From cinnamon and star anise forests to seafood farming areas and culturally rich villages, Quang Ninh possesses tourism resources brimming with potential. But its appeal lies not only in landscapes, but in how distinctive experiences are created. Allowing visitors to harvest cinnamon, distill essential oils, work as fishermen, and live alongside local residents... requires a new mindset and creative approach: turning resources into products, culture into experiences, and every destination into a compelling story. That is the way to innovate tourism, creating a distinct identity and sustainable appeal for Quang Ninh.
Implementing the orientation of "One distinctive tourism product per commune, ward, or special zone," the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently surveyed and evaluated 41 tourism products for 2026. According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Head of the Accommodation and Tourism Services Management Division (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the survey results showed rich resources and local proactivity in investing and developing distinctive products with viable exploitation potential.
Such initiative is evident across various models. In Mong Cai, Dang Phuong fish sauce, which attained a 3-star OCOP rating, inherits production experience from the Xuan Ninh fish sauce workshop established in 1958; the facility has welcomed visitors from Vietnam and China for sightseeing and shopping. However, to become a regular stop on tour itineraries, the experience must go beyond merely touring the workshop. Visitors could learn about traditional fermentation techniques, distinguish flavor profiles, listen to stories of the craft, and purchase local specialties as gifts. Every stage of production can become a reason for visitors to return.
In the same vein, Green Farm 188 in Mao Khe covers about 2.5 hectares of greenhouses for hydroponic vegetables and has hosted student and research groups. Its advantage lies in high-tech agricultural processes, yet picking grapes and guavas remains seasonal. Therefore, it has been suggested that the facility organize hands-on activities such as sowing seeds, tending vegetables, harvesting, and packaging produce, providing visitors with extra knowledge, experiences, and take-home products.
For Hoanh Mo, the challenge lies in sustaining appeal after events conclude. The "Cao Ly Moonlit Night" program in late September combined camping, ethnic cultural performances, cuisine, and OCOP products, helping showcase highland landscapes and culture. However, a few vibrant days are not enough to generate a steady influx of tourists. Therefore, connecting star anise forest exploration and Dao herbal medicinal baths with an overnight stay in Khe Tien is expected to lengthen itineraries, helping visitors learn about local livelihoods and culture while using more local services.
Nevertheless, alongside the few products... that have been put into operation, attractive resources alone are not enough to guarantee effective exploitation. Vinh Thuc Island boasts beautiful beaches, a lighthouse, and outdoor sports activities, but accommodations and restaurants remain limited; many participants in a running race once had to return to Tra Co for lodging. At Phuong Hoang Mountain, the grassy landscape is popular among young people, yet the mountain road, parking areas, sanitation, and service management are not yet synchronized. Without adequate services, visitor volume cannot easily be converted into commensurate revenue for the locality.
Those limitations call for focused investment. Therefore, to turn potential into attractive products, localities need to proactively improve infrastructure and services, tapping into their unique strengths; link tourism with OCOP products, local specialties, and traditional crafts, thereby enriching experiences and increasing income for local residents.
In this direction, the survey helps identify appropriate support for each product. Operating destinations need promotion and market connections; places lacking services must prioritize completing them; new ideas require feasibility assessments before investment. This approach helps avoid scattered, duplicated investment. More importantly, to sell tours, each destination must have itineraries, price lists, booking contact points, and stable safety conditions. The ability to be included in tour packages by businesses and to welcome visitors regularly is an important measure of product development efficiency.
It can be seen that refreshing tourism products does not necessarily start with large-scale projects, but can stem from craft experiences, local meals, overnight stays in villages, or trips out to sea with fishermen. When invested in the right places and systematically organized, these familiar resources will become attractive products that retain visitors and generate additional livelihoods for the people of Quang Ninh.
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