Identifying safe and friendly destinations.

Hai Phong is determined to build an image of a safe, friendly, and civilized destination to increase its attractiveness to domestic and international tourists.

Tourists arrive at the beach in the Do Son tourist area.

Hai Phong is entering the peak summer tourist season. On weekends, at key beach resort destinations like Cat Ba and Do Son, the beaches are packed with tourists enjoying themselves and swimming.

This signal indicates a significant increase in the city's appeal to both domestic and international tourists as a seaside destination. However, this presents a challenge for local authorities in building an image of a safe, friendly, and civilized destination when its "carrying capacity" is limited.

The 2026 beach tourism season will also mark the first time that beach resorts will be operated and managed by local authorities at two levels. The role of local authorities will increase, and the goals and tasks will require higher standards.

Cat Ba Island, a "paradise resort" that always attracts tourists from the beginning of the tourist season, has proactively organized traffic flow management at the Dong Bai ferry terminal. Accordingly, on weekends from May 9th to September 30th, during peak hours from 9 am to 1 pm, passenger cars and trucks will be temporarily suspended from crossing the ferry towards Cat Ba Island, in order to reduce traffic congestion...

For example, in Do Son, the local authorities consistently maintain the view that "to be beautiful, we must start by addressing the smallest details." This includes the local government's resolute action in dealing with street vendors selling low-quality seafood; repairing dilapidated and unsightly sections of the seawall; and cleaning up the beach environment. These actions, while not costly, build trust among tourists regarding the friendliness and hospitality of the local community.

The beach tourism season in Hai Phong officially opens during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday in 2026. However, the peak season begins when students of all levels start their summer vacation and lasts for about 3 months.

Leaving aside the revenue and visitor numbers achieved during the recent short holiday period, the coming time will present many challenges, requiring the government, management agencies, and tourism businesses to be proactive and well-prepared.

The issue here is not just about the quality of accommodation, food services, and entertainment, but also about the safety of tourists visiting the port city.

Because the peak season for beach tourism in the North coincides with the rainy and stormy season, there are many potential safety risks. Any minor incident can lead to losses and the risk of tourists boycotting the tourism industry.

For sightseeing and resort tourism in Lan Ha Bay, the lessons learned from the 2025 capsizing of the Vinh Xanh 58 vessel in Ha Long Bay serve as a strong reminder and warning about: licensing vessels to depart from ports, ensuring safety equipment on board, communication systems, and skills in responding to unusual weather conditions.

At the Do Son tourist area beach, efforts are being made to strengthen the beach rescue force and to mobilize local people and tourists to participate in cleaning up the beach environment in response to the "invasion" of waste.

In 2026, the key coastal resort destinations of Do Son and Cat Ba have set very high targets for attracting tourists, aiming for 4.9 and 4.7 million visitors respectively.

To enhance the attractiveness of coastal tourism and make the marine economy a "key" economic sector, in addition to "hard" factors like infrastructure, "soft" solutions such as ensuring safety and environmental hygiene need to be prioritized.

This requires not only increased public awareness campaigns and reminders through loudspeakers at beaches, but also investment in modern rescue equipment and strengthening the maritime rescue force to be both sufficient in number and highly skilled in its profession.

This also involves enhancing the application of technology in managing tourist boats in the bay and sea; installing surveillance camera systems at crowded beaches and areas with a high risk of drowning; and cleaning the beaches to ensure they are always clean and beautiful when tourists visit.

Because the brand of an attractive destination is not just about luxurious hotels and nutritious food, but also comes from the solutions implemented by the local government in building a safe, civilized, and friendly destination.

MINH KHOI

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/dinh-vi-diem-den-an-toan-than-thien-543435.html