Vietnam halts cruise ships at key port over licenses
4 min read
Ho Chi Minh City's burgeoning cruise tourism industry faces a critical disruption after Vietnamese maritime authorities halted international cruise ship operations at the key Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster, forcing a major Royal Caribbean vessel to divert to another port and threatening Vietnam's position on global cruise itineraries.
Here are the three key points summarizing the recent disruption to international cruise ship arrivals in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Ho Chi Minh City has faced sudden regulatory restrictions at the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster, preventing international cruise ships like Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas from docking as scheduled, forcing ships to reroute and threatening future cruise itineraries.
- The disruption is linked to licensing issues because the container ports lack official "passenger ship" status, despite having safely handled cruise visits for years; this regulatory action risks major financial losses for the city’s tourism sector, since cruise guests generate much higher per-capita spending compared to other tourists.
- Industry leaders and tourism authorities are urgently appealing for temporary permissions to allow ship arrivals through at least late 2026 while compliance issues are resolved, warning that ongoing disruptions could impact tens of thousands of visitors, damage contracts, and harm Vietnam’s broader tourism reputation.
The crisis unfolded on October 15 when Royal Caribbean Group's Asia Vice President Wendy Yamazaki sent an urgent letter to Vietnamese authorities, warning that the company would be forced to remove Ho Chi Minh City from its Asian cruise routes if the port access issue isn't resolved immediately. The Ovation of the Seas, carrying more than 4,000 passengers and originally scheduled to dock at TCCT Port on October 18, has been rerouted to Chan May Port in Hue on October 17.
Regulatory Standoff Threatens Tourism Revenue
The Vietnam Maritime Administration cited regulatory compliance issues, stating that the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port cluster lacks proper "passenger ship function" in its operational licenses. The ports - including TCCT, TCIT, and TCTT - were primarily designed for cargo containers, not cruise passengers, according to officials from the Ministry of Construction's maritime authority.[1][2]
This regulatory interpretation has blindsided tourism operators who have been safely operating cruise services at these ports for years. Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist Travel, reported that the company has welcomed approximately 48,000 cruise passengers in the first six months of 2025 alone, with an average of 60-80 cruise ship visits annually.[3][4]
"The suspension creates serious difficulties for our upcoming business plans," Luu stated, noting that 15 additional cruise ships carrying 40,000 passengers are scheduled between now and April 2026. The economic stakes are substantial - cruise passengers typically spend $500-700 per day compared to $100 for traditional tourists, making them a "gold mine" for Vietnam's tourism sector.[4][3]
Broader Pattern of Port Disruptions
This latest crisis follows a troubling pattern for Vietnam's cruise industry. Nha Trang Port was similarly closed in September 2024 due to safety concerns, leading to the cancellation of 13 international cruise ships and affecting over 32,000 tourists. Royal Caribbean's letter specifically referenced this precedent, noting that "Nha Trang also came out of the journey to Vietnam" following its port closure.[1][2][3]
Vietnam welcomed over 190,000 cruise passengers in the first nine months of 2025, contributing significantly to the country's tourism revenue of VND 21.5 trillion ($833.1 million) in the first quarter alone. The cruise industry disruptions threaten these gains as Vietnam pursues ambitious targets of 22-23 million international visitors and $39-42 billion in tourism revenue for 2025.[4][5][6]
Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism has urgently requested municipal authorities to allow temporary cruise operations until December 2026 while proper licensing procedures are completed. A maritime authority official indicated that temporary operations until year-end could be approved while businesses complete the necessary regulatory upgrades, emphasizing the need to balance regulatory compliance with economic considerations.[5][4]
Reference sources:
[1](https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/news-temporary-suspension-of-cruise-ship-arrivals-at-nha-trang-port-in-vietnam/)[2](https://news.tuoitre.vn/13-international-cruise-ships-canceled-as-nha-trang-closes-port-temporarily-10382455.htm)[3](https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/cruise-ships-with-32-000-tourists-cancel-nha-trang-trips-due-to-port-maintenance-4805267.html)[4](https://www.sggp.org.vn/nguy-co-gian-doan-don-khach-tau-bien-quoc-te-den-tphcm-chay-dua-bo-sung-thu-tuc-cong-nang-tau-khach-post818478.html)[5](https://dttc.sggp.org.vn/nguy-co-gian-doan-don-khach-tau-bien-quoc-te-den-tphcm-post127363.html)[6](https://global-angle.com/vietnams-tourism-sector-a-rebound-fueled-by-opportunity/)[1](https://www.vietnam.vn/en/doanh-nghiep-ngoi-tren-lua-khi-cang-o-tp-hcm-ngung-don-khach-du-lich-tau-bien)[2](https://www.vietnam.vn/en/doanh-nghiep-lo-lang-truoc-thong-tin-dung-tiep-nhan-tau-khach-quoc-te-tai-cai-mep-thi-vai)[3](https://www.sggp.org.vn/nguy-co-gian-doan-don-khach-tau-bien-quoc-te-den-tphcm-chay-dua-bo-sung-thu-tuc-cong-nang-tau-khach-post818478.html)[4](https://dttc.sggp.org.vn/nguy-co-gian-doan-don-khach-tau-bien-quoc-te-den-tphcm-post127363.html)