Ha Long: Expanding the tourism space

In 2023, Ha Long City aims to welcome 8.5 million tourists, generating revenue of 18,700 billion VND. Currently, the city is proactively renewing its tourism products, continuing to maximize its advantages in natural landscapes, culture, people, and newly opened transportation routes. From there,   Expanding tourism space   Developing new, diverse, unique, highly competitive tourism products and services tailored to each segment of the tourist market, reducing seasonality, and increasing the sustainability of the city's tourism.

Tourists visit the church in Bang Ca commune (Ha Long City). Photo: Provided by Ha Long Information and Culture Center.

The Thanh Y Dao ethnic minority cultural conservation area in Bang Ca commune is one of the attractive indigenous cultural tourism destinations in Ha Long City. It preserves the unique cultural values ​​of the Thanh Y Dao ethnic group and serves as a community cultural center, fostering camaraderie and spreading the beauty of the local Dao culture. Last April, several travel companies began welcoming tourists to visit and experience the conservation area.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of Tan Hong Co., Ltd. Quang Ninh Branch, said: "We have brought several cruise ship tourist groups to visit and experience the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group. The groups visited a model of cultivating golden flower tea plants and enjoyed golden flower tea, a model of traditional rice wine making, and the Dao Thanh Y Cultural Conservation Area. They explored the architecture of the three traditional Dao houses, experienced herbal foot baths, enjoyed ethnic dishes, and immersed themselves in cultural and artistic activities and traditional costumes of the Dao Thanh Y people. International tourists were very enthusiastic about these activities."

Along with Bang Ca, Ky Thuong is one of the favorite destinations for tourists because of its beautiful natural scenery and fresh, tranquil atmosphere, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. In addition, the cultural values ​​of the ethnic minorities here are exploited alongside the ecological value, becoming unique tourism products. Several businesses have invested in building and developing tourism products that reflect the unique style of the local people. One example is the Ky Thuong Am Vap Farm tourist area, featuring wooden stilt houses and a spacious area of ​​nearly 2,000 square meters offering accommodation, meals, and recreational activities. After experiencing nature, visitors are welcomed by staff who are local people in traditional Dao costumes. They can also visit the community house, which displays traditional clothing and farming tools, learn about local culture, and watch or learn embroidery from local women.

Tourists visit the bamboo forest in Ky Thuong commune (Ha Long City).

To attract tourists to this area, transportation is a crucial driving force in strengthening tourism connectivity, promoting economic development, and improving the lives of the people. Therefore, the city has focused resources on implementing essential projects, such as: connecting National Highway 279 to Provincial Road 342; upgrading the Goc Muong dam in Hamlet 1, Dan Chu Commune; upgrading the Dong Cao - Do Bang road in Thong Nhat Commune; installing a lighting system on National Highway 279 (section from Km5+400 to Km13+800)... In 2022 alone, the city allocated 723 billion VND to invest in communes, villages, and hamlets in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in conjunction with the New Rural Development program.

In the first six months of 2023, the number of tourists visiting Ha Long was estimated at 4.1 million, equivalent to 124.4% compared to the same period in 2022. Total revenue from tourism activities was estimated at 9,100 billion VND, equivalent to 157% compared to the same period in 2022.

It is known that the Ha Long City Tourism Development Plan until 2025, with a vision to 2030, identifies the preservation and exploitation of the Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage Site as the core element for developing Ha Long into a civilized, friendly tourist city, a national tourism center of international stature. The Dong Son - Ky Thuong Nature Reserve, with its diverse and abundant natural landscapes and resources, unique cultural identity, and long-standing historical traditions of the local inhabitants, serves as the basis for effectively exploiting the interconnected forest-mountain, river-bay environment; and continues to rely on domestic tourism as the driving force to sustain the tourism industry.

Along with tourist destinations in the North, the city will maximize the potential of destinations in the suburban areas such as the Loi Am Pagoda and Yen Lap Lake. According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuan, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Ha Long City, the locality has also developed plans to link with tourist destinations, establish routes, and connect tourist attractions between Ha Long Bay and the mountainous and forested areas, while enhancing the effectiveness of tourist markets. At the same time, new tourist routes have been proposed, such as: Ha Long Bay - City Center; Ha Long Bay - Loi Am Pagoda and Yen Lap Lake historical site complex - Bang Ca commune. This will offer tourists a diverse range of experiences, from high-class, modern entertainment areas, historical relics, and cultural landmarks of the mining workers; to immersing themselves in the unique scenery, clouds, nature, culture, and people of the ethnic groups of Ha Long (Dao Thanh Y, Dao Thanh Phan). From there, it affirms and creates an impression of Ha Long as a civilized, friendly, and modern city.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/ha-long-mo-rong-khong-gian-du-lich-3245964.html