Tourism is considered one of the sectors that benefits most significantly, as natural, cultural, and historical resources are connected into a unified whole, creating new impetus for growth.
From individual destinations, they are connected to form an experiential axis.
Previously, Thai Nguyen was known for the Dinh Hoa Safe Zone (ATK) historical site, Nui Coc Lake, and famous tea-growing regions like Tan Cuong, La Bang, and Trai Cai. Meanwhile, Bac Kan made its mark with Ba Be Lake, Ba Be National Park, and the villages of the Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups, rich in cultural identity. Each locality possesses its own advantages, but for many years, exploitation has mainly focused on individual destinations. Tourists often only visit for a day instead of extending their stay, resulting in low spending and limited added value. This is also a common challenge for many localities in the process of tourism development.
The formation of the new Thai Nguyen province has created conditions for the locality to reorganize the entire tourism industry structure on a larger scale. Instead of developing in separate areas, resources are being integrated to form interconnected product chains, linking ecotourism, resort tourism, cultural tourism, historical tourism, and community tourism.
In Project No. 17-DA/TU on the development of tourism in Thai Nguyen province for the period 2026-2030 (issued on December 10, 2025), the locality identified a development model of "two key areas, one driving axis, and one foundation," in which Nui Coc Lake and Ba Be Lake were selected as the two key development areas, aiming to build destinations with national competitiveness and gradually approach international standards.
The placement of Lake Nui Coc and Lake Ba Be in the same development area is considered by experts to be a promising direction: one side is a midland ecological zone with a system of resorts and entertainment services that are receiving strong investment; the other is a natural freshwater lake amidst the mountains and forests of Northeast Vietnam, still retaining its pristine beauty and unique cultural values of the ethnic minority communities. Their differences, yet complementary nature, create a unique appeal for tourists' exploration journey.
Beyond simply connecting popular destinations, the locality is also reorganizing its products along continuous experiential axes. From lush green tea hills in the midland region to villages along the shores of Ba Be Lake; from historical revolutionary sites to eco-tourism and resort areas, everything is being closely linked, rather than being separate activities.
The 2026 tourism season in Thai Nguyen province will be themed "Lake on the Mountain - Tea in the Clouds," reflecting a development orientation based on the two most distinctive local resources. Visitors can start their day by experiencing tea picking and enjoying tea amidst the endless green tea hills; then explore ecological areas, lakes, and ethnic minority villages; and conclude their journey with overnight stays at homestays, immersing themselves in nature and the mountains. This connection creates a complete tourism value chain, contributing to extended stays and increased spending by tourists.
The overarching theme of this year's tourism season in the province is a shift from a fragmented development mindset to a collaborative one, organizing tourism products along clearly defined experiential axes, thereby more effectively exploiting the advantages the locality possesses. Regarding the state management agencies, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Chu Thu stated that the province is currently focusing on directing localities to develop specific strategies, while also assigning tasks to each department and sector to actively advise the province on issuing policies and mechanisms to attract investment and support the development of community tourism.
Ms. Chu Thi Do, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Tourism Exploitation and Development in Thai Nguyen province, shared that the overarching spirit of this year's tourism season in the province is to shift from a fragmented development mindset to a collaborative one, organizing products along clear experiential axes, thereby more effectively exploiting the advantages that the locality possesses. On the part of state management agencies, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Chu Thu said that the province is currently focusing on directing localities to develop specific strategies, while assigning tasks to each department and sector to actively advise the province on issuing mechanisms and policies to attract investment and support the development of community tourism.
Promoting the value of local culture.
In the context of increasingly fierce competition among destinations, many experts believe that scenic advantages are only a necessary condition; the decisive factor lies in the ability to create unique experiences with cultural depth and evoke emotions in tourists.
Mr. Luong Duy Doanh, Director of Fivestar Travel Trading and Tourism Company Limited, expressed his admiration for the theme and message that Thai Nguyen province has put forward for the 2026 tourism season, showing a strong shift in the way the locality develops tourism products. Previously, tourism mainly focused on day trips to historical sites, but now it has gradually shifted towards developing resort products, ecotourism, community experiences, and exploring local culture. This is a direction that aligns with the trends of the modern tourism market.
Alongside the tourism development plan, Thai Nguyen province is also promoting the implementation of Project No. 18-DA/TU (issued on December 10, 2025) on promoting cultural values and human strength in the period 2026-2030, setting the goal of preserving and effectively promoting tangible and intangible heritage values associated with tourism development, and identifying culture as an important endogenous resource for socio-economic development. This perspective is gradually being realized through the integration of traditional cultural values into tourism products.
Alongside the tourism development plan, Thai Nguyen province is also promoting the implementation of Project No. 18-DA/TU (issued on December 10, 2025) on promoting cultural values and human strength in the period 2026-2030, setting the goal of preserving and effectively promoting tangible and intangible heritage values associated with tourism development, identifying culture as an important endogenous resource for socio-economic development.
In the Ba Be Lake area, many households have boldly invested in community-based tourism models linked to the preservation of local identity. Mr. Dang Van Hung, owner of Ba Be Farmstay, proudly shared that activities such as singing traditional folk songs and playing the zither on boats, experiencing the life of the Tay people, participating in traditional festivals, and enjoying local cuisine always attract the attention of tourists.
According to Mr. Hung, during the recent April 30th and May 1st holidays, the occupancy rate of his establishment reached 100%, compared to only 60-70% in previous years. This shows that the demand for experiencing local culture is increasing and is becoming an important competitive advantage for local tourism.
Besides generating new income, community-based tourism also creates opportunities for local people to directly participate in the development process. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Binh, a Tay ethnic woman and an active member of the folk singing and zither playing team in Ba Be commune, said she is very proud that the folk melodies of her ethnic group are loved and appreciated by many tourists. From this, the people become the true subjects of the "green economy" sector.
To transform its potential into a real competitive advantage, Thai Nguyen still has much work to do. The quality of its tourism workforce needs improvement; services at some destinations need upgrading; community-based tourism products need more diversification; and infrastructure connecting different regions still needs continued and synchronized investment. The locality is gradually addressing these challenges.
Within the overall growth picture of Vietnamese tourism, Thai Nguyen is demonstrating strong determination. The province aims to welcome 8 million tourists in 2026 (compared to over 7.3 million in 2025) and strives for 12 million tourists by 2030, with tourism becoming a key economic sector, developing in a sustainable and innovative direction.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/dong-luc-moi-cho-phat-trien-du-lich-post973459.html
