Ho Chi Minh City tourism businesses worry about international cruise tours being cut off

Many international travel agencies and shipping lines are concerned that the suspension of receiving passenger ships in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area from October 2025 will disrupt the chain of cruise tours to Ho Chi Minh City.

Many international travel agencies and shipping lines are expressing concern over the news that ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area (HCMC) will temporarily stop receiving international passenger ships from October 2025.

According to Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) - one of the world's leading cruise ship corporations, it has just sent a document to the authorities to reflect that ports in Phu My ward (HCMC) have stopped receiving international passenger ships. The decision was made suddenly, causing the Ovation of the Seas, carrying more than 4,000 passengers, scheduled to dock at TCCT port on October 18, to cancel its schedule, causing great damage to businesses and tourists.

Star Voyager cruise ship docked at Phu My port, Ho Chi Minh City last June

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

RCG representative said that the Ovation of the Seas ship departed from Hong Kong on October 16 and could only dock at one of the major ports in the Thi Vai - Phu My area.

Sharing the same concern, Saigontourist Travel Company has sent a document to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism requesting permission for container ports or general ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area to pilot receiving international passenger ships, ensuring the reception and departure of cruise ship passengers during the peak season of 2025-2026.

According to Saigontourist, for many years, international cruises have been safely and smoothly arriving in this area, averaging 60-80 trips per year, bringing in significant revenue for local tourism and services. Passengers on international cruises often spend 4-8 hours visiting destinations in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist, said that from now until April 2026, there are about 15 international cruises with 40,000 passengers waiting to dock. "If there is no solution soon, a series of cruises are at risk of being canceled, causing great damage to businesses and negatively affecting the image of Vietnam tourism," Mr. Luu said.

Ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area (HCMC) temporarily stop receiving international passenger ships from October 2025

PHOTO: NGUYEN LONG

This unit also recommended that the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism report and propose to the Vietnam Maritime Administration and relevant agencies to allow a pilot program to receive international passenger ships at Cai Mep - Thi Vai until the end of 2026, to maintain cruise tourism activities and ensure the reputation of the destination.

On October 14, in a written response to SP-PSA International Port Company Limited, the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration (Ministry of Construction) said: according to the seaport system development plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Thi Vai wharf area is designated for goods, containers, bulk cargo and liquid/gas cargo, not including the function of receiving international tourists. Therefore, the Administration does not have a legal basis to approve the proposal to operate passenger ships in this area.

Adjusting the function to allow international tourists to be welcomed at existing container ports is a time-consuming procedure, while international cruise ship schedules are often set many months in advance.

Lack of specialized ports for sea tourism

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Currently, Vietnam does not have a specialized port for sea tourism, except for Ha Long which has an international wharf. Most cruise tourists to Vietnam take 4-9 day cruises, with large numbers but short visit times (average 4-8 hours).

It is estimated that each cruise passenger spends about 100 to 200 USD/day (about 2.4 to 4.8 million VND/day) in Vietnam, without staying overnight on the ship. However, due to the lack of specialized port infrastructure, Vietnam still finds it difficult to take advantage of the flow of high-spending and long-stay guests, while cruise tourism is growing strongly in Asia - Pacific.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doanh-nghiep-du-lich-tphcm-lo-dut-tour-tau-bien-quoc-te-185251016162017526.htm