Phu Quoc sees tourism boost with arrival of multiple 5-star cruise ships

After docking, guests from the French cruise ship would go on various cultural, historical, and spiritual tours, and coral diving.

Phu Quoc offered the first taste of exploration for a 7-day trip in Vietnam, before the travelers head to other destinations like Con Dao Island, Cai Be Town in the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City.

Truong Ngoc Hung, tour operations manager for the southern region of Vivu Journeys, the leading unit behind the tour group, said visitors will get to experience Vietnam's beauty through its beaches and urban areas, while also learning about the country's cultural and historical significance.

Tourists step off the Le Jacques Cartier cruise ship to explore Phu Quoc Island on the morning of Feb. 22, 2024. Photo courtesy of Vivu Journeys

Le Jacques Cartier features 9 inflatable boats for guest transport, 5 guest decks with 92 sea-facing rooms, and measures 130 meters long and 18 meters wide, with a speed of 23 km/h.

Cruise tour prices range from US$6,000 to $26,000, depending on the itinerary, timing, and destination.

The French 5-star cruise ship, Le Jacques Cartier. Photo courtesy of Ponant

During the Lunar New Year holiday on Feb. 8-14, Phu Quoc welcomed around 52,000 international visitors, nearly six-fold increase compared to last year. They generated tourism revenues eight times more than last year.

Le Jacques Cartier's group is the third international visitors aboard a 5-star cruise ship to visit Phu Quoc this year. In February, Phu Quoc welcomed two other ships: Germany's Aida Bella with nearly 2,000 passengers, and Italian ship Costa Serena with over 1,000 passengers.