Genting Dream, a cruiser of the Hong Kong-based luxury cruise line Dream Cruises, carrying 2,300 international passengers, berthed at Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port on Thursday afternoon.

The 151,300-ton, 335m-long and 40m-wide, cruise ship features 19 decks

Around 1,500 of the passengers enjoyed tours around the city and visited popular tourist attractions including the Linh Ung Pagoda, the Marble Mountains, and the Museum of Cham Sculpture.  They also went shopping at the Han Market, Big C Mall, and other venues.

The ship stayed overnight in Da Nang and left the city today (11 November) for Hong Kong and China's Guangzhou City.  Previously, on 8 and 9 November, it had docked at the ports of Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang cities.

Genting Dream is Dream Cruises’ first cruise ship designed especially for the upscale Asian cruise market, and it is one of the largest and most spacious cruise ships in Asia. The ship can accommodate a total of 3,400 guests and 2,000 crew members.

Yesterday afternoon, during his speech at a ceremony to welcome the ship to the city, municipal People's Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung highly applauded Dream Cruises for choosing Da Nang as one of the stops during its journey to Viet Nam.  He hoped that even more similar visits would be made in the years ahead.

Vice Chairman Dung remarked, “In attempting to welcome more international cruise ships, Da Nang is focussing on upgrading its modern seaport infrastructure systems and facilitating entry procedures for cruise ship passengers”.

He also highlighted the significance of the visits made by hi-end and modern international cruise ships in helping his city promote luxury holiday and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism products in the future.

The city leader vowed that the city authorities would exert even more efforts to ensure a local safe and friendly tourism environment in order to secure its reputation as an attractive destination for visitors.

Here are some photos of the Genting Dream and its passengers and crew members, taken by our reporter Thu Ha.

Modern swimming pool

Spacious relaxing room for passengers

Vice Chairman Dung (first row, 2nd right) with some of the crew

Some cruise ship passengers taking photos with local lion dancers after the welcoming ceremony

A traditional arts performance

Cruise ship passengers arriving at the port …

… and entering the city