Tourism has seen a surge since the beginning of the year.

In the first two months of 2026, Khanh Hoa province welcomed over 1.7 million overnight visitors, an increase of 17.2% compared to the same period last year. This is a positive sign for Khanh Hoa's tourism at the beginning of the Year of the Horse, continuing the impressive growth momentum from 2025 and opening up great expectations for the whole of 2026.

Tourist numbers have increased.

During the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, many hotel owners in Khanh Hoa were delighted by the large number of tourists. Throughout the Tet holiday and the days that followed, hotels and resorts in prime locations recorded occupancy rates exceeding 90%. "We've never experienced such a vibrant Tet and New Year season before. Our hotel occupancy reached over 95% for more than two consecutive weeks, from before Tet until the 15th day of the first lunar month. Not only were there more guests, but they also stayed longer and spent more – this is a very positive sign showing that tourism in Khanh Hoa is becoming increasingly attractive," shared Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thu, General Manager of Adamas Boutique Nha Trang Hotel, enthusiastically.

Korean tourists visit the traditional craft village of Nha Trang. Photo: Nhatrangtourist.

According to reports, the province welcomed 320,000 overnight visitors during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), generating approximately 2.2 trillion VND in tourism revenue. This momentum continued until the end of February. By the end of the first two months of 2026, the province had welcomed over 1.7 million overnight visitors, a 17.2% increase compared to the same period last year; total tourism revenue reached approximately 13.915 trillion VND, a 25.2% increase. Notably, the number of international visitors to Khanh Hoa in the first two months of the year increased by 29.2% compared to the same period last year, reaching over 741,800, and is expected to continue rising in the coming period. Currently, Cam Ranh International Airport receives about 20 flights per day from South Korea; and 5-6 flights per day from Russia and China. Flights from Southeast Asian markets such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia have also significantly increased.

Regarding domestic tourists, the number reached 1 million, an increase of 9.9% compared to the same period last year. Domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi , Da Nang, and Hai Phong to Cam Ranh remained stable. Notably, from March 15th, Sun Phu Quoc Airways launched the Phu Quoc - Cam Ranh route to connect two famous coastal tourist destinations in Vietnam. During a meeting to hear a report on the preparations for welcoming the first flight from Phu Quoc to Cam Ranh by Sun Phu Quoc Airways, Mr. Nguyen Long Bien - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - emphasized that the opening of the Phu Quoc - Cam Ranh route is an important event connecting two major tourism centers. This is also a positive signal in strengthening tourism development linkages, expanding the tourist market, and contributing to diversifying tours and tourism products of the locality.

Structured steps to achieve the goal.

The impressive figures for the first two months of the year are a positive sign, but for the province's tourism industry to achieve its target of welcoming 18.8 million visitors in 2026, including 6.3 million international and 12.5 million domestic tourists, and generating a total tourism revenue of 78,100 billion VND, significant efforts are needed. The Provincial Tourism Development Steering Committee has requested the tourism industry to improve quality and develop new products to meet the diverse tastes of domestic and international tourists; including the development of nighttime entertainment, cruises, and water sports. "To develop tourism products, the industry is implementing a Community Tourism Development Project for the period 2026-2030 to diversify products, reduce pressure on coastal and island tourism, and simultaneously exploit the local cultural values ​​in rural and mountainous areas," said Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Besides its strengths in beach resorts, the province is focusing on developing new and more attractive products in ecotourism, cultural and spiritual tourism, and community tourism associated with the province's distinctive OCOP products. The industry continues to cooperate with other provinces and cities to share management experiences, connect tourism routes, and jointly build more attractive products for tourists.

Russian tourists enthusiastically play water polo while vacationing in Khanh Hoa.

In addition, the provincial tourism sector will implement a comprehensive tourism promotion program both domestically and internationally. The Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center will lead promotion programs in China, Malaysia, Japan, and other key markets. International famtrip delegations from South Korea, India, Russia, West Asia, Western Europe, North America, etc., will be invited to conduct on-site surveys and experiences, thereby connecting tours and bringing tourists to Khanh Hoa. The provincial tourism sector will also coordinate with Cam Ranh International Airport Joint Stock Company and airlines to further expand the flight network to attract more international tourists to Khanh Hoa. Domestically, the sector will focus on exploiting the two major markets of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi through targeted communication programs. Tourism publications in four languages—Vietnamese, English, Korean, and Russian—will be regularly updated. Digital communication will be strengthened, and social media will be fully utilized to spread the image of Khanh Hoa. The province also hosts large-scale cultural, sports, and tourism events at the regional and national levels; and actively participates in tourism fairs and exhibitions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to bring the image of Khanh Hoa closer to domestic and international tourists.

Regarding the implementation of the provincial tourism sector's action plan, Mr. Nguyen Long Bien requested the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate with other departments, agencies, and localities to enhance the cultural content in tourism activities; build a civilized tourism environment, ensuring security and safety for tourists; ensure food safety and hygiene; and enhance the application of information technology to receive feedback and suggestions from tourists... aiming to develop Khanh Hoa's tourism sustainably.

XUAN THANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/du-lich/202603/du-lichbut-phatu-dau-nam-d7b5c4d/