,000 passengers simultaneously, meeting the standards of top-tier global cruise lines.

Since its launch, the port has received 209 cruise ships and nearly 280,000 international passengers, playing a pivotal role in elevating Vietnam’s profile in the global cruise tourism map.

With state-of-the-art infrastructure, a strategic location, and the continuous reception of major cruise liners, Ha Long reaffirms its status as the maritime tourism gateway of northern Vietnam and a must-visit destination on international cruise routes for the 2025–2026 travel season.

Le Thanh