Paradise Legacy’s 140m² suite offers breathtaking heritage views

A global shift in cruise trends

According to CLIA Global Cruise Trends 2025, cruise travel is entering a new era where each journey is shaped by emotional, personalised experiences rooted in local culture and sustainability. Luxury now lies in meaningful moments that connect travellers with nature and heritage.

Across destinations from the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia, travellers increasingly seek cultural immersion, not just scenery, but stories expressed through food, music, and daily life. In Việt Nam, Hạ Long Bay remains a standout, with Vietnamese cruise brands bringing national identity onboard.

Paradise Vietnam is a leading example, recently named Leading Luxury Ocean Cruise Line 2025 and the only Vietnamese nominee for World’s Best Small Cruise Ship at the World Cruise Awards 2025.

A nearly two-decade journey elevating cruise standards

Since 2008, Paradise Vietnam has been at the forefront of introducing luxury overnight cruises in Hạ Long Bay. From the traditional wooden Paradise Sails and Paradise Peak to later generations of steel-hulled vessels like Paradise Elegance and Paradise Grand, the evolution reflects Việt Nam’s shift from “good service” to “world-class experience creation.”

Paradise Elegance (31 cabins, Hạ Long Bay) and Paradise Grand (39 cabins, Lan Hạ Bay, Cát Bà) offer premium cruising standards with neoclassical design, private balconies, modern amenities, and panoramic ocean views. Culinary experiences include diverse Asian–European buffet offerings and refined set dinners featuring signature dishes such as Thermidor lobster and Australian beef tenderloin. Entertainment is elevated through expansive sundecks and live international bands performing at the lounge.

In 2023, the brand introduced Paradise Delight - a dining-and-sightseeing cruise offering a lavish buffet of 100+ dishes and two itineraries: A 4-hour evening cruise showcasing Hạ Long’s nightscape and fireworks, and a 7-hour daytime voyage to Sửng Sốt Cave, Titop Island, and Luồn Cave, plus activities like kayaking and bamboo boating.

Paradise Legacy: A new milestone for Vietnamese cruises

Launched in October, Paradise Legacy marks a new chapter for Vietnamese cruising, merging international luxury with Asian cultural identity. The vessel features 42 cabins, including the 140m² Gallery Suites designed like presidential accommodation. All cabins include full-height windows and private balconies, offering sweeping views of the bay.

The restaurant space seamlessly connects with the central lounge. Its unlimited à la carte fine-dining dinner blends elegant Vietnamese dishes with standout European and Asian flavours. Distinctively, guests are invited to wear Áo dài ngũ thân during dinner, turning the meal into a deep cultural immersion. Additional experiences include Vietnamese-style afternoon tea, local cooking classes, and workshops on making traditional bánh gối Tràng An.

Driving Quảng Ninh’s high-end tourism strategy

Luxury overnight cruises have become a strategic pillar for Quảng Ninh, attracting international visitors and boosting per-capita spending. The province aims to build a fleet that meets international 4–5-star standards.

In the first 10 months of 2025, Quảng Ninh welcomed 18.43 million visitors and generated over VND 48 trillion in tourism revenue, a 21 per cent increase year-on-year. These results reaffirm the central role of high-quality tourism, with luxury cruises emerging as one of its most powerful growth engines./.