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Since 2018, Ha Long Bay has witnessed a strong boom in overnight cruises, with investments in both quality and scale from various cruise lines. The competition in pricing, as well as the variety of 1- or 2-night tours, has led to a rapid increase in the number of Vietnamese tourists choosing this type of sightseeing.
Recently, many tourists have opted for traditional day tours of the bay, offering advantages such as saving time and money, along with a packed itinerary of exciting experiences. However, these day tours are severely limited in terms of facilities and service quality, and fundamentally, they do not meet the needs of tourists.
Ambassador II is Vietnam's newest and largest day cruise ship, with a capacity of up to 500 guests.
Understanding customer psychology and aiming to change the stereotype that overnight cruise tours in Ha Long Bay are primarily for high-income tourists, the Ambassador II (Ambassador Day Cruise II) officially launched in early February 2023 with affordable prices suitable for both domestic and international tourists.
With a total investment of $20 million, the Ambassador II cruise ship is 16 meters wide, 90 meters long, weighs 500 tons, has 5 above-ground decks and 1 basement deck, and a total usable area of up to 10,000 square meters.2Currently, Ambassador II is the newest and largest day cruise ship in Vietnam, with a capacity of up to 500 guests, designed to international standards.
The highlight of the Ambassador II Day Cruise is its system of 45 luxurious cabins available for hourly stays, each with a private balcony and full amenities, equivalent to a 5-star hotel room.
A Halong Bay cruise with Ambassador II will take visitors to admire famous landmarks such as Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, and more. Besides enjoying the sights, guests can also experience the cruise's amenities, including a choice of Asian and European cuisine at two luxurious restaurants, an outdoor jacuzzi, and a bar.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Nhat, General Director of Asia Luxury Cruises Corporation (APC), in recent years, cruise tours of Ha Long Bay have attracted increasing interest and popularity, with a growing number of tourists, making Ha Long Bay one of the must-see destinations in Vietnam. He hopes that Ambassador II will make the journey of exploring this heritage bay even more fulfilling for visitors.
Besides enjoying the scenic views, tourists can also experience the services on the cruise ship with a choice of Asian and European cuisine, an outdoor jacuzzi, a bar, and more.
Edgar Cayanan, CEO of Ambassador II Day Cruises, shared: “With years of experience in the cruise industry, we want to create the most enjoyable experiences for our guests by combining a range of 5-star services to provide a space that is both entertaining and exploratory, while also being a suitable place for relaxation. Day cruises are also ideal for hosting events such as weddings and birthday parties...”
In 2023, Ha Long Bay is expected to welcome 8.5 million visitors. This presents a good opportunity for Vietnam's tourism industry in general, and Ha Long tourism in particular, to recover. Tour operators offering day trips on the bay need to adapt and change to meet the increasingly high demands and expectations of tourists.
Right from its launch, the Ambassador II day cruise ship welcomed large international groups of guests. These included 400 guests from the Drukpa lineage, comprising monks, priests, and Buddhists from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Australia, and Vietnam, who participated in a ceremony of releasing animals to pray for national peace and prosperity; and 412 guests from wealthy Indian families who held a pre-wedding party…
