From a "nighttime rendezvous point" to a multi-experience ecosystem.
A few years ago, most tourists visiting Bai Chay would end their trip after dinner or a stroll along the beach. Nighttime activities were mainly limited to the night market, some food streets, and small-scale services. But now, the nightlife in Bai Chay has changed.
Not only on weekends, but also during the peak summer season, the coastal area is often brightly lit until late at night. Crowds flock to pedestrian streets, seaside squares, and entertainment complexes, growing ever larger. This vibrant atmosphere partly reflects a clear shift in the local tourism development strategy.
A notable highlight recently is the VUI-Fest Ha Long night market located near the lighthouse and on Ky Quan Street. Since its opening in late April 2026, this complex has quickly become a new destination for tourists visiting Bai Chay. More than just a commercial street, this entertainment, culinary , and art complex is inspired by the "Prosperous Port," recreating the trading spirit of this heritage site in a contemporary festival setting.
Every evening, the area comes alive with music , street performances, and interactive art shows. The seaside food stalls operate late into the night, creating a vibrant atmosphere rarely seen in a northern coastal tourist city.
In particular, the 3D mapping show "Long Van Khanh Hoi," launched last May, is considered a new experiment in bringing modern performance technology into the development of the night-time economy. The space, featuring lights, lasers, and music, recreates stories related to the culture, history, and legends of Ha Long in a digital language, adding to the appeal of the Bai Chay coastal area. On peak days, VUI-Fest Ha Long welcomes up to 20,000 visitors. This is seen as a positive sign for the revitalized night-time tourism landscape in this heritage-side tourist area.
Watching the performance from the bay, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (a tourist from Hanoi) shared: “Previously, after visiting Ha Long Bay, we mainly went out for dinner and then returned to the hotel to rest. But now we have many new experiences, from strolling around the city, watching 3D mapping shows, to enjoying the seaside music atmosphere. I like the feeling of watching the light show while admiring Ha Long Bay at night. Even better, we don't have to wait for New Year's; now, just come to Bai Chay and you can watch fireworks seven days a week. This is a very special experience and shows the positive progress of the local area in developing tourism.”
The emergence of VUI-Fest Ha Long and the daily spectacular fireworks displays demonstrate that the night-time economy in Bai Chay is shifting from a small-scale service model to a multi-experience complex. Tourists are not only coming to eat or shop, but can also participate in entertainment activities, enjoy art, and experience cultural spaces all in one destination.
More importantly, these products are not operating in isolation, but are gradually forming a linked chain. During the day, tourists explore the bay and relax at beachfront hotels. In the evening, they continue to experience the pedestrian street, art shows, fireworks, or other nighttime entertainment activities. This extended chain of experiences helps to prolong the length of stay and increase tourist spending.
According to the report on the implementation of the pilot project for developing the night-time economy model in the 2023-2025 period, several relatively distinct night-time economic spaces have been formed in Bai Chay ward, such as: Sun Carnival Square, Marina urban area, Bai Chay pedestrian street, VUI-Fest Ha Long commercial street, Marina night market, and overnight accommodation services on the bay.
Besides its advantageous coastal location, Bai Chay also boasts the largest tourism infrastructure in the province. The entire ward currently has over 370 accommodation establishments with approximately 18,000 rooms, along with hundreds of businesses operating in the service and tourism sectors. Beyond generating service revenue, the night-time economy contributes to job creation and promotes the restructuring of the local economy. In the period from 2021 to 2025 alone, night-time economic activities contributed to creating jobs for over 3,380 workers. This is a crucial foundation for developing a chain of services catering to tourists both day and night.
Art performances, water shows, and high-altitude fireworks displays are also adding to the appeal of the night-time economy. According to local reports, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the Sun Carnival Square area maintained 12 major shows, attracting an average of about 15,000 visitors each night. The ward has also developed clusters of night-time entertainment services along the coastal road and commercial streets, with peak activity from 8 PM the previous day to 2 AM the following day. Simultaneously, the area is expanding night-time bay sightseeing tours from cruise ships. Currently, the "Restaurant Boat" service serves an average of 2,500 guests per night.
