Enhance the attractiveness of a destination with new tourism products.

Currently, localities, units, and businesses throughout the province have registered to develop 38 new tourism products in 2025. Among these, many products were proposed for development into new products last year but, for various reasons, could not be realized and have been carried over to this year…

Ha Long is the focal point.

The figure of 38 new tourism products planned for development this year is considerably lower than last year, but promises higher feasibility. Furthermore, many products that businesses and localities have already invested in are now serving tourists, adding to the attractiveness of destinations in the area.

Tourists visit and pray through the pine forest at the Yen Lap Lake - Loi Am Pagoda scenic site.

Leading in terms of quantity is still Ha Long tourism center with 9 new products planned. Among them, 3 products are being added to the list for the first time. Specifically, the "Coffee Bus" product offers tourists the experience of eating and drinking on a bus while enjoying city views; it also offers event and tour rental services, implemented by Vietnam Sightseeing Joint Stock Company - Quang Ninh Branch. The "Hot Air Balloon" product offers tourists the opportunity to admire the city from above using a hot air balloon (anchored in place) in Tuan Chau ward. And the "Hop-on-Hop-off" sightseeing cruise connects tourists to visit tourist attractions between Bai Chay and Hon Gai and vice versa.

Six products carried over from 2024 include: the nostalgic tourist destination of the ferry waiting area and the Bai Chay ferry route; the check-in point on Dang Ba Hat street and Dang Ba Hat hill; the Ha Long Flower Park pedestrian street; the cluster of relics including the Bai Tho Mountain Cultural Area, the temple of Duke Tran Quoc Nghien and Long Tien Pagoda, which will receive additional investment in landscaping, green squares and interconnected areas; the restoration and expansion of the temple of King Le Thai To; and the management and reorganization of service activities, creating a clean and beautiful landscape to serve tourists and people visiting the Yen Lap Lake - Loi Am Pagoda scenic area.

Soi Sim beach is expected to reopen and welcome tourists again this year.

In Ha Long Bay, the Ha Long Bay Management Board plans to develop three new products: public beach bathing in the Soi Sim Island area, the Hang Co cave area, and the Trinh Nu cave area; high-end beach bathing services at small sandy beaches combined with kayaking and light beach parties in the Ban Chan beach area and the Tra San area; and art performances combined with parties at Trong Cave, Co Cave, and Trinh Nu Cave.

This can be seen as a significant effort by the unit in resolving obstacles and implementing the province's directive to develop more services to enhance the experience for tourists, especially high-spending visitors. It also reflects the aspirations of many tourism businesses to expand the number of beaches in the bay to alleviate the "beach shortage" during the summer and diversify the service system at the beaches and caves, meeting the needs of tourists.

Coastal and island tourism products are dominant.

Over the past two years, the island districts of Van Don and Co To have both strongly developed new tourism products. This year, Van Don registered 4 products, and the mainland has 2 products, including: Experiencing the San Diu ethnic minority cultural and tourism village in Binh Dan commune; and the Sonasea Van Don Harbour City night market with street food from all three regions of Vietnam, souvenirs and specialties of Quang Ninh, street music and art…

Foreign tourists experience kayaking in the Tra San - Cong Do area of Ha Long Bay.

The remaining two products both focus on the sea and Ngoc Vung Island. Specifically, Viet Thuan Transport Co., Ltd. offers a 3D2N Heritage Tour connecting Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, combined with a visit to Ngoc Vung Island. The Ngoc Vung Island Experience Tourism Group offers a "One Day as a Fisherman" tour exploring the island's culture and history. These products allow tourists to discover the island through experiences such as: cycling on the island, visiting mangrove forests, beach activities, fishing, and learning about the culture, history, and daily life of the island's inhabitants.

Co To District has registered to develop 5 new products, expected to be operational in the second and third quarters, which is also the peak summer tourist season for this beautiful archipelago in the middle of the ocean. Specifically, this summer, Golden Co To Hotel will launch the Jelly Palace Event Center, providing gala dinners, conference parties, seminars, birthday parties, year-end celebrations, wedding receptions, and BBQs for companies, travel agencies, and tourists with a capacity of 60 to 500 guests.

Viet Thuan's Grand Pioneers cruise ship will be operating a 3D2N Heritage Tour connecting Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay this year.

