A Hong Kong cruise line operator has plans to quadruple the number of journeys to Vietnam next year, its Vietnamese partner has said.

Star Cruises will bring international tourists to Vietnam on a total of 50 trips this year, and wants to increase the number to 200 in 2016, according to Vu Duy Vu, deputy general director of Saigontourist, a major travel firm in Ho Chi Minh City.

Two of the Star Cruises ships, SuperStar Libra and SuperStar Virgo, are expected to bring well off vacationers from Hong Kong and mainland China to Ha Long City, in the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, and the central city of Da Nang, Vu told newswire The Saigon Times Online.

This is the biggest plan the Hong Kong cruise line operator has ever made for the Vietnamese market in the last 20 years, according to the Saigontourist executive.

“What’s more noteworthy is that passengers of the Star Cruises may stay overnight in Vietnam instead of only making same-day visits as they are currently doing,” he divulged.

Star Cruises representatives worked Tuesday with authorities in Quang Ninh to seek permission to offer shopping and entertaining services, including casinos, on board the SuperStar Libra and SuperStar Virgo when they drop anchor in these cities.

“These services are necessary for passengers when the cruise ships stay overnight at a destination, but they are prohibited by Vietnamese authorities,” Vu explained.

“So Star Cruises is asking for support from the Quang Ninh administration regarding the issue, and will do the same with the Da Nang administration and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.”

Star Cruises, a member of Genting Hong Kong, is the third largest cruise line in the world after Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Last year the Royal Caribbean Cruises also called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to allow it to open on-board casinos to passengers when their ships dock at Vietnamese ports, according to The Saigon Times Online.

But the Vietnamese ministry has so far made no decision on the request.

Star Cruises has been operating its fleet since 1993, taking on the bold initiative to grow the Asia Pacific region as an international cruise destination with a fleet of six vessels, including SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Libra, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Aquarius, Star Pisces and The Taipan.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!