The 4-day April 30 – May 1 holiday has concluded with remarkable achievements for Quang Ninh across various aspects. From booming tourism and a pervasive festive atmosphere to traffic coordination, market surveillance, and security maintenance... everything was operated smoothly and efficiently. Beyond recording a record influx of tourists, Quang Ninh also clearly affirmed its image as a safe, friendly, and professional destination, creating momentum for a breakthrough summer tourism season in 2026.
Tourism booms, reaffirming premier appeal
This year's holiday witnessed robust growth in Quang Ninh's tourism industry, with massive waves of visitors arriving across the entire province. From key tourism hubs such as Ha Long, Uong Bi, and Mong Cai to island routes like Van Don, Co To, Quan Lan, and Minh Chau... a bustling atmosphere prevailed throughout the entire holiday.
Right from the very first days of the break, streams of travelers from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, and various other provinces and cities continuously poured into Quang Ninh. Beaches, amusement parks, tourist pedestrian streets, and shopping centers were consistently crowded, especially during peak hours. During the 4-day holiday (from April 30 to May 3), the total number of tourists visiting Quang Ninh was estimated at 910,000 arrivals, with domestic visitors reaching about 873,000 arrivals and international visitors reaching about 37,000 arrivals; overnight staying guests were estimated at 360,000 arrivals. Total tourism revenue was estimated at 2,820 billion VND, a figure demonstrating the powerful allure of Quang Ninh as a destination. On Ha Long Bay, sightseeing activities were vibrant with thousands of tourist boats setting sail. Beaches like Bai Chay, Tuan Chau, and Hon Gai were packed with tourists, creating a colorful and lively tourism panorama in the early days of summer.
The most prominent highlight of the holiday was the Ha Long Carnaval 2026 under the theme "Wonders Brightening a New Era." The event drew approximately 80,000 direct attendees and millions of television viewers. In particular, for the first time, nearly 100 tourist vessels simultaneously illuminated and paraded across the bay, blending lighting effects, music, and fireworks to create a unique "festival wave of light" amidst the heritage landscape. This was not only an eye-catching performance but also paved the way for the province's nighttime tourism products to flourish.
Ms. Bui Thuy Nga, a tourist from Hai Phong, shared: "Our family chose Quang Ninh once again for this year's holiday and was truly impressed by the distinct changes in local tourism, especially the continuously improved service quality. Hotels and resorts are comprehensively invested in, offering more options for tourists. We were also gifted tickets to watch Ha Long Carnaval 2026 and were captivated by the show at October 30 Square. From the artistic performances to the street masquerade, float parade, and the lighting show on the bay, everything formed a lively, grand, and captivating festival space."
The festive atmosphere did not just stay in Ha Long, but also spread widely across other localities. A series of cultural, sports, and tourism events were held simultaneously, such as: the Van Don Coastal Tourism Festival, the Soong Co Festival in Binh Lieu, traditional folk festivals, and summer-welcoming art programs... all contributing to enriching tourism offerings and enhancing tourist experiences.
Island travel routes continued to record impressive appeal. During the first 3 days of the break, Ao Tien upscale seaport accommodated more than 30,000 passenger trips heading out to the islands. Many accommodation facilities in Co To, Quan Lan, and Minh Chau were fully booked well in advance. Tourists increasingly favor nature-immersive experiences such as beach walks, cycling, and discovering indigenous culture—an increasingly evident sustainable travel trend.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, noted: "Traveling to Co To is now quite convenient, tourism services have become better, prices are reasonable, and it still preserves a fresh, peaceful atmosphere. I especially enjoy the feeling of immersing myself in nature, swimming in the sea, cycling around the island, and exploring the local way of life. This is truly an ideal destination for anyone seeking a gentle, intimate, and relaxing holiday…"
Furthermore, new tourism products, such as float parades during the carnaval, street festival venues, and night tourism… continued to help extend tourists' length of stay and increase their spending. Evidently, the synergy of natural endowments, diversified tourism offerings, and large-scale event series created a powerful "boost," propelling Quang Ninh's tourism to boom during the holiday and reaffirming its standing as a leading destination in the Northern region.
Synchronized management and operations, ensuring safety
Besides the vibrancy of tourism, the holiday's success was clearly reflected in the effective management and operations across various fields, especially traffic regulation, security and order, market surveillance, and food safety.
During the 4 holiday days, despite a sudden surge in traffic volume with over 250,000 vehicle passages through toll stations, traffic throughout the province remained smooth and safe. Expressways, national highways, and urban roads saw high vehicle density, but no prolonged congestion occurred. A few localized congestions were handled promptly without significantly affecting the journeys of residents and travelers.
Notably, the entire province recorded no serious traffic accidents; both the number of accidents and fatalities decreased compared to the same period in 2025. This outcome was achieved thanks to proactive, synchronized planning implemented well in advance, mobilizing 100% of competent forces—especially the Traffic Police—on 24/7 duty along key routes and areas. Patrols and inspections were intensified, focusing on strictly handling violations that are the direct causes of accidents.
On waterway routes, particularly those serving island tours, transport operations were strictly supervised. Before departure, all vessels were thoroughly inspected for technical conditions, safety equipment, and passenger capacity. Throughout the holiday, thousands of boat trips safely transported tens of thousands of passengers with absolute security.
In parallel, market surveillance and food safety assurance were carried out vigorously. Competent authorities stepped up inspections and monitoring in crowded tourist areas, strictly handling violations such as trading goods of unknown origin, food safety infractions, failure to list prices, or selling above listed prices.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, Head of the Provincial Market Surveillance Department, stated: "The department directed market surveillance teams across the province to maintain close presence in assigned areas, focusing on inspecting tourist-concentrated areas and essential commodities serving locals and visitors. The consistent stance is to strictly penalize violations regarding food safety, speculation, hoarding, and unreasonable price gouging, thereby protecting consumer rights and safeguarding the image of Quang Ninh as a safe and hospitable destination."
The requirement that 100% of service business establishments publicly display prices and sell at the posted rates has helped curb overcharging, fostering a transparent and civilized tourism environment. Abundant supplies of goods and stable prices adequately met the shopping and dining demands of locals and tourists alike.
Alongside the engagement of functional authorities, service businesses and enterprises also heightened their sense of responsibility, proactively preparing facilities and human resources to guarantee service quality. Many establishments paid special attention to controlling food sources and elevating customer experiences, contributing to building a professional tourism image. Environmental sanitation, rescue and lifeguarding operations, and security and order maintenance at tourist sites and attractions were consistently maintained in a coordinated manner. Consequently, visitors were able to tour and relax with peace of mind throughout their stay.
The 4-day holiday concluded with many comprehensive, positive results. Beyond recording impressive tourist numbers and revenues, Quang Ninh also proved its capability to organize and operate effectively during peak conditions. Visitors' satisfaction, manifested in an increasingly apparent trend of returning, serves as a crucial benchmark for destination quality.
With an increasingly refined infrastructure foundation, continuously innovated tourism products, and a methodical, professional approach, Quang Ninh is continuing to cement its position as the premier tourism center of Northern Vietnam. The achievements made during this holiday are not merely temporary highlights, but a vital springboard for the province's tourism industry to surge forward in the summer of 2026 and subsequent periods.
