Quang Ninh’s ambitious bid to reimagine Ha Long Bay as a year-round haven
Ha Long Sun outlined a series of events designed to shake off seasonal slumps, and turn Ha Long Bay into a safe, vibrant, year-round destination. It aims to revive Quang Ninh’s tourism scene after tough times, luring domestic travellers with a constellation of fireworks displays, cultural performances, and culinary showcases.
Quang Ninh (VNA) – The northern province of Quang Ninh has embarked on a bold endeavor, approving a four-month tourism campaign proposed by Ha Long Sun Ltd. Co., a subsidiary of the Sun Group, to rekindle the charm of Ha Long Bay in the final months of 2025.
Ha Long Sun outlined a series of events designed to shake off seasonal slumps, and turn Ha Long Bay into a safe, vibrant, year-round destination. It aims to revive Quang Ninh’s tourism scene after tough times, luring domestic travellers with a constellation of fireworks displays, cultural performances, and culinary showcases. Central to the plan is the transformation of Ha Long Bay into a “sleepless tourism hub”, a night-time economy that could cement Quang Ninh’s status as “northern Vietnam’s biggest tourism epicenter” in a new growth phase.
The campaign’s centerpiece is a series of weekly fireworks displays, scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from August 16 to December 31, at Sun Carnival Square. These pyrotechnic spectacles are designed to dazzle, broadcasting a clear message that “Ha Long is always vibrant, welcoming visitors year-round”. The company will also sponsor venues for major festivals, including “Dragon Bay Takes Flight,” “Dragon Bay Surfs the Waves,” “Dragon Bay Gathers,” “Dragon Bay Shines,” and the Ha Long Foodtour culinary market, while driving media campaigns and resource mobilisation.
Cruising is popular on Ha Long Bay (Photo: VNA)
The provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism were proposed to oversee music and dance performances tied to the fireworks events and the Ha Long Foodtour market. They should also steer monthly themed festivals, such as a kite-flying fest in September, a boat racing showdown in October, a celebration of Quang Ninh’s ethnic diversity in November, and a Christmas and New Year blowout in December.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Duc An underscored an aggressive promotion strategy to project Quang Ninh as a vibrant, four-season tourism destination that thrives both day and night, saying that the province must shed the constraints of short-term visits and seasonal lulls, forging a nightlife economy that is distinctly its own.
🦹 This year, Quang Ninh targets 20 million visitors, including 4.5 million foreigners, with around 55 trillion VND (2.11 billion USD) in tourism cash on the line./.
Local authorities also plan to diversify communication channels, integrate artificial intelligence into alert systems, and strengthen coordination among agencies to provide continuous, location-specific updates for maritime safety in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
More than a race, the VnExpress Marathon Ha Long 2025 amplified its call, showcasing Ha Long’s natural and cultural riches to global audience. It was one of over 170 events Quanh Ninh had orchestrated this year to lure tourists to its shores.
To serve visitors to the exhibition on Vietnam's achievements, Hanoi’s public transport authority will boost service with 20 bus routes connecting six directions of the city to the exhibition venue.
Sa Pa ward in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai is planning to maximise its potential and advantages, with the goal of transforming itself into a green, sustainable, and smart tourism city worthy of its status as the core of the Sa Pa National Tourism Area and a destination of international stature.
The programme offering 50,000 free Hi Vietnam eSIMs for global visitors to Da Nang is organised by Sun Group and MobiFone, aimed at attracting international tourists to the Han River city during the third quarter – the end of summer period.
Active promotion at global events and hosting forums like the Asia Cruise Services Network (ACSN) conference will help to strengthen Vietnam’s position on long-term itineraries of cruise lines through 2030.
In the first seven months of 2025, Quang Ninh welcomed over 14.6 million tourists, including more than 2.6 million international visitors. Ha Long Bay alone drew about 20% of these visitors, making safety on the bay an unwavering priority for provincial authorities and relevant agencies.
In recent years, both former Da Nang city and Quang Nam province ranked among Vietnam’s top tourist destinations thanks to distinctive tourism products. Since their administrative mergence into new Da Nang city on July 1, fresh socio-economic development space has opened, with sustainable integration particularly in tourism – one of the areas with the greatest potential.
Bai Dinh Pagoda is the only in the list to be granted the green-tick status, indicating the site's remarkable credibility among international visitors.
Citizens from 12 countries will be granted visa-free entry for stays of up to 45 days in Vietnam for tourism purposes, regardless of their passport types.
A recent report, City Pulse 2025, by Gensler Research Institute, ranked HCM City among the world’s top cities for resident retention, placing it second globally. This underscores the city's reputation as a liveable, dynamic urban centre, an image that supports efforts to attract investors, experts, and MICE travellers.
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) to coordinate with other ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement policies and directives from the Party, Government, and Prime Minister on tourism development.
Da Nang's appeal stems from its numerous outstanding tourist attractions, particularly My Khe Beach, Sun World Ba Na Hills resort, and the ancient town of Hoi An. Additionally, Da Nang tourism is renowned for its affordability, especially attractive to young travellers and couples, according to Chosun Ilbo.
With new direct flights from major Indian cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru, Vietnam is becoming an increasingly compelling destination for Indian tourists seeking a quick, emotionally rich four-day escape that blends luxury, culture, and natural wonder.
By source market, China continued to lead with 3.1 million visitors, equivalent to 25.5% of all foreign arrivals. The Republic of Korea followed with 2.5 million, or 20.7%. Other major markets included Taiwan (China) with 737,000, the US with 522,000, and Japan with 380,000.
Khanh Hoa has welcomed 16 international cruises so far this year, with more than 19,000 tourists disembarking to explore the province’s scenic landscapes and renowned cultural, religious, and artistic landmarks, as well as to enjoy local cuisine and sightseeing tours.
According to local plans, fireworks shows will be held at multiple locations, with Ha Long Bay as the focal point. More than mere entertainment, these displays are part of a strategic cultural tourism product aimed at strengthening the region’s brand.
Chatbot and virtual assistants support itinerary consultation and tour bookings, and provide around-the-clock response across multiple platforms while AI advertising applications have been used to optimise budgets and target the right customers. AI has been also employed to analyse customer data, enabling the delivery of personalised tour recommendations.
