British billionaire captivated by Ha Long International Cruise Port.

On May 16, 2019, the superyacht of British billionaire Joe Lewis – owner of Tottenham Hotspur football team – docked at Ha Long International Cruise Port. His ship was initially scheduled to stay in Ha Long until May 22, 2019. However, the excellent port services and the captivating beauty of the heritage city led Joe Lewis to decide to stay in Quang Ninh for another 10 days. It is highly likely that the British billionaire will interact with and watch the 2019 Champions League final between his team, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool on June 1st with football fans in Quang Ninh.

Captain Septimu commented that Ha Long International Cruise Port is the most upscale and cleanest port we've visited in Vietnam and truly worthy of welcoming luxury cruise ships from around the world. It is also the first dedicated port in Vietnam (specifically for cruise ships) to officially begin operations to receive international vessels, starting on December 31, 2018.

According to statistics, in the first four months of 2019, the port welcomed approximately 56,000 visitors, accounting for 47% of the total number of international tourists arriving in Vietnam by sea (119,000). Notably, the port received 25 large cruise ships such as Celebrity Millennium, World Dream, Mein Chiff, Westerdam, and Voyager of the Sea. These international ships, mainly cruise ships with a tonnage of up to 225,000 GRT originating from Hong Kong and Singapore, chose Ha Long Bay as a convenient and attractive destination on their Asian cruise itineraries. In addition, there were quite a few large 5-star ships from other continents, such as the Columbus from the United Kingdom and the Seven Seas Mariner departing from Sydney.

The Ha Long International Passenger Port and the inland waterway terminal – marina – are located on the left side of the Hon Gai – Cai Lan channel in Bai Chay ward, Ha Long city, easily accommodating tourist ships, speedboats, and yachts visiting the heritage bay. The facility is designed with four modern piers, with a maximum capacity of 220 tourist and overnight cruise ships operating on routes to Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Gia Luan pier (Cat Ba). It is capable of serving large tourist ships, speedboats, sightseeing boats, and overnight cruise ships.

In particular, the soon-to-be-opened tourist pier will eliminate the image of crowds of people queuing in the sun to buy tickets to visit Ha Long Bay. Instead, visitors will have wonderful experiences enjoying the stunning architecture, savoring delicious cuisine, and browsing and shopping for trendy items at the port terminal while waiting to buy tickets to visit the bay.

Spanning three floors with a total area of ​​13,500 square meters and a capacity of up to 2,000 people, the port terminal features comfortable waiting areas, duty-free shops offering high-end items such as wine, jewelry, and cosmetics, and currency exchange counters. In addition, there is a supermarket, food and beverage outlets, and souvenir shops selling local products.

Under the "magical touch" of Bill Bensley – one of the world's top 5 architects – the port terminal is a refined blend of Vietnamese and European cultural and architectural essence, resembling a corner of Hoi An ancient town from the outside, but inside looking like the hold of a 13th-century ship with its system of wooden columns, wooden and steel ceilings, and elaborate interior design.

The tourist pier is located right at the foot of the Bai Chay Bridge, connecting the Bai Chay tourist area with the political, economic, and cultural center of Quang Ninh province in Hon Gai, making it easy for tourists to both visit the Bai Chay Bridge and experience, shop, eat, and explore Hon Gai city.

Ha Long International Cruise Port has established itself as the first specialized international cruise port in Vietnam capable of accommodating both domestic and international tourists. Ha Long International Cruise Port will quickly leverage its advantages and affirm its important role in the maritime tourism development strategy of a province with rich potential like Quang Ninh.

Here are some more images of Ha Long International Cruise Port:

The Phong