Eight northwestern provinces enhance tourism connectivity
The expanded northwestern region welcomed more than 20 million tourists in 2018, including nearly 2 million foreigners, heard a conference in Dien Bien province’s Dien Bien Phu city on March 17.
Terraced rice fields in Yen Bai province (Photo: VNA)
Dien Bien (VNA) – The expanded northwesternregion welcomed more than 20 million tourists in 2018, including nearly 2million foreigners, heard a conference in Dien Bien province’s Dien Bien Phucity on March 17.
The expanded northwestern provinces, namely Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, Son La,Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Phu Tho and Ha Giang, earned a combined nearly 23 trillionVND (989 million USD) from the tourism sector, up 26 percent year-on-year andexceeding the set target by 9 percent.
According to the steering board for the tourism cooperation programme in eight expandednorthwestern provinces, the localities focused on developing special tourismproducts and paid attention to tourism promotion through exhibitions andcommunication work.
They sent delegations to the Vietnam-Northern Laos tourism promotion conferencein the Lao province of Luang Prabang and carried out tourism cooperationactivities in Laos’ northern provinces.
However, the development pace has yet to match their potential and advantages,the board said, pointing out limitations in technical infrastructure, transportand human resources, along with unattractive inter-regional tourism products.
Besides, the region has failed to attract large-scale projects to createbreakthroughs for the local tourism sector, while cooperation programmes have notbrought about good outcomes, the board added.
In 2019, the board aims to step up tourism connectivity and promotion, as wellas human resources development in service of the sector.
Special attention will be paid to cooperation in tourism product developmentbetween the eight provinces by organising a photo contest, developing waterwaytourism connecting Hoa Binh with Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau through DaRiver, and implementing cooperation documents signed with Laos’ northernprovinces.
They provinces will continue to participate in international travel fairs and promotenorthwestern culture in Hanoi, while organising training courses for tourismworkers.-VNA
Thousands of visitors flocked to the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien for the second cherry blossom festival that kicked off in Pa Khoang commune, Dien Bien district, on January 12.
Politburo member Tran Quoc Vuong on February 2 visited the Long Sap border post in the northwestern province of Son La on the occasion of the upcoming traditional lunar New Year (Tet).
A cultural programme simulating market days in Vietnam’s mountainous regions kicked off in Dien Bien Phu city of the northwestern province of Dien Bien on March 13.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Terraced rice fields in Yen Bai province (Photo: VNA) 
