Ba Ria – Vung Tau has welcomed many international cruise ships in recent months. (Photo: VNA)

Ba Ria – Vung Tau – The port complex of Cai Mep – Thi Vai in Ba Ria – Vung Tau continually welcomed international cruise ships with thousands of tourists over the past months, a sign of cruise tourism recovery in this southern province and Vietnam at large.

From November 10 to 26, the Saigontourist travel service company served three cruise trips to Vietnam by cruise line Celebrity Cruises, including two arriving in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. In late August, Spectrum of the Seas carrying almost 4,000 passengers and crewmembers docked at Cai Mep – Thi Vai, marking the third time in 2023 this superyacht had come to the province.

Like in some other localities such as Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, and Thua Thien – Hue provinces, cruise tourism in Ba Ria – Vung Tau often becomes vibrant from October to the end of April.

The provincial Tourism Department said Saigontourist was designated by cruise lines to serve 14 international cruise trips with over 30,000 visitors to Ba Ria – Vung Tau between November 10 this year to April 1, 2024.

Some travel companies said foreign visitors, after arriving at local ports, often take a tour of famous destinations in Vung Tau city such as the statue of Jesus Christ, Niet Ban Tinh Xa Pagoda, Thang Tam Temple, and Bach Dinh (White Palace), or a countryside tour of destinations along National Highway 51 in Phu My commune like Ho Phap Pagoda, Cao Dai Temple, or the suburbs of Ba Ria city, where traditional crafts and customs are still upheld.

Located in the southern key economic region and a gateway to the East Sea for the southeastern region, Ba Ria – Vung Tau is connected with Ho Chi Minh City and other localities by road, air, and waterways.

Aside from a number of historical and cultural relic sites and special festivals, it is also blessed with 306km of coastline, including 156km eligible for serving as bathing beaches. Dinh and Minh Dam mountains, Binh Chau – Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve with rich flora and fauna diversity and hot mineral springs, 16 pristine islands of all sizes, along with the island district of Con Dao – a revolutionary relic site, a nature reserve and also a Ramsar site also form part of Ba Ria – Vung Tau’s tourism potential.

The close proximity with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City and Long Thanh International Airport, which is under construction in Dong Nai province, and the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port complex’s capability of handling major cruise ships are also advantages for the province to welcome international travellers.

The Cai Mep – Thi Vai port complex is capabile of handling major cruise ships. (Photo: VNA)

Phan Hoang Vu, Deputy Director General of SP-SSA International Terminal, said cruise tourism is growing well in Ha Long, Hue, Da Nang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and Nha Trang. Among them, Ba Ria – Vung Tau with the Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water port complex is favourable for large vessels to dock at. The road system linking the complex with national highways and places of interest province-wide is also convenient for tourists to travel.

To facilitate cruise tourism, the Government, ministries, and sectors have issued many policies to create favourable conditions, including reforming administrative procedures at seaports and reducing port fees for the vessels coming to the country on fixed routes or for multiple times.

On August 15, Vietnam officially applied a new visa policy for foreigners, which is said to be a good condition for tourists and cruise lines to arrange trips.

Trinh Hang, Director of the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Tourism Department, affirmed that the province holds conditions to develop cruise tourism. It welcomed 126 international cruise ships in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the number is expected to reach 26 this year.

Cruise tourists often spend much money as well as time to try all services of their destinations, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau is currently a magnet for them, he went on.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau attracted nearly 14 million visitors during the first 11 months of 2023, equivalent to 99.7% of this year’s target and up nearly 22% year on year. Meanwhile, its revenue from tourism approximated 14.6 trillion VND (601.2 million USD), or almost 103% of the year’s revenue target, rising 30%, according to the provincial Tourism Department./.

A complex of resorts and entertainment areas in Ho Tram, Ba Ria-Vung Tau. (Photo: VNA)

Ba Ria-Vung Tau – The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is working to improve its tourism brand and overall experience for visitors, on the back of its advantages like year-long mild and warm climate with beaches, rich and diverse mangrove ecosystems and harmonious tourism infrastructure.

Awakening potential, advantages

According to its master plan for the 2021 – 2030 period with a vision to 2050, Ba Ria-Vung Tau set tourism as one of the five important economic pillars. The planning outlines the direction for developing the driving force of tourism economy in the southeastern coastal area with a chain of tourism urban areas like Vung Tau, Long Hai, Phuoc Hai, Loc An, Ho Tram, Binh Chau, and Con Dao national park.

At present, local tourism infrastructure is progressively improving, in both quality and quantity, with 1,490 lodging facilities offering 30,623 rooms. Of them, nearly 900 hotels have been rated from 1 to 5 stars with 8,522 rooms. There are now 45 domestic and international travel agencies in operation. Premium and well-known brands, both domestically and internationally, have been established and developed, such as The Grand – Ho Tram Strip, Six Senses Con Dao, The Imperial, Pullman, Marina Bay Resort, Malibu, and Melia at the Hampton.

The transport infrastructure is increasingly improving to provide better services to tourists. The province is stepping up digital economy, digital knowledge, and digital data activities to increase labour productivity and optimise tourism promotion, focusing on advertising through domestic and global media. Premium and world-class tourism areas are being shaped in combination with efforts to build a safe and quality tourism environment. Last year, Vung Tau was the only locality in Vietnam recognised to meet the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard twice.

Hoang Vu Thanh, Chairman of the Vung Tau People’s Committee, said the city, along with Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, is investing in improving the quality of beaches. They are continuing to build model beaches and hold various sea tourism and sport events, particularly in the Bai Sau area. In the coming time, the city will persist in exploring and developing local tourism potential, striving to establish Vung Tau as a leading tourist destination in the region and globally.

Living up to status of coastal tourism city
Ba Ria -Vung Tau boasts a chain of three coastal urban areas that play a key role in driving its socio-economic development, namely Vung Tau city, and Long Hai and Phuoc Hai towns. Additionally, the province has Con Dao as a coastal urban area and is now in the process of planning three more others, namely Ho Tram, Binh Chau, and Loc An. It is anticipated that by 2025, Ba Ria – Vung Tau will have a total of seven coastal urban areas.

The province is also investing in upgrading and expanding key road arteries, particularly the DT 994 route linking Phu My township and Binh Chau commune in Xuyen Moc district to create convenience for tourists. By 2030, the local transport system will be completed, connecting four satellite urban areas around coastal tourism projects together.

A chain of Phuoc Tinh, Long Hai, Phuoc Hai, Loc An coastal urban areas. (Photo: VNA)

As of November, the total number of tourist arrivals in the province had reached nearly 14 million, or 99.71% of the annual plan, marking an annual increase of some 22%. The total revenue was estimated at roughly 14.6 trillion VND (608 million USD), higher than the yearly plan by 2.87% and showing a rise of over 30% year on year.

Trinh Hang, Director of the provincial Tourism Department, said the province aims to have at least one model of developing nighttime tourism products in all localities by 2030. There are plans to establish distinct nighttime entertainment complexes in Xuyen Moc and Vung Tau and to develop nighttime tourism products in tourist centres where crowds of visitors gather, toward shaping and developing its nighttime tourism brand./.