Both Hạ Long tourist ports have simultaneously increased service fees.

Tuan Chau International Cruise Port and Ha Long International Cruise Port have both increased port service fees for tourists and mooring fees for vessels. Passenger tickets will increase to 60,000 VND per person per trip. Senior citizens will receive a 50% discount, and children aged 7 to 15 will receive a 20% discount.

For tourist boats, the service fee has increased by 50,000 VND/trip; the fee for security, order, and public lighting has increased by 100,000 VND/boat/month; and the mooring fee has increased to 9,000 VND/meter.²/month.

With the increase in passenger port fees, the entrance fee to Ha Long Bay per passenger will increase to 460,000 VND for Route 1 (310,000 VND for the sightseeing ticket and 150,000 VND for the boat ticket). For Route 2, the price will increase to 510,000 VND (310,000 VND for the sightseeing ticket and 200,000 VND for the boat ticket). Of the 310,000 VND for the sightseeing ticket, 60,000 VND is the port fee collected by the ports.

The price for an overnight stay in Ha Long Bay will also increase, averaging from 600,000 to 800,000 VND per person.

The increase in service fees will make the cost of traveling to Ha Long Bay higher, especially for tourists traveling by cruise ship. However, tourism businesses and authorities need to find solutions to minimize the impact of this on tourists, ensuring that Ha Long Bay remains an attractive destination.

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai