Unlocking the potential of the night-time economy.

As the number of tourists increases, the demand for entertainment and experiences after sunset becomes more apparent. However, in many destinations in Phu Tho, nighttime economic activities remain quite modest, failing to fully exploit their potential for growth in services, tourism, and consumption.

At 9 PM on a mid-June evening in 2026, the Tam Dao tourist area was still bustling with people. Hotels and homestays were busy, and cafes were crowded. However, after strolling around and sightseeing, many tourists wondered what else to experience as night fell.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung, a tourist from Hanoi, shared that on weekends, Tam Dao often hosts cultural and artistic programs and street food festivals that attract many visitors. However, on weekdays, when there are no events, the atmosphere becomes quite quiet, lacking nighttime entertainment activities.

Tourists experience the street atmosphere at night in Tam Dao tourist area.

This situation is not unique to Tam Dao Tourist Area but also occurs at many other tourist destinations in the province. While the number of tourists is constantly increasing and the accommodation system is being expanded, nighttime economic activities have not developed proportionally, failing to meet the increasingly diverse needs of tourists.

Following the merger, the tourism development space expanded with connections between cultural tourism in the ancestral land, hot spring resorts, ecotourism, community tourism, and new service urban areas. The increase in tourist numbers led many localities to create pedestrian streets, culinary spaces, and experiential destinations for visitors. However, most tourism activities are still concentrated during the day. After 9 PM, many tourist areas become quiet. This means that a rich economic resource with significant potential remains largely untapped.

Comrade Tran Anh Tu, Chairman of the Tam Dao Commune People's Committee, said: "The needs of tourists today are not limited to accommodation but also include experiential activities and nighttime entertainment. Without these services, the length of stay and spending of tourists will be limited."

In fact, in many developed destinations, revenue from nighttime activities accounts for a large proportion of tourism revenue. Products such as pedestrian streets, night markets, art performances, shopping, food, street music, and modern forms of entertainment are becoming the driving force behind service growth.

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However, the current night-time economy remains largely spontaneous and small-scale. Many areas lack comprehensive planning regarding service spaces, lighting infrastructure, parking, and unique entertainment options. Nighttime activities are mostly limited to food and beverage services or small cafes.

According to Mr. Lam Van Trung, the investor of Camping Encamp in Dong Cau area (Xuan Hoa ward), retaining tourists cannot rely solely on scenery or accommodation services, but also requires creating additional nighttime experiences such as camping, cultural exchange, enjoying local cuisine, outdoor activities, and products connected with nature.

This shows that the crucial challenge now is not only extending service operating hours but also building an attractive night-time economic ecosystem that incentivizes tourists to stay longer and spend more.

According to experts, if properly organized, the night-time economy not only promotes tourism development but also creates momentum for trade, services, culture, and job creation. It also presents an opportunity for the private sector, especially young businesses and innovative startups, to thrive.

Currently, many new business models have begun to emerge, such as acoustic cafes (cafes with live music), photo-taking spaces, late-night food stalls, mobile food carts, and weekend art performances.

Dao Lan Huong, 24, owner of a mobile stall in Ho Chi Minh Square (Vinh Phuc Ward), shared: “Young people today are not only looking for food and drinks but also want to experience, explore, and enjoy new spaces. When there are attractive products and a suitable environment, spending will increase significantly.”

However, the night-time economy is not simply about extending the opening hours of restaurants and shops. Sustainable development requires comprehensive investment in urban planning, transportation infrastructure, lighting systems, security and order, environmental sanitation, and the organization of unique cultural activities. In particular, the cultural identity of the ancestral land is a unique advantage of the province. These traditional cultural values ​​can be fully exploited to create distinctive night-time tourism products such as folk art performances, community cultural experiences, festival spaces, or regional culinary activities. This is also a direction that helps the night-time economy develop in depth, creating a distinct identity compared to many other localities.

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The night-time economy not only contributes to boosting tourism but also opens up opportunities for the development of trade and services, creating more jobs and increasing income for the people. As the length of stay increases, tourists' spending also increases, benefiting many sectors from accommodation, transportation, retail to entertainment services.

Quang Nam

Source: https://baophutho.vn/danh-thuc-nguon-luc-kinh-te-dem-255667.htm