Cruise tourism in Asian countries, including Viet Nam, was growing in recent years, experts said at a conference on "Asian vision - adapt to the regional development trend" held by the Singapore Tourism Board in HCM City last week.

In 2011, the number of cruise tourists worldwide was about 1.7 million, but only a small percentage of them came to Asia. It is forecast that 25 per cent of the world's cruise tourists will come to this region in 2020.

With many World Heritage sites and a 3,000km coastline, Viet Nam is considered an attractive destination,

Tran Trong Kien, general director of Thien Minh Group, said the demand for crusise tourism in Viet Nam was growing very well and would rise by 25 per cent in the next five years. The company has invested in 10 passenger ships in Ha Long Bay, and is planning to get more in the coming years to meet rising demand.-VNS