Hon Gai International Harbour will allow the world's largest cruise ships to dock in the UNESCO heritage site.
Of the nearly VND1 trillion (US$45.54 million) cost, the state will contribute VND300 billion while real estate giant Sun Group will splash out the rest according to Dan Tri.
The 1.2-kilometers-long body of water will be able to accommodate vessels measuring up to 330 meters and holding 6,500 passengers. A three floor, 13,500-square-meter terminal will cater to the arrival and departure of cruise goers.
The area already has four ports, which are harbors with substantial equipment for unloading commercial cargo, that service cruise ships. The newest, Tuan Chau, opened in 2015 and was built by its namesake corporation. The ports, however, cannot handle the world's largest boats. In the event that such a nautical behemoth plans to visit Ha Long Bay, it must dock far from shore and bring passengers via smaller boats which can take upwards of two hours.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's major tourist destinations, attracting 100 luxury cruises ships ferrying 200,000 visitors.
[Photo via Dan Tri]
