Foreign tourists on a cruise tour in Lan Hạ Bay. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH — A sea tourism route connecting Hạ Long Bay in the northern province of Quảng Ninh and Lan Hạ Bay in Hải Phòng City was officially launched on Wednesday, marking a major step toward unlocking the shared value of the UNESCO-recognised heritage area spanning the two destinations.

The new passenger transport scheme, jointly implemented by the two localities, is designed to facilitate seamless travel across the heritage zone and materialise their cooperation commitments following UNESCO’s recognition of the Hạ Long Bay–Cát Bà Archipelago complex.

Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, Vice Chairwoman of the Quảng Ninh People’s Committee, said unlocking this route will not only open up significant development potential for both localities but also help enhance the value of heritage exploitation.

According to the Management Board of the Hạ Long Bay– Yên Tử World Heritage Site, once the new mechanism takes effect, Hạ Long Bay is expected to welcome an additional 5,000–6,000 visitors per day, along with more than 50 overnight cruise vessels arriving from Lan Hạ Bay.

To ensure smooth and safe operations, relevant agencies in Quảng Ninh have been instructed to urgently standardise vessel requirements. Tourist boats must strictly comply with technical safety and environmental regulations under Circular No. 66/2025/TT-BXD issued by the Ministry of Construction, particularly those applied to accommodation vessels and floating restaurants.

Alongside facilitating licensing procedures and improving connectivity between the two bays, competent forces, including border guards, waterway police, and port authorities, will strengthen oversight and strictly handle violations to maintain security, safety, and a fair tourism business environment.

The implementation of coordination regulations signed on March 26, 2026, represents a significant breakthrough in removing administrative barriers in tourism development, paving the way for building an attractive inter-regional tourism product for domestic and international visitors.

Tickets for the route will officially go on sale on April 4 at Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and Hạ Long International Cruise Port. — VNA/🆚