Open the way to attract yachts, welcome VIP guests

Although there is great potential for the development of the yacht industry, yachting activities in Vietnam still have many problems that need to be resolved.

Welcoming over 500 yachts per year

The first days of the new year are considered the "golden" time for sea tourism. Ha Long seaport continuously welcomes many international cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists.

Superyachts such as Celebrity Solstice, Le Lapérouse… carry high-class guests mainly from European and American countries.

Ana Marina Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa.

Not only in Ha Long, many other areas such as Hue, Quy Nhon, Ba Ria - Vung Tau have also continuously welcomed many international cruise ships with thousands of tourists.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Maritime Administration, in 2024, the number of passengers passing through Vietnamese seaports will reach more than 7.7 million, an increase of 7% over the same period in 2023.

With the attraction of more than 500 cruise ships in the Asia region each year, Vietnam is on the list of countries with the highest number of cruise ships arriving, along with Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The activities of these vehicles are mainly concentrated in localities with many potential advantages in terms of sea, islands and rivers such as: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City...

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, in some cities, there are many yacht consulting companies and yacht companies with offices in Vietnam. At the same time, some individuals and organizations have also traded, distributed, purchased, exploited, and used yachts for personal purposes, entertainment, recreation, sports, etc.

To date, more than 200 imported vehicles have been imported and operated in Vietnam in a similar form to the world's private yacht model. This requires the management of yacht operations to become increasingly professional and systematic.

No dedicated port yet

Having many years of experience in the yachting industry, Mr. Pham Ha, CEO of LuxGroup, affirmed that yachting is a trend, not only large yachts carrying passengers, but also personal yachts.

Not to mention, Vietnam has many good quality shipyards that can build beautiful yachts. However, the definition of a yacht in Vietnam is currently unclear.

Cruise operations in Vietnam are often understood in a broad sense, including international passenger ships, private yachts, and cruise ships that combine sightseeing with dining and resting in bays. Therefore, regulations also have shortcomings in management and inspection.

In some countries, cruise ships or inland waterway vessels carrying tourists are clearly defined for easy management. In addition, the characteristics of cruise ship customers are mainly high-class customers, so ports and wharves need to be designed specifically and conveniently. However, in Vietnam, there are not many separate wharves for cruise ships.

According to Mr. Ha, many areas developing coastal tourism such as Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Da Nang… do not have dedicated wharves. Most of the current cruise terminals are dual-use ports (operating both passenger and cargo ships), so they are often shabby and unsightly.

A representative of the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that Vietnam has not yet completed the system of legal documents related to the management and exploitation of yachts.

Vehicles can be registered to operate in many different ways such as seagoing vessels, inland waterway vehicles, yachts, and vehicles serving water recreation and entertainment.

Development of cruise combined with tourism

According to the investigation of Giao thong Newspaper, the Ministry of Transport has just approved the "Yacht Management Project". In the project, many difficulties and problems in the management and exploitation of yachts are clearly pointed out.

For example, the operating area of ​​yachts is limited when registered as inland waterway vehicles or water recreation vehicles. Regulations on the number and requirements for crew members are also not suitable for the transport capacity and nature of yacht operations.

In addition, the procedures for entering and leaving the port are applied according to the procedures for regular passenger ships and boats. This limits the operating time and space of this type of yacht. In addition, there are currently no regulations on anchorage areas suitable for the nature and design of yachts (small size, small draft).

In order to create momentum for the development of commercial, service and industrial activities related to yachts, the project puts forward many proposals.

Notably, the pilot study on cruise ship management in Vietnam focuses on some key areas with potential for marine tourism development and suitable infrastructure, targeting international tourists. At the same time, developing cruise ships combined with community tourism and eco-tourism activities.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/mo-loi-hut-du-thuyen-don-khach-vip-192250103004124612.htm