New developments in the case of businesses "sitting on fire" due to ports stopping receiving cruise ship passengers

At the end of October 17, the Ministry of Construction sent a document to the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration regarding permission to continue receiving international passenger ships at some ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area (HCMC).

Accordingly, the Ministry of Construction approved the policy to continue receiving international passenger ships at some ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area as in the past until June 30, 2026.

The Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration is responsible for guiding, supervising, and requesting port enterprises to review, arrange adequate equipment, and develop plans to receive international passenger ships to ensure passenger safety and port facilities. Quickly complete procedures to add port functions to receive international passenger ships for official announcement according to regulations before June 30, 2026.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Construction after the Vietnam Maritime Administration sent a written request regarding the incident.

Previously, as reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, a series of domestic travel companies, shipping agents, and international shipping lines submitted petitions requesting a pilot policy to receive international passenger ships at ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area.

- Ảnh 2. — If the port area of Ho Chi Minh City is no longer allowed to receive ships, international cruise ship reception activities will have to be temporarily suspended...

A series of businesses have sent "cry for help" after the sudden announcement to stop receiving cruise ships at Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster, seriously affecting the activities of welcoming international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City.

It is expected that from now until the end of December 2025, there will be about 20 international passenger ships registered to dock at the port and by the end of 2026, there will be about 118 ships with more than 260,000 international passengers. If the port area of Ho Chi Minh City is not allowed to continue receiving ships, the operation of receiving international cruise ship passengers will have to be temporarily suspended.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism also sent a document to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Port Authority, the Department of Construction and related units to proactively remove obstacles for businesses to receive and serve cruise tourists, contributing to attracting international visitors.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dien-bien-moi-vu-doanh-nghiep-ngoi-tren-lua-do-cang-ngung-don-khach-tau-bien-196251017192526363.htm