Northwest Vietnam's tourism sector is poised for digital transformation to achieve breakthroughs in 2026.

The Conference to Review and Implement the Tourism Linkage Program between the Expanded Northwest Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City in 2026 was held in Dien Bien.

With over 90 million visitors and tourism revenue exceeding 341 trillion VND by 2025, these impressive figures were announced on December 12th. The cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City – the economic powerhouse of the South – and the culturally rich provinces of the Northwest continues to prove effective. Festivals like the "Northwest Quintessence Festival" in Dien Bien, and trekking and cultural experience products, have gradually established their brand.

With over 90 million visitors and tourism revenue exceeding 341 trillion VND by 2025, these are impressive figures that have been announced. The cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City – the economic powerhouse of the South – and the culturally rich provinces of the Northwest continues to prove effective. Festivals such as the "Northwest Quintessence Festival" in Dien Bien, and trekking and cultural experience products, have gradually established their brand.

The Conference to Review and Implement the Tourism Linkage Program between the Expanded Northwest Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City in 2026, which opened in Dien Bien, not only focused on highlighting the achievements of 2025 but also demonstrated a determination: the Northwest region is determined to "press the button" for digital transformation to achieve breakthroughs.

Representatives of the Dien Bien Farmtrip 2025 group share their opinions at the conference. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

In the concluding report, the leaders of Dien Bien province – the heads of the 2025 cooperation group – frankly pointed out a series of "bottlenecks": general communication is still scattered, there is a lack of promotional activities abroad, digital infrastructure is weak, and especially the absence of inter-regional tour booking platforms and smart tourism applications. This is the gap that prevents Northwest tourism from fully exploiting the potential of the abundant tourist market of Ho Chi Minh City.

And the solution was presented in a systematic way. At the conference, the draft plan for 2026, focusing on "Developing inter-regional tourism products between Ho Chi Minh City and the expanded Northwest region," received strong consensus.

This plan is not simply a series of promotional activities, but a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap with five pillars: building a common digital platform, a digital content strategy (VR/AR, KOLs), leveraging big data, developing interactive digital services (24/7 chatbot), and training digital human resources.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Chuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, speaks at the conference. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

"In the context of a strong shift in tourism behavior towards digital platforms and increasing competition, the Ho Chi Minh City - Northwest region linkage needs to follow a new direction: flexible, customer-centric, and prioritizing digital communication and technology solutions," emphasized Ms. Le Hoang My Hanh (Green Communications) in her presentation at the conference.

Symbolizing this transition and continuity is the ceremony of handing over the flag of the Head of Cooperation Group from Dien Bien province to Son La province - the host province in 2026.

In his acceptance speech, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, Ha Trung Chien, affirmed that he will continue to promote the spirit of cooperation, especially focusing on implementing digital solutions to connect more effectively with the Southern market.

Representatives from Son La province's tourism sector introduced the province's tourism products to delegates attending the Conference on Review and Implementation of the Tourism Linkage Program between the Expanded Northwest Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City in 2026. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

The digital transformation orientation has been concretized in the 2026 Cooperation Plan issued by Son La province - the new leader of the group. The focus is on building a shared smart tourism digital platform for the entire cooperation group, interconnected with the information portals of each locality.

The plan also emphasizes practical activities such as organizing an online tourism video clip contest, training on the use of technology (AI, ChatGPT) for promotion staff, and especially bringing the "Colors of Son La" Northwest Quintessence Festival to Ho Chi Minh City - a major event aimed at directly promoting and connecting with the market.

These points demonstrate that, from vision to action, 2026 will be a breakthrough year in realizing the digitalization strategy, transforming proposals into concrete products and services, bringing new experiences to tourists and economic benefits to the entire region.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Phu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Bien province, delivered the concluding remarks at the conference. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

It is evident that from Dien Bien in 2025 to Son La in 2026, the tourism linkage challenge has undergone a significant transformation: from developing products and organizing events to creating a common "digital ecosystem." The goal is not just to attract tourists, but to create a seamless, personalized, and easily accessible experience from the research and booking stages to post-trip feedback.

The Conference summarizing and implementing the tourism linkage program between the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City in 2026 has created a buzz about an ambitious digital strategy for Northwest tourism. If implemented synchronously, this "button-pressing" in Dien Bien could open a new chapter, transforming the land of majestic mountains and unique cultural identity into a smart and attractive destination, no less competitive than any rival in the digital age.