Cruise tourism is seen as a “gold mine” for Vietnam due to the rapid growth of visitors from this segment. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed over 400,000 cruise tourists – a 27% increase from the previous year. The country has been upgrading its infrastructure and facilities to cater to the growing demand, including building modern ports and terminals. Vietnam’s tourism industry hopes to continue appealing to cruise travelers by offering unique cultural experiences and scenic destinations, such as Ha Long Bay and Da Nang. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the cruise industry, and Vietnam has also had to suspend cruise operations to prevent the spread of the virus. Despite the challenges, Vietnam remains optimistic about the future of cruise tourism and plans to continue investing in the sector.