Quảng Ninh Welcomes Over 4,500 Travellers on First Day of Tết, Signalling Tourism Breakthrough Year

Hạ Long, The Gulf Observer: More than 4,500 international and domestic travellers arrived at Hạ Long International Cruise Port on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tết), providing a strong opening to what authorities expect will be a breakthrough year for tourism in the heritage province of Quảng Ninh.

The festive arrivals were marked by a ceremonial welcome featuring traditional drums and lucky-money gifts. Visitors quickly dispersed to explore local attractions, from admiring the world-renowned Hạ Long Bay to joining themed city tours that included the flower boulevard, mural street, Long Tiên Pagoda for New Year blessings, the Quảng Ninh Museum, and scenic coastal promenades.

Domestic tourism also demonstrated robust momentum. By midday, nearly 2,200 Vietnamese visitors had toured the bay aboard approximately seventy boats, bringing the total passenger throughput to over 4,500 within the first morning alone—an early indication of a vibrant tourism season.

Among the international visitors were Julie and Paul Overstreet from the United States, who arrived aboard the Seabourn Encore cruise ship. They described the warm reception as exceeding expectations, highlighting the opportunity to experience traditional Tết rituals immediately upon disembarkation as a memorable highlight of their visit.

Li Jianhua from Hong Kong (China), travelling on the Piano Land cruise vessel, praised the province’s professionalism and hospitality. He noted that Việt Nam’s tourism services are increasingly approaching international standards, leaving a strong impression on his group.

The energetic start to the year reflects the growing appeal of Quảng Ninh as a destination. Authorities are refreshing tourism offerings with culturally distinctive experiences, including the revival of traditional three-compartment wooden boats with crimson sails. These boats recreate historic fishing village scenes on Hạ Long Bay, combining destination differentiation with heritage preservation.

Nguyễn Việt Dũng, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the strong turnout on the first day of Tết demonstrates travellers’ confidence in Quảng Ninh. He emphasised that authorities are focusing not only on reception capacity but also on product diversification, from restoring traditional cultural elements to upgrading specialised services, with the aim of positioning the province as a high-end, globally integrated tourism hub.

Bùi Quang Tuấn, Deputy Executive Director of Hạ Long International Cruise Port, noted that hosting over 4,500 passengers in a single morning necessitates enhanced service standards. The port is therefore implementing an international-standard reception model encompassing both infrastructure improvements and personnel development.

Looking ahead, the cruise port expects around 100 cruise calls in 2026, carrying more than 130,000 international visitors. Authorities aim to ensure safe and memorable experiences to strengthen Quảng Ninh’s standing on the luxury cruise tourism map.

On the second day of Tết, Vân Đồn International Airport is scheduled to receive private charter flights transporting Japanese business delegations to the province. The simultaneous surge in sea and air arrivals further reinforces Quảng Ninh’s status as a dynamic high-end tourism centre in the region.