The Italian-flagged Costa Deliziosa, carrying 1,959 passengers and 892 crew members, arrived at SP-PSA International Port in Phu My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Quang, head of the Port Border Guard Procedures Team under the Border Guard Command of Ho Chi Minh City, said that to expedite entry procedures for nearly 2,000 passengers, the ship had completed electronic declarations in advance so that Vietnamese authorities could process the information promptly.

Upon reaching Buoy No. 0 off the coast of Vung Tau, the port border guard dispatched nine officers to board the vessel and carry out entry formalities. During the ship’s movement from Buoy No. 0 to the port, immigration procedures were completed. As soon as the vessel docked, shore passes were issued to passengers.

According to reporters from Nhan Dan Newspaper, shortly after the vessel secured its position and gangways were safely installed, the first passengers disembarked and boarded coaches for sightseeing tours they had booked in advance.

A representative of Ha Long Cruises, the company handling passengers from the Costa Deliziosa, said most travellers on board were from European countries such as the UK, France and Italy. Once ashore, they visited attractions in Ho Chi Minh City including the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, Bach Dinh.

Notably, the Costa Deliziosa is undertaking a four-month global voyage. The ship departed from Barcelona, Spain, three months ago.

The Costa Deliziosa measures 294 metres in length, over 32 metres in width and has an air draught of more than 56 metres. The vessel depart Ho Chi Minh City for Singapore on the evening of February 22.