Khanh Hoa welcomed its first cruise ship visitors after Nha Trang Port temporarily closed. The ship carried 2,300 passengers from various countries to explore the coastal city for a day.
Coral Princess cruise ship docked at Cam Ranh International Port on the morning of October 23. Photo: Nha Trang Tourism Information Center.
On the morning of October 23, the Coral Princess cruise ship (registered in Bermuda) docked at Cam Ranh International Port, bringing 2,300 passengers from different countries to visit Nha Trang between 7 AM and 5 PM.
This was the first cruise ship to bring international tourists to Khanh Hoa Province after Nha Trang Port discontinued operations for repairs on September 20.
Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, along with representatives from Tan Hong Company, welcomed the ship at the port, presented flowers to the crew, and greeted the first passengers as they disembarked, taking commemorative photos.
According to the Nha Trang Tourism Promotion Center, after docking at Cam Ranh International Port, the tourists will be taken on city tours organized by Tan Hong Company, which offers a variety of itineraries around Nha Trang for visitors to choose from. These include stops at iconic locations such as Tran Phu Bridge, Ponagar Tower, Hon Chong, Dam Market, Long Son Pagoda, Stone Church, Truong Son Craft Village, and 2/4 Square.
After leaving Cam Ranh port, the group will be transferred to Nha Trang city to visit the attractions according to the schedule. Photo: Nha Trang Tourism Information Center.
Tourists will also have the option to explore several places by cyclo. Additionally, the company provides shuttle services from the port to a resort in Cam Ranh using 12-45 seat vehicles. Visitors can also explore other landmarks on their own via the Shuttle Bus service.
The ship was scheduled to depart in the afternoon, heading to Hong Kong (China).
Earlier, in early October, some agents and businesses providing services for cruise passengers had to cancel bookings and suspend luxury cruise arrivals due to Nha Trang Port being unfit for international ships, as it closed for repairs on September 20.
Khanh Hoa’s tourism leadership and various agencies held an emergency meeting to find suitable solutions to reconnect Nha Trang with international cruise visitors. Ana Marina Yacht Port was selected as a temporary replacement for Nha Trang Port during the maintenance period. However, this solution has not been implemented immediately due to some remaining legal procedures.
As of now, Khanh Hoa has welcomed 27 international cruise ships with 55,516 passengers coming ashore to explore. The Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism sees this as a positive sign for the recovery and growth of Vietnam’s cruise tourism, particularly in Khanh Hoa, contributing to the success of the province’s tourism sector.
@Znews