Vietnam's Quang Ninh welcomes 5 millionth foreign visitor, 1 mln to go to reach target

The 5 millionth international visitor arrived in Ha Long aboard the luxury cruise ship Celebrity Millennium in Quang Ninh, which departed from Hong Kong and brought more than 2,000 passengers and crew members to Vietnam.

Most passengers were from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

While docked in Ha Long, Saigontourist Travel arranged excursions to Quang Ninh Museum, Long Tien Pagoda and Ha Long Bay, including visits to Sung Sot Cave, kayaking at Luon Cave and traditional boat trips to Vung Vieng fishing village.

Visitors could also choose excursions to Hanoi and Hai Phong.

The ship is scheduled to depart Ha Long at 6:00 pm on Sunday.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province welcomed 52 international cruise ship calls in the first 10 months of 2026, bringing nearly 62,000 visitors, up 9 percent from the same period in 2025.

Quang Ninh is expected to welcome around 20 cruise ship calls carrying approximately 30,000 international passengers in the final two months of the year. 

The ships include Adora Flora City, which can accommodate 5,200 passengers, Diamond Princess with 2,700, Celebrity Solstice with 2,800, and Norwegian Jade with 2,300.

The projected number of international cruise passengers in the final two months of 2026 alone is nearly half the total recorded in the previous 10 months, highlighting the growth potential of the province's cruise tourism segment.

Alongside cruise arrivals, images of international luxury yachts anchored against the backdrop of Ha Long Bay have also become popular photo spots among young visitors, gaining traction across social media platforms and helping promote the destination.

The arrival of the 5 millionth international visitor marks a notable milestone for Quang Ninh's tourism sector. 

The province aims to welcome more than 23 million visitors in 2026, including over 6 million international tourists.