Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Nguyen Viet Dung, director of Quang Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the move comes as tourism demand at Ha Long Bay continues to recover steadily.
The Ha Long Bay-Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board expects the bay to welcome about 3.5 million visitors in 2025, including more than 2.3 million international arrivals, up 108.8 per cent year on year. Entrance-fee revenue is projected at VND 1 trillion (about USD 37.9 million), exceeding both last year’s figure and provincial targets.
Ha Long Bay
Dung said sightseeing cruises and overnight vessels remain the bay’s core offerings, accounting for most visitors and revenue. Ha Long Bay currently offers 12 tourism products, ranging from sightseeing routes and village culture experiences to kayaking, pearl farm visits and seafood dining.
From 2026, the management board plans to introduce new products, including premium experiential itineraries, restored floating fishing villages, and tightly controlled dining and cultural performances in selected caves.
Authorities are also planning new beaches along sightseeing routes, “Old Ha Long”-themed three-sided boats, and hop-on, hop-off cruise services.
“All new products will be introduced selectively, with quality and depth of experience as the priority,” Dung said. “The guiding principle is to closely link tourism development with heritage conservation, ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ha Long Bay.”
In recent years, investors have moved to replace ageing wooden boats with modern cruise vessels. Each project involves investment of hundreds of billions of dong and features en-suite cabins, dining and leisure facilities, as well as advanced maritime safety systems.
The upgrades mark a decisive shift from volume-led growth to higher-value tourism, targeting premium, particularly international, travellers.
These modern offerings have also strengthened Ha Long’s competitiveness among regional island destinations while creating more jobs for local workers.
