The arrival of first international cruise liner on the New Year day is hoped to open up a year of development for this kind of tourism in the city. Hai Phong targets to welcome 900,000 foreign arrivals of a total 4.5 million tourists in 2011, an increase 7.14 percent over the previous year.

The Bahamas-flagged ship was on a one-day tour to Hai Phong, during which tourists would visit villages and places of interest in the inner city.

Meanwhile all hotels in SaPa resort town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, were fully booked on the first days of 2011, promising a good year for the Sa Pa tourism sector.

According to the Sa Pa Tourism Centre, the town is capable of accommodating about 4,500-5,000 visitors a night.