On September 14, Viet Thuan Transport Company Limited - one of the leading shipping units in the country and owner of the two largest overnight cruise ships in Ha Long Bay - started construction of new cruise ships to visit Ha Long Bay, with a total investment of more than 60 billion VND.
The new ship is called explora By Grand Pioneers Cruises, a two-ders ship, 46m long, 14.6m wide, 3.8m high, and 1.75m sunk.
This is also a double-decker tourist ship in Ha Long Bay until this point.
The ship has a displacement of more than 58 tons, a total capacity of 833, equipped with 2 main engines with a total capacity of 1,300 horsepower, designed to carry 99 passengers, 7 crew members and 6 service staff.
The ship divides into many water-closed compartments and is equipped with a two-layer bottom system to increase safety and prevent subsidence in all weather conditions. With the VR-SB ship class, explora By Grand Pioneers Cruises is allowed to operate in coastal areas within a 12-day radius. In particular, the ship has a safety coefficient of K of 4, 4 times higher than the maritime standard - the highest safety coefficient in Ha Long Bay. These are important solutions to ensure maximum safety for visitors when visiting the World Natural Heritage.
It is expected that the ship will be put into commercial operation from the first quarter of 2026, serving the "Heritage Journey" route, along with 2 Grand Pioneers cruise ships, worth about 35 million USD, which Viet Thuan Transport Company Limited had previously deployed.
This is also a "unique" journey lasting 3 days and 2 nights, 4 times longer than regular tours. The route starts from Dau Go cave to Xuong Rong island, covering the entire world heritage area recognized by UNESCO. Tourists have the opportunity to explore the pristine landscape, fully experience the four heritage values of Ha Long Bay in terms of biodiversity, aesthetics, geology - geology - geology and history - culture. These are pioneering cruise ships opening a comprehensive "Heritage Journey" route in Ha Long Bay.
