The welcome ceremony, jointly organized by the municipal Department of Tourism, Chan May Port JSC, and Saigontourist Travel Service Co., Ltd., highlighted the city’s growing appeal as a premier tourist destination.

Anthem of the Seas, a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean, arrived with 4,455 international visitors from countries such as the U.K., Australia, and the U.S.

Passengers were greeted with traditional Vietnamese hospitality, including flowers, gifts, and a lion dance performance.

Approximately 2,000 passengers embarked on tours to explore central Vietnam’s renowned attractions, including Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam.

In Hue, more than 500 visitors visited iconic sites like the imperial city, Tu Duc tomb, and Thien Mu pagoda, immersing themselves in the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The department reported an encouraging outlook for 2025, with 49 cruise ships carrying nearly 100,000 passengers and 39,212 crew members already registered to dock at Chan May Port.

This builds on the success of 2024, which saw the port receiving 40 cruise ships and over 90,000 passengers and crew.

The locality has ambitious goals for this year, aiming to attract up to 5 million visitors, with international tourists making up 38% to 40% of the total.

Tourism revenue is projected to reach VND10.8 trillion-11.2 trillion (US$425.4 million-441.2 million). To achieve these targets, the city has organized an extensive lineup of events under the National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025, themed around four seasons.