These developments show that the night-time economy is no longer a supplementary, peripheral element, but is gradually playing an important role in the tourism development strategy of Bai Chay ward.
Towards systematic and sustainable development.
Despite many positive developments, the night-time economy in Bai Chay ward is still in the process of taking shape and there are still quite a few bottlenecks that need to be addressed.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nghia (a tourist from Da Nang City) shared: One of the easily noticeable limitations is that the transportation infrastructure serving nighttime activities is not yet fully synchronized. During peak times, many roads in the city center often experience localized traffic congestion, while public transportation operating after 10 PM is still quite limited. This significantly affects the tourist experience, as well as the potential for expanding the nighttime economy.
While the nighttime service sector has expanded, it still lacks depth and distinct differentiation. Most current activities focus on dining, shopping, or short-term events. Products capable of retaining tourists for longer periods, such as nighttime cultural complexes, large-scale art shows, live performances, or unique local experiences, are still scarce.
The seasonality of tourism also means that nighttime economic activity is not yet truly stable. Summer and holidays are usually very vibrant, but during the off-season, many areas experience a noticeable slowdown. This highlights the need to develop a product range that is attractive enough to maintain a year-round flow of tourists.
Furthermore, the pressure to manage urban areas at night is increasing. As activities extend into the late night, issues of public order, noise pollution, environmental hygiene, and tourist safety become mandatory requirements. Another difficulty lies in the policy mechanisms. Some types of night-time services still face obstacles regarding operating hours, event permits, or noise regulations. Meanwhile, the night-time economy is a unique sector that requires more flexible mechanisms to encourage businesses to invest long-term.
Human resources for the night-time economy are also a problem that needs attention. Nighttime service activities require a workforce with professional skills, foreign language communication abilities, and a demeanor suitable for an international tourism environment. However, the current workforce with specialized skills in this field still does not fully meet the development needs.
Based on this reality, Bai Chay ward is orienting the implementation of many solutions to develop the night-time economy in a more systematic and sustainable way. First and foremost is the continued improvement of infrastructure serving night-time activities. In 2026, the ward invested nearly 100 billion VND to invest in digital infrastructure and a smart urban management system; adding parking spaces and developing a public transportation system to serve tourists at night.
Currently, the entire ward has installed 190 AI cameras for security monitoring in key areas. Simultaneously, a series of major projects are being urgently implemented, such as: renovating the landscape of Bai Chay flower garden, the Ha Long road area from Hoang Gia Hotel to Bai Chay gas station; renovating the roads around Hung Thang Lake and Ao Ca Lake; installing smart LED lighting systems… aiming to improve the landscape and create uniformity and consistency for the main tourist routes of the locality.
The next key focus is developing specialized products and enhancing the experiential value, rather than simply expanding the number of services. The local authorities are working closely with Sun Group, BIM Group, Lotte, and others to finalize planning and legal procedures, aiming to build more shopping malls and high-end hotels, and introduce more night tours, street festivals, large-scale art programs, and other high-quality entertainment options.
Mr. Tran Manh Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bai Chay Ward, said: "In the modern tourism trend, tourists not only seek entertainment but also want to experience local identity. Therefore, incorporating elements of Ha Long culture, maritime culture, and heritage into nighttime products will be an important direction to create differentiation for Bai Chay. However, to create unique products suitable for the nighttime economy, appropriate development mechanisms are needed. We hope that relevant agencies will soon finalize policies to support businesses investing in nighttime entertainment and services; and create more favorable conditions for licensing operations and organizing events. If we continue to remove bottlenecks in infrastructure, mechanisms, and products, the nighttime economy will not only contribute to increasing tourism revenue but also gradually become a new growth pillar for Bai Chay in its journey to build a modern tourist city on the shores of the heritage site."
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/phat-trien-kinh-te-dem-o-bai-chay-3408390.html
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