Hai Phong tourism to take off following UNESCO recognition of Cat Ba archipelago
The recognition of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in September has positively impacted the tourism industry in the northern port city of Hai Phong, home to the Cat Ba islands.
Hai Phong (VNA) – The recognition of Ha Long Bay -🐷 Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in September has positively impacted the tourism industry in the northern port city of Hai Phong, home to the Cat Ba islands.
In the first nine months of this year, the revenue from accommodation and dining services in Hai Phong topped 17.2 trillion VND (716 million USD), showing a 13.77% increase. The tourism receipts amounted to 217.7 billion VND, up 50.93% annually.
The Cat Hai district People’s Committee reported that as of late September, Cat Ba welcomed over 2.4 million visitors, achieving 80% of the annual plan, equivalent to the total number in 2022. The total revenue from tourism services rose by 26% annually to over 2.4 trillion VND, or 90% of the yearly target.
To achieve such positive results, Hai Phong has rolled out many new tourism products, focusing on building a safe, green and eco-friendly destination. Particularly, culinary tourism experiences have become a highlight of the city. The city has also pushed ahead with the rural tourism development programme in line with the 2021-2025 new rural development strategy.
The city also pays attention to high-class tourism, planning some large-scale entertainment and resort projects. Accordingly, Do Son district is designated to become an international tourism hub with a focus on sports, recreational activities, and beach festivals.
Most recently on October 9, the municipal Tourism Department collaborated with the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Kon Tum provinces to hold a tourism promotion conference themed "One journey, many destinations". This event aimed to popularise tourism of the three Central Highlands provinces to the people of Hai Phong. At the same time, it also introduced Hai Phong's tourism to travel companies in the region.
Earlier on September 24, Hai Phong and Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Duong, and Quang Ninh signed an agreement on cooperating to stimulate tourism demand and link their value chains based on the potential and competitive advantages of each locality./.
The northern port city of Hai Phong and the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Kon Tum will bolster connectivity to develop new tourism products, and promote local tourism.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) ranks first among the 42 nations and territories pouring capital into the northern port city of Hai Phong, with 105 projects totaling 11 billion USD, according to the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority.
The Korea Coast Guard (KCG)’s training ship BADARO (3011HAM) arrived at the port in Hai Phong on October 30, beginning a five-day visit to the northern city.
The People's Committee of Hai Phong City has issued a plan to conduct surveys and collect opinions from people and organizations to measure their satisfaction with the services of state administrative agencies in the city.
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.
Overview of Ha Long Bay (Photo: VNA)
