Connect to fly far

The merger of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces opens up many opportunities for local tourism development. The two regions are blessed with abundant tourism resources, creating unique and distinctive tourism products. This provides an opportunity for investors and tourism businesses in both areas to expand cooperation, increase connectivity, and create momentum for the tourism industry of the newly merged Thai Nguyen province to take off and establish its position on the Vietnamese tourism map.

Foreign tourists enjoy their experiences in the tea-growing regions of Thai Nguyen .

Expanding the scope of development

Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan are two regions with many similarities in geography, culture, history, and natural landscapes. While Thai Nguyen is known as the "Land of Tea and Steel," nổi with its vast green tea plantations, revolutionary historical sites, and tourism ecosystem, Bac Kan is known for its emerald gem (Ba Be Lake) nestled amidst the mountains of Northern Vietnam.

The two regions of Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan have been connected by roads since ancient times. Later, National Highway 3 and National Highway 3B, along with many other roads, were expanded, making travel between the two regions no longer a geographical obstacle. From Thai Nguyen, tourists can easily travel to Bac Kan and vice versa.

Previously, tours and travel routes were connected, but there were many limitations due to the geographical and administrative boundary between the two regions. Now, that boundary has been erased by the merger of the two regions. The tourism industry is "freed," expanding its development space and gradually forming a flexible network of connections in tourism development.

In the early days of a new Thai Nguyen, members of the Tourism Association enthusiastically discussed launching several regional tourism products such as: exploring the ATK (Anti-French Resistance Zone) and experiencing Ba Be Lake; a journey to the roots and enjoying Tan Cuong tea; and a homestay tour connecting the Thai Hai Ethnic Village Ecological Stilt House Conservation Area in Thinh Duc, a destination honored by the World Tourism Organization as one of the "Best Tourist Villages in the World," with Pac Ngoi village in Nam Mau, where traditional stilt houses nestle against the majestic rocky mountains reflected in the waters of Ba Be Lake.

Especially in terms of tourism, Thai Nguyen region boasts the legendary Nui Coc Lake, with 89 islands floating and reflecting in the lake's mirror-like surface, including dreamy islands such as: Hoa Family Island, vibrant with flowers in all four seasons; Chua Island, guiding people towards the path of Zen philosophy; and Co Island, a haven for migratory birds.

Bac Kan province is famous for Ba Be Lake. Ranked among the 20 most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world, Ba Be is a masterpiece bestowed by nature, with its Puong Cave, Hua Ma Cave, Tien Pond, and the picturesque Leng River resembling a traditional ink painting.

The precarious bridges leading to the villages in Bac Kan province are a source of inspiration for many tourists.

Both regions possess valuable "gold mines" for tourism development. Currently, Thai Nguyen has over 1,000 historical and cultural relics that have been inventoried, and over 550 intangible cultural heritage items. Bac Kan has 120 historical and cultural relics and more than 20 national intangible cultural heritage items. Businesses operating in the tourism sector are now finding ways to exploit these invaluable resources more effectively.

Regarding tourism infrastructure, Thai Nguyen province currently has 9 three-star hotels, 7 two-star hotels, 3 one-star hotels, 73 hotels meeting standards, and 649 guesthouses and homestays with rooms for rent that meet standards. Along with this, there is a workforce that has received thorough training to meet the needs of serving tourists.

Both regions have seen an increase in the number of tourists and tourism revenue year after year. Thai Nguyen welcomed 802,000 visitors in 2021, nearly 3.5 million in 2024, and is expected to welcome 6.2 million in 2025. Bac Kan welcomed 109,000 visitors in 2021, nearly 950,000 in 2024, and is expected to welcome 1.3 million in 2025...

Aiming for a strong brand

Connecting tourism development between Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan will quickly lead to the formation of shared tourism products, reflecting the unique regional identity and strong linkages. Furthermore, the distinct advantages of each locality will be shared and complemented, creating synergy and enhancing the value of the destinations.

This not only enhances the experience and convenience for tourists, but also opens up great opportunities for the tourism industry to break through, build a strong brand, and gradually assert its position on the national tourism map.

A region of picturesque landscapes is being reconnected with the expectation of creating a vibrant tourism "picture." This will not only inspire investment in tourism development for domestic and foreign businesses but also affirm Thai Nguyen's rightful role as a leading province in tourism development in the Viet Bac region.

Tourism linkages between Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces in recent years, while not yet in-depth, have yielded some positive results. For example, joint tourism promotion conferences and seminars have been organized; inter-provincial tours connecting experiences such as the ATK (Revolutionary Base Area), Ba Be Lake, tea culture, and community tourism have been developed and put into operation.

Large-scale famtrip, survey, and promotional programs involving major travel businesses have created a widespread impact in society.

Thai Nguyen is becoming a popular tourist destination.

A model for developing a closed-loop service chain, encompassing sightseeing, accommodation, dining, shopping, and cultural experiences, is being implemented synchronously. Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan serve as both transit and reception centers for tourists, as well as destinations for experiencing and exploring the local culture.

In the current trend of integration, tourism development thinking cannot follow a linear, independent approach, but needs to expand its scope, form regional linkages, and create a chain of products with depth and distinctiveness. Therefore, the merger of the two provinces has helped the tourism industry overcome unnecessary limitations due to geographical constraints and product limitations, opening up a new direction in line with social development trends.

Thai Nguyen region boasts strengths in tea culture, historical relics, a professional service system, and convenient transportation. Bac Kan region, on the other hand, offers majestic natural beauty, rich ethnic identity, and a space for experiencing nature in a relaxed and uninhibited way.

The two lands, merged into one, have created harmony, like brushstrokes in a single painting. Everything is vibrant, complete, captivating, diverse, and profound, possessing a powerful new vitality.

This comprehensive collaboration aims not only to effectively utilize tourism resources but also to achieve a larger goal: building a common tourism brand that is attractive enough and distinctive enough to attract and retain domestic and international tourists.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202507/ket-noi-de-bay-xa-3910568/