Bac Ninh leverages the strengths of sports tourism.

BAC NINH - Sport tourism is becoming a new trend favored by many people because it combines travel with health and fitness activities.

With its beautiful natural landscapes and unique cultural heritage, Bac Ninh has hosted many major sporting events, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.

Impressed by the historical sites and scenic spots.

Returning after participating in the Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon - Footprints of Quan Ho Region 2026, organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with several other units, Mr. Nguyen Anh Vu (Hanoi) was still impressed by the routes passing through many famous historical sites and scenic spots. These included the Ba Chua Kho Temple, the Cung Temple - Ngoc Well, the Quan Ho Folk Song Theater, the Kinh Bac Cultural Center, and more.

Athletes participating in the Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon - Footprints of Quan Ho Region 2026 - a form of sports tourism experience.

“It was wonderful to participate in the run while also experiencing the unique culture and lifestyle of this place. Throughout the route, the locals eagerly awaited and enthusiastically cheered on the runners. The applause, cheers, and radiant smiles are something I will never forget. I will definitely bring my whole family back to Bac Ninh to create more memorable experiences,” Mr. Vu shared.

2026 marks the second edition of the Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon - Footprints of Quan Ho Region. This year's event attracted 6,168 athletes from Vietnam and abroad (including over 100 international athletes), double the number from the first year… demonstrating the growing appeal of the race.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the competition was not only successful professionally but also created a ripple effect, stimulating tourism, services, and trade, promoting the image of the land, people, and cultural heritage of Bac Ninh to international and domestic friends.

Besides the Bac Ninh Legacy Marathon - Footprints of Quan Ho Region, since the beginning of the year, Bac Ninh has hosted many other major sporting events such as: the National Beach Wrestling Championship and Junior Championship; the National Billiards and Snooker Club Championship, attracting a total of nearly 1,500 athletes and coaches from provinces, cities, and sectors nationwide.

In particular, the 2026 Southeast Asian Judo Championship, taking place from May 19th to 24th at the Provincial Sports Arena, will bring together a large number of outstanding athletes from countries in the Southeast Asian region. This is not only an opportunity for athletes to compete and improve their skills, but also contributes to promoting sports exchange and cooperation between countries in the region.

Hosting the tournament once again affirms the province's capacity to organize major sporting events, opening up new opportunities for Bac Ninh to rise on the national tourism and sports map.

Elevating the destination

According to the definition from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), sports tourism is a type of tourism that actively or passively involves the experience of tourists participating in competitive sporting events. Simply put, sports tourism can be understood as a type of travel combined with one or more sporting events held at a specific location.

Traditional martial arts competition within the framework of the Provincial Sports Festival held at the Hoang Hoa Tham Historical Site. Photo: Thu Thuy.

Bac Ninh province possesses all the necessary conditions in terms of landscape, climate, unique traditional cultural values, infrastructure, stadiums, transportation infrastructure, and accommodation services to leverage its strengths in organizing sports events linked with culture and tourism.

In reality, a major sporting event always attracts a large number of athletes, coaches, support staff, and especially fans. Therefore, developing sports tourism not only attracts a large number of high-spending tourists who utilize many services, contributing significantly to local revenue, but also serves as an effective channel for promoting destinations and fostering cultural exchange.

From now until the end of 2026, Bac Ninh is expected to host seven more national and international sporting events. In early 2027, the 68th Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon and Long Distance Championship will take place in the province. This is a leading prestigious competition in the national athletics competition system, with a large scale and high professional standards, expected to attract 12,000-15,000 domestic and international athletes.

Mr. Nguyen Van Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “Upon returning from sporting events, athletes will become tourism ‘ambassadors’ introducing and promoting Bac Ninh as an attractive destination. Recognizing this new direction, the Department has actively advised the Provincial People's Committee to organize many national and international sporting events.”

From now until the end of 2026, Bac Ninh is expected to host seven more national and international sporting events. In early 2027, the 68th Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon and Long Distance Championship will take place in the province. This is a leading prestigious competition in the national athletics competition system, with a large scale and high professional quality, expected to attract 12,000-15,000 domestic and international athletes.”

With the right direction and steps, Bac Ninh is laying the foundation for sports tourism products. However, for sports to truly become a "lever" to promote destinations, authorities need to continue research and develop long-term strategies to build and upgrade infrastructure, improve transportation systems and facilities in a professional and modern way, meeting the demands of sports tourism. They should also strengthen promotion through various media channels and cooperate with event organizers.

Furthermore, there needs to be closer collaboration between tourism management agencies, travel agencies, and sports event organizers to create a high-quality, well-structured service chain aimed at serving a large number of tourists who come to experience and explore Bac Ninh through sports.

Text and photos: Hoai Phuong

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-khai-thac-the-manh-cua-du-lich-the-thao-postid446037.bbg