The remaining four products are carryovers from last year. On the main Co To island, the product is a marine sports and entertainment complex combined with sunset viewing at Love Beach. This product offers various water sports activities; beach bathing and relaxation services; entertainment games and group activities; and food services. On other islands, the products include: a tour of three islands (Co To Con, Hon Ca Chep, and Hon Su Tu) in Dong Tien commune; overnight camping at Ba Chau beach in Thanh Lan commune; and a tourism tour focused on the homeland's islands and seas in Dao Tran village.

Diverse experiences in various locations

Leveraging local advantages, many businesses and localities plan to develop a diverse range of unique new products this year. Instead of focusing on quantity, many localities have registered only a few new products. For example, Ba Chẽ has only one product, carried over from the previous year, focusing on the Lương Minh commune's highland cultural market with characteristic agricultural products, local cuisine featuring dishes with the unique identity of the highlands, and bringing tourists to scenic spots such as the reservoir serving four highland communes and the Đồng Chức communal house.

Cam Pha only registered one product: a double-decker bus tour along the coastal road of Ha Long and Cam Pha, visiting Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh, Vung Duc cave, 12/11 Square, and the Cam Pha Coal Region Memorial House. Hai Ha registered products: kayaking and boat tours to explore the islands of Cai Chien commune.

Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is a destination included in the double-decker bus tour that offers scenic views of the coastal roads of Ha Long and Cam Pha.

Dam Ha District and Uong Bi City each registered two tourism products. Dam Ha's products, to be launched in the first quarter of 2025, include the Quang Lam Commune Market and the "Dam Ha Green" experience, taking visitors to mangrove forests, flower gardens, seafood restaurants, and BBQ areas. Uong Bi has the Khe Song - Thac Bac tourism product, featuring streams and waterfalls winding through the mountains, offering visitors the opportunity to participate in experiential activities, picnics, swimming, sightseeing, photo opportunities, mountain climbing, and enjoying traditional art and the unique cuisine of the local Dao Thanh Y people. The VR360 virtual reality tour product – Uong Bi Tourism – promises to bring new, intuitive, and attractive tourism experiences to visitors.

At the western gateway, Dong Trieu registered three products: a resort complex at Ngoa Van cable car station serving tourists with services such as dining, relaxation, accommodation, check-in, and event organization; a night-time economic development model at the Quang Ninh Gate tourist destination creating opportunities for tourists to visit and use services related to culture, art, shopping, entertainment, sports, health care, beauty, and cuisine; and the Silk Path Dong Trieu Golf Course, a new product carried over from last year to this year, opened at the beginning of January.

Tourists relax and take photos at the Khe Song - Thac Bac area (Uong Bi).

In the border region of Mong Cai, the local authorities also plan to develop three new tourism products. Specifically, a City tour program, exploring the city's vibrant nightlife by electric vehicle, will take visitors to attractions such as: Xa Tac Temple, Ka Long Bridge, Mong Cai International Border Gate, Tra Co Temple, Tra Co Church, Sa Vi Border Information and Propaganda Cluster, Tran Phu pedestrian street and food street, and Ka Long. A rural agricultural tourism product will take visitors to Hai Yen ward to experience visiting lakes and ponds, fishing, picking fresh vegetables, enjoying seafood, and camping… For visitors seeking health care services and entertainment, the Vinhomes Golden Avenue Mong Cai urban area in Hai Hoa ward is a prime example.

The Bình Liêu border region plans to develop four new tourism products. Specifically, Bình Liêu Community Tourism Company Limited will implement two products: trekking through the forest for international tourists seeking unique experiences in Đồng Văn commune; and kayaking on the river, offering scenic views along the riverbanks. The Bình Liêu Flower Cooperative will offer a sightseeing and relaxation product at Bình Liêu farmstay, providing services such as sightseeing, photography, culinary experiences, and accommodation. The local authorities will also launch the "Then Tour - Bình Liêu" product, themed "Touching Then - A UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," at Lục Nà communal house in Lục Hồn commune.

Recent experience shows that the registration of new tourism products is primarily based on the self-generated needs of businesses, localities, and organizations. Many products have failed to materialize due to existing mechanisms and policies, lack of feasibility, slow progress, lack of appeal, and wasted investment resources. Therefore, it is suggested that the province needs to adopt new approaches that ensure legal compliance and higher efficiency from the outset when considering and approving new tourism products this year.

Phan Hang

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