During the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday of Binh Ngo 2026, Da Nang welcomed nearly 4,200 cruise passengers, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic tourism atmosphere from the very first days of the year.
Notably, on the 3rd day of Tet (February 19, 2026), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City, in coordination with Da Nang Port Joint Stock Company and the Border Guard of Da Nang Port, organized a ceremonial welcome for the cruise ship Seabourn Encore, operated by Tan Hong Travel.
The vessel carried more than 1,000 people, including 580 tourists from key markets such as the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, along with 500 crew members. The ship docked at Tien Sa Port (Son Tra Ward) in the morning and departed at 6:00 PM the same day.
In welcoming the international cruise delegation, Da Nang offered not only a festive atmosphere with lion dances and souvenirs, but also introduced traditional Tet cultural elements through conical hats and gift boxes featuring banh chung and banh tet—symbolic delicacies of Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
During their stay, visitors explored the city’s diverse tourism ecosystem, from the Museum of Cham Sculpture and Marble Mountains to Hoi An Ancient Town. The harmonious blend of heritage values and warm hospitality reaffirmed Da Nang’s position as a destination rich in cultural identity and always ready to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences.
Throughout the Tet holiday period (February 16–22, 2026), in addition to the Seabourn Encore on the 3rd day of Tet, Da Nang continuously welcomed other international cruise ships, significantly increasing cruise arrivals during the holiday. Specifically, on February 20, 2026 (4th day of Tet), the city received approximately 2,800 passengers from major European markets such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. On February 22, 2026 (6th day of Tet), another 650 European visitors arrived to experience the city’s distinctive tourism products.
Mr. Tan Van Vuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang City, stated:
“The Lunar New Year 2026 recorded positive results in cruise passenger arrivals to Da Nang, demonstrating that this segment is recovering and growing strongly. In the coming time, the city will continue to intensify market promotion, enhance the quality of tourism products and services, and strengthen cooperation with cruise lines, ports, and international travel companies to attract more cruise ships and visitors to Da Nang.”
In 2025, Da Nang’s cruise tourism sector recorded positive growth from European, American, British, German, Australian, and Chinese markets. The city welcomed 47 cruise ships with 57,600 passengers—an increase of 37.1% year-on-year, with 12 additional ship calls compared to the previous period.
In 2026, cruise arrivals are expected to maintain this upward momentum. Da Nang is projected to receive 59 cruise ships with over 64,000 passengers, representing an estimated 11% increase compared to 2025.
These encouraging signals from the cruise market at the very beginning of 2026 open up promising prospects for sustainable growth in Da Nang’s tourism sector, contributing to socio-economic development and supporting the city’s goal of achieving double-digit growth in the coming years.
DA NANG DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM
