The four-day 30 April–1 May holiday has come to a close, leaving Quang Ninh with notable achievements across multiple areas. From booming tourism and a festive atmosphere spreading far and wide to effective management of traffic, market oversight, and public security and order… everything operated efficiently and in sync. Not only did Quang Ninh record a record increase in visitor numbers, it also clearly affirmed its image as a safe, friendly, and professional destination, creating momentum for a breakthrough in the 2026 summer tourism season.
Tourism booms, reaffirming its leading appeal
This year’s holiday saw strong growth in Quang Ninh’s tourism sector, with large numbers of visitors flocking throughout the province. From tourism hubs such as Ha Long, Uong Bi, and Mong Cai to island and coastal destinations such as Van Don, Co To, Quan Lan, and Minh Chau... a bustling atmosphere continued throughout the holiday.
From the very first days of the holiday, streams of visitors from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, and many other provinces and cities continuously arrived in Quang Ninh. Beaches, entertainment areas, tourist streets, and shopping centers were consistently crowded, especially during peak hours. Over the 4-day holiday (from 30 April to 3 May), the total number of tourists visiting Quang Ninh was estimated at 910,000, including approximately 873,000 domestic visitors and 37,000 international visitors; the number of visitors staying overnight was estimated at 360,000. Total tourism revenue was estimated at VND 2,820 billion, a figure that demonstrates Quang Ninh’s strong appeal as a destination. On Ha Long Bay, sightseeing activities were lively, with thousands of boat trips departing. Beaches such as Bai Chay, Tuan Chau, and Hon Gai were packed with visitors, creating a brilliant and vibrant tourism scene right at the start of summer.
The most prominent highlight of the holiday was Carnaval Ha Long 2026, themed “Wonders Lighting Up a New Era.” The event attracted approximately 80,000 direct participants and millions of television viewers. Notably, for the first time, nearly 100 tourist boats lit up simultaneously and paraded across the bay, combining light effects, music, and fireworks to create a unique “wave of light festival” amid the heritage landscape. This was not only a spectacular performance but also opened up a new direction for developing the province’s nighttime tourism products.
Ms. Bui Thuy Nga, a visitor from Hai Phong, shared: “My family chose Quang Ninh again for this year’s holiday and was truly impressed by the clear changes in tourism here, especially the increasingly improved quality of services. Hotels and resorts have been systematically developed, offering visitors more choices. We were also given tickets to see Carnaval Ha Long 2026 and were very impressed with the program at 30/10 Square. From the artistic performances and street carnival to the model-vehicle parade and the light show on the bay, everything created a vibrant, large-scale, and attractive festival atmosphere.”
The festive atmosphere was not limited to Ha Long but spread widely across the localities. A series of cultural, sports, and tourism events were held simultaneously, including the Van Don Sea Tourism Festival, the Soong Co Festival in Binh Lieu, traditional festivals, and welcome-summer art programs… helping diversify tourism products and enhance visitors’ experiences.
The coastal and island tourism routes continued to record impressive appeal. In the first 3 days of the holiday, more than 30,000 visitors traveled to the islands through the high-end Ao Tien port. Many accommodation establishments in Co To, Quan Lan, and Minh Chau had been fully booked well in advance. Visitors increasingly favored experiences close to nature, such as strolling along the beach, cycling, and exploring local culture—a clear sign of the growing sustainable tourism trend.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, a visitor from Hanoi, said: “Co To is now quite convenient to reach, tourism services are getting better, prices are reasonable, and it has retained its fresh, peaceful atmosphere. I especially enjoy the feeling of immersing myself in nature, swimming in the sea, cycling around the island, and learning about local cultural life. This is truly an ideal choice for anyone seeking a gentle, close-to-nature, and relaxing holiday…”
In addition, new tourism products, such as the model-vehicle parade at the carnival, street festival spaces, and nighttime tourism… continued to help extend visitors’ stays and increase their spending. It is clear that the combination of natural resources, diverse tourism products, and a series of large-scale events created a powerful “boost,” driving Quang Ninh tourism to boom during the holiday and further affirming its position as a leading destination in the northern region.
Coordinated management and administration ensure safety
Alongside the vibrancy of tourism, the success of the holiday was also clearly reflected in effective management and administration across various areas, particularly traffic, public security and order, market oversight, and food safety.
During the 4-day holiday, although the number of vehicles surged, with more than 250,000 vehicles passing through toll stations, traffic throughout the province remained smooth and safe. Expressways, national highways, and urban roads experienced high traffic volumes, but no prolonged congestion occurred. Some localized congestion was dealt with promptly and did not significantly affect the journeys of residents and visitors.
Notably, no serious traffic accidents occurred throughout the province; both the number of accidents and fatalities decreased compared with the same period in 2025. This result was achieved through the early and coordinated implementation of response plans and the mobilization of 100% of the relevant forces, particularly traffic police, who were on duty 24/24h on key routes and in key areas. Patrols and inspections were intensified, with a focus on strictly handling violations that directly cause accidents.
On waterways, particularly the coastal and island tourism routes, transport operations were strictly controlled. Before departure, all vessels were thoroughly inspected for technical conditions, safety equipment, and passenger capacity. During the holiday, thousands of boat trips served tens of thousands of passengers with absolute safety.
At the same time, market oversight and food safety measures were implemented decisively. The authorities intensified inspections and controls in areas with large concentrations of tourists, strictly handling violations such as trading goods of unclear origin, breaching food-safety regulations, failing to display prices, or selling goods at prices different from those displayed.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, Director of the provincial Market Surveillance Sub-Department, said: "The sub-department has instructed market surveillance teams throughout the province to stay closely engaged with their areas, focusing inspections on places with large numbers of tourists and essential goods serving residents and visitors. The consistent policy is to strictly handle violations involving food safety, speculation, hoarding, and unreasonable price increases, thereby helping protect consumer rights and preserve Quang Ninh’s image as a safe and friendly destination."
Requiring 100% of service businesses to publicly display prices and sell at the displayed prices helped limit price gouging and create a transparent, civilized tourism environment. The ample supply of goods and stable prices effectively met the shopping and dining needs of residents and visitors.
Alongside the efforts of the authorities, businesses and service establishments also raised their sense of responsibility, proactively preparing facilities and human resources and ensuring service quality. Many establishments focused on controlling food sources and improving customer experiences, contributing to a professional image for tourism. Environmental sanitation, rescue operations, and the maintenance of public security and order at tourism areas and attractions were also carried out regularly and in coordination. As a result, visitors could enjoy sightseeing and отдыхing with peace of mind throughout the holiday.
The 4-day holiday has come to a close with many positive and comprehensive results. Quang Ninh not only achieved impressive figures in visitor numbers and revenue but also demonstrated its capacity for effective organization and administration during a peak period. Visitor satisfaction, reflected in the increasingly clear trend of repeat visits, is an important measure of destination quality.
With increasingly complete infrastructure, continually renewed tourism products, and a systematic and professional approach, Quang Ninh is continuing to strengthen its position as a leading tourism center in the North. The results achieved during the holiday are not merely temporary highlights but also an important “springboard” for the province’s tourism sector to accelerate during the 2026 summer season and in the periods ahead.
