Developing specialized products
Mr. Luu Ba Mac, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “To enhance the attractiveness of the destination, especially for international tourists, in recent years, Lang Son's tourism industry has focused on developing unique tourism products based on the province's distinct advantages such as the UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son, community-based tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism and border tourism..."
Accordingly, since its recognition and official announcement in April 2025, the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark has become a driving force for the development of new tourism products in the province, namely geotourism and adventure tourism. Over the past period, infrastructure and technical facilities for tourism services have continued to receive investment from all levels and sectors; tourism products have become increasingly diverse, including geotourism (with 5 geological trails and an "Outdoor Nature Museum" at the Na Duong Lagoon World site ), and adventure tourism (cave exploration, sinkhole exploration, waterfall climbing, trekking, kayaking, etc.). Complementing the core product are 38 satellite tourist destinations distributed along 4 routes bordering National Highways 1A, 1B, 4B, and 279, themed "The Flow of Life in the Sacred Land". This satellite product system includes craft villages, tourist villages, and cultural tourism villages, where the unique identities of the Tay, Nung, and Dao ethnic groups are fully preserved.
Ms. Pham Thi Huong, Head of the Lang Son Geopark Management Department, Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, affirmed: “Clearly defining geotourism and adventure tourism products as core products helps us identify the right potential customers. While domestic tourists are interested in geological education and sightseeing, international tourists are particularly interested in cave exploration and in-depth adventure experiences.”
This orientation has paved the way for the breakthrough of adventure tourism, including cave exploration, sinkhole climbing, waterfall rafting, trekking, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking, in the province's potential-rich locations. Among these, one of the most ideal locations for this trend is the limestone mountain area in Huu Lung and Cai Kinh communes. Mr. Le Quoc Khanh, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Expeditions Joint Stock Company, said: "The company currently manages and organizes adventure tours focusing on areas such as Lan Ty, Snake Cave, and Snail Cave (Huu Lien commune) and the cliff system in Cai Kinh commune. Currently, we are developing over 200 climbing routes on natural cliffs with good geological conditions, especially in the custard apple orchard area and locations such as Yen Son Sky Gate and Lan Nong (Cai Kinh commune). With the existing potential of the local limestone mountain system, the number of visitors remains stable at about 3 groups per week." Among them were many foreign tourist groups from countries such as: England, France, the United States, Japan and South Korea...
Besides the allure of adventure sports, community-based tourism (CBT) is also a popular product attracting many international tourists thanks to globally recognized brands. Notable examples include Huu Lien CBT Village, Yen Thinh Homestay cluster (winner of the ASEAN 2025 award), and Quynh Son CBT Village in Bac Son commune, which was honored by UN Tourism as the “Best Tourist Village” at the end of 2025. The products here harmoniously combine nature experiences with the preservation of local culture through stilt houses, distinctive cuisine, and traditional Then, Sli, and Luon folk songs. Larar, a tourist from the United States, shared: “We spent most of our time climbing mountains, conquering high cliffs, and observing the peaceful valley below. What kept us here was not only the adventurous challenges, but also the friendliness of the local people and the delicious local food.”
In parallel, border tourism using travel permits offers another advantage for Lang Son tourism in expanding its international market. This is a highly unique product, exploited through 1-day and 2-day/1-night package tours connecting Lang Son (Vietnam) and Pingxiang (China) via the Huu Nghi International Border Gate.
The systematic and coordinated investment has yielded clear results. In the first half of 2026, the number of international visitors to Lang Son reached 176,000, an increase of 34% compared to the same period in 2025.
Leveraging advantages and improving product quality.
Mr. Luu Ba Mac, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, added: “To maximize potential and strengths, and improve the quality of tourism products, the industry has focused on implementing a comprehensive set of solutions, from advising on and perfecting policies and mechanisms, upgrading accommodation infrastructure, to promoting digital transformation and developing professional human resources. The goal is not only to increase the number of tourists, but more importantly, to extend their length of stay and increase their spending; thereby gradually making tourism an important economic sector, contributing positively to the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.”
Regarding policy mechanisms, the sector has advised the Provincial People's Council to issue Resolution No. 19 dated July 15, 2025, stipulating a number of policies to support the development of community-based tourism and promote the value of the UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son, giai đoạn 2025 - 2030. This is considered an important institutional leverage, freeing up social resources to upgrade technical infrastructure. To date, the entire province has developed 317 accommodation establishments (an increase of 15 establishments compared to 2024), meeting the standards for serving high-spending tourists. Accommodation establishments have not only increased in number but also gradually improved in quality, with 8 3-star hotels, 16 1-star hotels, along with many other hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and campsites…
Simultaneously, comprehensive investment has been made in human resource development and digital transformation. The industry has successfully organized 10 training courses to enhance digital skills, foreign languages, cultural etiquette, and specialized rescue expertise for over 1,800 direct tourism workers. Regarding smart tourism, the industry has established an integrated tourism data warehouse, applied 360-degree digital technology to 31 tourist destinations, and installed QR codes at historical sites, attracting over 7.1 million visits and enabling international visitors to access destinations proactively and professionally.
In particular, expanding international linkages and promotion is identified as a crucial solution to position Lang Son's tourism brand on the world map. From 2024 to the present, the authorities of Lang Son and Pingxiang City (Guangxi, China) have successfully held 10 talks, realizing the development of package deals using bilateral travel permits through the Huu Nghi International Border Gate and the Tan Thanh (Vietnam) - Po Chai (China) border gate. At the macro level, the province has proactively signed cooperation agreements with more than 30 major strategic partners nationwide, and simultaneously established an online memorandum of understanding on geological research and exploration with the National Cave Association of the United States.
Through innovative thinking in diversifying unique products and the synchronized involvement of all levels and sectors, the province's tourism industry is effectively utilizing the "golden opportunity" to enhance professionalism. This is a solid foundation for the province's tourism to consolidate its position, truly becoming a key economic sector and an important driving force for sustainable socio-economic development at the border gateway of the Fatherland.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/da-dang-san-pham-hut-khach-quoc-te-5097768.html
