Welcoming the first visitor of the year.
On the morning of January 1st, at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, Minh Xuan Ward (Tuyen Quang Province), the Tuyen Quang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a program to welcome the first tourists to "inaugurate" the province in 2026.
Comrade Vuong Ngoc Ha, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuyen Quang province, affirmed that in 2026, the province will continue to consider tourism as a key task. The province is committed to developing tourism in a green, sustainable, and humane direction, with tourists at the center, the community as the main subject, and cultural identity as the foundation; thereby creating economic value while preserving nature, maintaining culture, and improving the quality of life for the people.
Mr. Hoang Van Chien, a tourist from Ninh Binh province, could not hide his joy and excitement upon his first visit to Tuyen Quang in the early spring of 2026. Amidst the fresh air, lush green natural scenery, and the peaceful pace of life in this revolutionary land, Mr. Chien said that the trip had brought him many special emotions.
In 2025, Tuyen Quang tourism continuously won many prestigious international awards. The UNESCO Global Geopark Dong Van Karst Plateau was honored as "Asia's Leading Cultural Destination" and "World's Leading Cultural Destination".
Lo Lo Chai village in Lung Cu commune was awarded the title of "World's Best Tourist Village 2025" by the United Nations Tourism Organization; Panhou Retreat resort in Thong Nguyen commune was honored as "Asia's Leading Green Resort". These awards recognize outstanding achievements in cultural preservation, sustainable tourism development, and ecosystem protection, thereby affirming Tuyen Quang's position on the regional and international tourism map, contributing to attracting over 3.9 million visitors and generating over 10,000 billion VND in tourism revenue.
In the vibrant atmosphere of the first day of the new year 2026, the People's Committee of Sa Pa ward (Lao Cai province) organized a ceremony to welcome the first 60 domestic and international tourists. Ms. Pham Ngoc Anh, a tourist from Son La, shared: “The thoughtful welcome from the local authorities surprised and moved me. I am very lucky to be in Sa Pa on the first day of the new year and receive meaningful gifts and many good wishes.” In 2026, Lao Cai's tourism industry aims to welcome 11.28 million tourists, with total tourism revenue reaching 51,100 billion VND, an increase of approximately 9.67% compared to 2025. To achieve this goal, the province focuses on developing unique tourism products and promoting digital transformation to build Lao Cai into a year-round tourism center of the country. According to Tran Son Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province: "These are ambitious goals, but with thorough and meticulous preparation, the Lao Cai tourism industry is determined to achieve them."
At the Huu Nghi International Border Gate on the morning of January 1st, Lang Son province welcomed the first group of 40 international tourists of 2026. Ms. Wei Xue Fang (Haikou, Hainan, China) shared: “I am very honored and happy to be given such a grand welcome on the first day of the new year. Lang Son is a friendly and hospitable land, and I look forward to meaningful experiences here.” According to Mr. Hoang Xuan Thuan, Director of the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center of Lang Son province, in the coming time, the province will continue to promote cross-border tourism cooperation with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), while developing unique tourism products, improving the safe and convenient tourism environment, aiming to make Lang Son an attractive destination in 2026 and subsequent years. In 2026, Lang Son province aims to attract 4.7 million tourists, with estimated tourism revenue reaching 4,900 billion VND.
On the same day, Ha Long International Cruise Port (Quang Ninh) held a ceremony to welcome the first international cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice, registered in Malta, marking the beginning of a vibrant 2026 cruise tourism season.
The ship carried 3,018 international tourists and 1,222 crew members, with the majority of tourists coming from Europe and America. Ms. Junyu (USA) shared: “I am deeply moved by your warm welcome. I hope that during this trip, my family and I can fully explore the natural beauty and unique cultural values of Vietnam. This spring trip to Ha Long Bay will certainly become a memorable experience for us.”
In 2026, Ha Long International Cruise Port is expected to welcome nearly 90 international cruise ships, with approximately 150,000 passengers from key markets such as the US, Germany, the UK, Canada, China, and many European countries.
On the morning of January 1st, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board (Quang Tri province) held a ceremony to welcome the first visitors to this World Natural Heritage site. The ceremony was solemn and joyful, taking place in warm sunny weather with an impressive spring-themed artistic program.
According to Pham Hong Thai, Director of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Management Board, the event on January 1st marked the beginning of a series of key tourism promotion and stimulus programs for 2026, affirming the determination to innovate, improve service quality, and develop green and sustainable tourism for Vietnam's first transboundary natural heritage site.
Sharing his feelings about being one of the first visitors, Mr. Imran Turk, a tourist from Dubai, said he was truly surprised and honored by the warm and formal welcome from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park on New Year's Day. He hoped that with the allure, magnificence, and mysterious beauty of its cave system, Phong Nha-Ke Bang would become a destination for tourists from the Gulf region and many other parts of the world.
Da Nang city was bustling as the first flights of the year landed at Da Nang International Airport and Chu Lai Airport, bringing nearly 2,000 domestic and international tourists to the city for the holiday on January 1st. Tourist destinations such as Hoi An Ancient Town, Cam Thanh Bay Mau Coconut Forest, and Tra Que Vegetable Village welcomed many groups of visitors. Donna Serona, a tourist from the Philippines, chose to celebrate the New Year in Hoi An Ancient Town. Receiving a wreath, souvenir, and New Year's wishes at the welcoming program, Donna Serona shared: "The atmosphere here is so lively, and the people are very hospitable, making us feel the friendliness as soon as we arrived in Hoi An."
In 2026, Da Nang is expected to serve approximately 19.1 million tourists, with total tourism revenue estimated at nearly 70,000 billion VND. Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, emphasized: With dynamism, effort, and a sense of responsibility, the city's culture, sports, and tourism sector will successfully achieve its set goals, contributing even more significantly to the city's socio-economic development.
Maintain smooth operation of border crossings.
On the morning of January 1, 2026, import and export activities through northern border gates proceeded smoothly and stably from the very first hours of the new year. At the Bac Luan II border gate (Mong Cai, Quang Ninh), the first import and export shipments were processed smoothly, mainly consisting of machinery, equipment for production, and frozen goods.
On the first day of the year, traffic flow through the border gate and the Km3+4 Hai Yen crossing remained at a fairly high level, with the total import and export turnover through the Mong Cai International Border Gate estimated at approximately 20 million USD. Along with goods activities, immigration and customs procedures at the Bac Luan II border gate were organized flexibly by the relevant authorities, ensuring quick, safe procedures and effectively serving trade and tourism at the beginning of the year.
At border gates in Lang Son province, despite a decrease in traffic compared to previous days, import and export activities on January 1st proceeded normally. Authorities deployed sufficient personnel throughout the holiday period to provide timely support to businesses and drivers, ensuring smooth customs clearance. Some initial difficulties in tax declaration under the new regulations were resolved by customs officers during the morning.
According to the leaders of Lang Son province, in 2026 the locality will continue to promote the implementation of the smart border gate project, creating favorable conditions for import and export activities, striving to achieve the target of collecting 15,000 billion VND in revenue from this sector.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/soi-dong-ngay-dau-nam-moi-post934647.html
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