Authorities have permitted tourist boats to transport passengers between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong along four routes connecting Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
After the regulation takes effect, Ha Long Bay is expected to receive an additional 5,000 to 6,000 visitors per day and more than 50 overnight cruise boats from Lan Ha Bay. Opening the route between the two bays is not only a landmark administrative decision but also a shift from boundary-based management to integrated heritage space governance.
Mr. Pham Dinh Huynh – Deputy Head of the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board

Expanding regional development thinking and removing administrative boundaries will create a connected heritage space and open opportunities for a tourism corridor. Ha Long Bay’s cave systems and unique geological and geomorphological values will be linked with the ecological space, beaches, forests and fishing villages of Lan Ha Bay. The new route allows visitors to explore two to three bays in a single journey.
Instead of two-day, one-night tours, visitors can now stay longer with flexible two- to three-day itineraries featuring activities such as kayaking, cave exploration, fishing village experiences and swimming. Longer stays are expected to increase spending, especially in the high-end segment targeted by Vietnam’s tourism industry.