Chinese tourists gradually return to Quang Ninh

Before COVID-19, Chinese tourists to Quang Ninh accounted for 25% of the total number of Chinese visitors to Vietnam, equal to 40% of international visitors to this locality.

However, due to the impact of COVID-19, this flow of visitors has decreased sharply.

Recently, events such as nearly 1,000 tourists on a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, seminars) tour to Quang Ninh by road and cruises from Bac Hai to Ha Long, and charter flights (chapters) from Shenzhen (China) to Van Don (Quang Ninh, Vietnam) are taking shape, showing signs that Chinese tourists are returning to Quang Ninh.

This is a good sign as Quang Ninh is striving to welcome 1.25 million international visitors in the fourth quarter of 2025 to complete the target of welcoming 21.2 million visitors in 2025, including 4.09 million international visitors.

According to the People's Committee of Mong Cai 1 Ward, in the first 9 months of 2025, cross-border tourism showed positive signs, with more than 5.25 million people entering and exiting the ward. Of which, the number of people exiting the country was more than 2.64 million, and the number of people entering the country was nearly 2.61 million. The ward currently has 26 travel agencies, 127 accommodation establishments (hotels, motels, homestays), and over 450 dining establishments.

The ward strengthens links with neighboring wards and communes such as Vinh Thuc, Hai Son, Mong Cai 2... to build a diverse and attractive tour chain, aiming to diversify products, especially special products associated with the border, building and effectively exploiting the "night economy ." This is considered a key solution to attract tourists and international visitors from China.

At the Hoanh Mo (Quang Ninh, Vietnam) - Dong Trung (Fangcheng, China) border gate pair, local authorities in the border areas of the two sides are coordinating to promote trade and tourism, opening up prospects to welcome a large number of visitors.

Fangcheng (China) is preparing infrastructure and inaugurating the expressway to Nanning (China), while Quang Ninh is planning to upgrade National Highway 18C next year. The tour routes are closely coordinated, from Zhendongzhong, Wine Village, Naliang Ancient Town, Jiangchun Peninsula (in Fangcheng) to Gaoshan Flower Garden, Khe Van Waterfall (in Hoanh Mo).

Statistics show that at this pair of border gates, on average, about 100 Chinese tourists visit the border gate every day, with a normal month reaching about 1,000 visitors, peaking in August 2025 with up to 1,600 visitors, especially on September 2, the number of visitors increased dramatically.

Regarding the sea route, after a 10-year interruption, from the end of November 2024, Quang Ninh province will welcome back MICE groups of nearly 1,000 people from the Beihai (China) - Ha Long (Quang Ninh province, Vietnam) cruise ships.

In mid-October 2025, the Zero Distance Tourism and Culture Investment Group, Guangxi (China) conducted a survey in Quang Ninh to promote the reception of two-way tourists on the Beihai-Ha Long cruise. It is expected that from November 2025, the route will operate 3 trips/week with a new itinerary, expanding the space for sightseeing and experience, hoping to attract tourists...

Chinese tourists leave Piano Land ship to visit Ha Long. (Photo: VNA)

It is expected that from November 1, Van Don International Airport will operate a series of international charter flights connecting Bao An International Airport in Shenzhen City (China) with Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province (Vietnam).

The flight schedule takes off from Shenzhen at 18:10 and lands in Van Don at 20:10; the return flight departs from Van Don at 21:10 and arrives in Shenzhen at 0:00 (Vietnam time). The flight schedule is maintained regularly on Saturdays, Thursdays, and Mondays, with specific flight schedules...

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh, in the past 5 years, the number of Chinese tourists staying has increased by an average of 126.5%, with Mong Cai Border Gate alone welcoming an average of about 300,000 Chinese tourists per year.

It is expected that in the last months of 2025, there will be about 350,000-400,000 Chinese tourists coming to Quang Ninh. Among them, many groups have the number of 1,000-2,000 tourists/group. The groups follow the 3-day-2-night or 4-day-3-night program, using high-quality services, staying at 4-5 star hotels in Quang Ninh.

In particular, in the 2025-2026 cruise season, Quang Ninh is expected to welcome 9 cruise ships from Bac Hai to Ha Long, the first of which is scheduled to arrive in November, carrying more than 1,000 tourists./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dong-khach-du-lich-trung-quoc-dan-quay-tro-lai-quang-ninh-post1073014.vnp