The Netherlands-flagged cruise ship Noordam arrived at around 8 am, carrying 1,897 passengers. It was followed by the Celebrity Solstice, a Maltese-flagged ship with 2,806 passengers on board.
Most tourists are from Europe and the US, the primary visitor groups for the city's yearly cruise season.
During their stay in the city, tourists were split into groups to visit Ha Long Bay and other renowned sites such as Yen Tu, Long Tien Pagoda, and the Quang Ninh Museum. Some groups chose extended trips to destinations like Hanoi and Ninh Binh.
In October, the Italian-flagged passenger cruise ship Costa Serena visited Ha Long, bringing 3,040 visitors from Hong Kong (China) to the city.