Quang Ninh is bustling with international tourists.

In 2026, Quang Ninh's tourism sector aims to welcome 5.2 million international visitors out of a total of over 22 million tourists, focusing on long-stay, high-spending tourists. From the very first days of the Lunar New Year of the Horse, the number of international visitors to Quang Ninh has increased significantly, creating strong momentum and contributing to the realization of the set goal.

Cruise ship passengers are delighted to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year in Quang Ninh .

During the 9-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2026 (Year of the Horse), Quang Ninh province is expected to welcome approximately 258,000 international tourists, an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Of these, Ha Long Bay remains a favorite destination for this group of tourists, with 80,000 visitors, a 26% increase compared to the same period, mainly from China, South Korea, India, and Taiwan. Popular attractions in the bay continue to include Ti Top Island, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Thien Cung Cave.

Notably, on February 17th (the first day of the Lunar New Year), Quang Ninh province welcomed two cruise ships, the Seabourn Encore and Piano Land, from Hong Kong (China), carrying approximately 2,400 tourists as the first arrivals of the year. Immigration, security, and tour coordination were implemented synchronously and quickly, ensuring safety and convenience.

International tourists are excited about experiencing the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in Quang Ninh.

Ms. Juie Overstreet (a tourist from Iceland) shared: "We were very surprised by the beautiful natural scenery of Ha Long Bay. So, I booked a boat trip to visit the bay on the same day. The atmosphere was absolutely wonderful, especially when we had the opportunity to celebrate the traditional Vietnamese New Year and enjoy many unique traditional cultural aspects of your country."

Despite the large number of tourists, thanks to the thorough preparation of the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, security, safety, fire prevention, and environmental hygiene at tourist attractions were ensured, and tourism activities took place safely and in a civilized manner.

Not only did it welcome two major cruise ships at the beginning of the year, but on February 19th and 20th (the 3rd and 4th days of the Lunar New Year) and February 24th and 25th (the 8th and 9th days of the first lunar month), Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed the Le Jacques Cartier (French), Adora Mediterranea (Bahamasian), and Silver Nova (Bahamas), with the Adora Mediterranea returning twice. It is projected that in 2026, Ha Long International Cruise Port will welcome approximately 90 cruise ships with around 150,000 passengers from key markets such as the US, Germany, the UK, Canada, China, and many European countries.

Not only via sea routes, Quang Ninh's tourism sector is also receiving positive signals from the Chinese tourist market via land routes. During the 9-day Lunar New Year holiday, the Mong Cai International Border Gate was bustling with activity, welcoming 35,000 tourists, a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2015. On the very first morning of the new year, border gate personnel processed entry procedures for a group of 55 Chinese tourists, entering on a 10-day tour visa to visit Quang Ninh. The group expressed their delight at choosing Vietnam as their first destination of the new year, and highly appreciated the convenience and speed of the immigration control process.

To ensure smooth and safe customs clearance, authorities at border gates have deployed personnel on duty 24/7. Simultaneously, they have prepared adequate infrastructure and enhanced guidance and support for tourists to complete procedures quickly and in accordance with regulations. Control measures are implemented strictly and according to procedures, maximizing convenience for tourists.

In addition, localities and tourism businesses are actively organizing many attractive traditional cultural experiences and events, such as making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), receiving calligraphy blessings from calligraphers, and enjoying Vietnamese cuisine. At the same time, they are ensuring sufficient staffing throughout the Tet holiday, inspecting and upgrading facilities at hotels to avoid overcrowding and maintain the highest quality of service.

This impressive start shows positive signs for Quang Ninh's tourism industry right at the beginning of the Year of the Horse. In 2026, the province has set ambitious goals to affirm its position as an international tourism hub and a driving force for sustainable growth in the region. These goals are being actively pursued by various sectors and units through the development of new potential markets such as India, Russia, and the Middle East; the creation of diverse tourism products to reduce seasonality; and a focus on MICE tourism, golf tourism, international cruise tourism, and the night-time economy. Simultaneously, there is a focus on promoting digital transformation, applying lighting technology, virtual reality, and digital platforms to tourism management and visitor experiences…

Hoang Quynh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tap-nap-khach-quoc-te-den-quang-ninh-3397451.html