Impression of Tet rituals and service quality
Many tourists expressed their delight at the solemn yet friendly reception. Ms. Maria Thompson, a British tourist on the Seabourn Encore, said she was impressed with the traditional Tet ceremony and considered it a memorable start to her journey exploring Ha Long Bay.
Ha Long Bay kicks off 2026 with 2,400 international visitors from luxury cruise ships.
Visitors highly appreciate the professionalism and hospitality of the locality, and noted that Vietnam's tourism services are increasingly approaching international standards.
Tourists begin their journey to visit the World Natural Heritage Site Ha Long Bay.
After the welcome ceremony, groups of tourists begin their tour of the World Natural Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, combining city tour experiences, exploring local culture, cuisine, and lifestyle.
Positive signal for luxury tourism in 2026
Port representatives said that receiving international cruise ships right from the first day of the year is a positive sign for the 2026 cruise passenger market. In the following days of the Tet holiday, the port expects to continue welcoming superyachts such as Le Jacques Cartier, Adora Mediterranea, and Silver Nova. According to the plan, in 2026, the port will serve about 88 ship calls with 150,000 passengers from the US, Europe, and China.
The atmosphere welcoming guests at the beginning of the year is imbued with Vietnamese Tet spirit.
Not only vibrant sea routes, on February 18 (the second day of Tet), Van Don International Airport also welcomed private jets carrying a delegation of Japanese businessmen for spring travel combined with exploring investment opportunities. The simultaneous reception of cruise ship passengers and high-class private jets right at the beginning of the year demonstrates Quang Ninh's capacity to serve the luxury segment, further consolidating its position as a dynamic international tourism center in 2026.
In 2025, Quang Ninh welcomed over 21.28 million visitors, with total tourism revenue reaching 57,000 billion VND. International visitors alone reached 4.5 million, an increase of 18.4% compared to the previous year.
