Sports events - 'golden opportunity' to promote image and attract tourism to Quang Ninh

Quang Ninh province identifies sports as one of the driving forces for tourism and economic development.

The 2025 VnExpress Marathon Ha Long attracted more than 10,000 domestic and international athletes to conquer the running track along the heritage bay. Photo: VNA

In 2025, Quang Ninh has affirmed its position as the "capital" of national and international sporting events by successfully hosting 12 major tournaments, attracting more than 90,000 people to attend and cheer. This success not only strengthens the province's brand but also creates a strong boost for the tourism industry, turning each tournament into a golden opportunity to promote the image and attract tourists.

Strategic vision

Quang Ninh 's success in hosting major sporting events is not accidental, but the result of a strategic vision and thorough investment. The province has built a system of modern, synchronous cultural and sports facilities that meet international standards. Projects such as the Planning Palace, the Provincial Fair and Exhibition Hall or the 5,000-seat multi-purpose gymnasium have become ideal venues for organizing indoor competitions. Cam Pha Stadium with its large capacity, lighting system, and standard pitch has successfully hosted many professional football matches. Along with that, cultural and sports facilities of private enterprises such as stadiums, golf courses, Pickleball courts, etc. have brought diversity to Quang Ninh's sports infrastructure.

The 2024 Asian Police Taekwondo Open Championships will be held at the Quang Ninh Provincial Sports Complex. Photo: Duc Hieu/VNA

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh province emphasized: The province identifies sports as one of the driving forces for tourism and economic development. Organizing major events not only promotes the local image but also attracts tourists, especially those who want to experience tourism combined with sports. To ensure the infrastructure for competition, the province annually carries out renovation, repair and maintenance of works.

Quang Ninh has soon proven its organizational capacity when co-hosting the 31st SEA Games in 2022 with 7 competitions and the 9th National Sports Congress in 2022, the 2024 Asian Police Taekwondo Open... The success of these events has created a solid foundation, making Quang Ninh a familiar destination for professional tournaments, attracting the attention of international friends.

In 2025, the province continues to impress with a series of diverse events, from large-scale marathons to emerging sports. Tournaments attracting tens of thousands of athletes and fans include the First and Second Division football tournaments at Cam Pha Stadium; the VnExpress Marathon; the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Pickleball Tournament; the AQUA Ha Long and AQUA Van Don tournaments; the Yen Tu Marathon; the Quang Ninh International Open Chess Tournament; the National Archery and National Youth Fencing Tournament; the VietJets Sports Festival and other tournaments such as the FLC Quang Ninh Golf Tournament, the Mong Cai International Marathon...

The first Pickelball Business Tournament - 2025 brings together many domestic and international players. Photo: Thanh Van/VNA

Recently, the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Pickleball Tournament was successfully held in Quang Ninh, attracting the participation of many leading domestic and international athletes, creating great attraction for fans. Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Pickleball Club shared: Quang Ninh has convenient traffic infrastructure, majestic natural landscape, an ideal space to organize the tournament. Athletes not only compete on an international standard field system, but can also combine sightseeing and relaxation right in a leading tourist locality. The organizing committee chose to hold the tournament in Quang Ninh to promote the image and passion, love of sports of the people here to domestic and international friends.

The second time participating in the tournament held in Quang Ninh, the young tennis player in the world's top 5 Quang Duong commented: Quang Ninh is very beautiful, Duong himself loves the sea so every time he returns to Ha Long, Duong is very happy. Although the competition was quite tiring, in return, Duong was welcomed by many fans. Quang Duong sent his thanks to Quang Ninh for providing a good competition space and infrastructure.

Double benefits from sports tourism

The combination of sports and tourism in Quang Ninh has created a vibrant "ecosystem", bringing dual benefits, not just stopping at direct economic efficiency. Each major sporting event brings a significant source of revenue from related services such as accommodation, food, transportation and shopping. Hotels and restaurants in the tournament area always operate at full capacity. For example, when the Ha Long Bay Marathon takes place, tens of thousands of athletes and fans flock to it, leading to a sudden increase in revenue for businesses. This creates more jobs, from seasonal jobs to management positions, contributing to boosting the local economy.

Statistics show that in the first 8 months of 2025, Quang Ninh's total tourism revenue reached VND41,380 billion, up 21% over the same period, including the contribution of sports events.

In addition to the direct economic benefits, the indirect and long-term benefits of sports tourism are much greater. National and international tournaments are widely communicated on mass media and social networks. This is a golden opportunity to promote the image of a dynamic, modern and friendly Quang Ninh to international friends. The beauty of Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu or Van Don, the border areas of the Fatherland... are spread by thousands of athletes and tourists through photos and videos, creating an extremely powerful word-of-mouth marketing effect.

Athletes participating in the first Business Pickelball Tournament - 2025 commented that the infrastructure in Quang Ninh is very good and professional for major tournaments. Photo: Thanh Van/VNA

Mr. Nguyen Van Quy (born in 1999), a fan from Bac Ninh province, excitedly expressed: I really like sports. When I heard about the Pickleball tournament with top players, I arranged my time to go to Quang Ninh to watch it right away. It was also the weekend so I combined taking my small family on a trip, visiting some tourist attractions near the competition area such as Ha Long Bay, watching water music and watching fireworks on Saturday night.

Quang Ninh is gradually building its brand as a "destination of world-class sporting events", opening a new, sustainable direction for local development. The province has a diverse landscape with sea, mountains, rivers, suitable for many types of adventure and outdoor sports such as mountain climbing, kayaking, paragliding... To achieve this goal, the provincial government has issued many preferential policies, supporting units and organizations in hosting major events. The province also focuses on developing tourism according to the "four-season tourism" strategy by diversifying products, not just depending on summer beach tourism. Products such as festival tourism, spiritual tourism, golf tourism...

Organizing sports events not only brings direct economic benefits but also is an opportunity to promote the beauty of the World Natural Heritage (Ha Long Bay) to international friends, thereby creating sustainable and long-term sources of income for the Quang Ninh tourism industry.

VNA

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/su-kien-the-thao-co-hoi-vang-quang-ba-hinh-anh-va-thu-hut-du-lich-quang-ninh-20250923081658142.htm