The Saigontourist Travel Service Company (Saigontourist) received almost 9,000 European tourists coming by sea in the first half of the year, tripling the number of tourists last year.

A number of the world's luxury cruise firms, including Costa Allegra, Super Star Gemini and Star Cruise, chose Vietnam as one of their destinations, said the company.

With the arrangement of Saigontourist, liner passengers were given a chance to explore Vietnam's southern region's waterways, Cu Chi tunnels, the former capital of Hue and Hoi An ancient town. They also enjoyed seeing local daily lives and bathing at the Nha Trang resort in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.