Despite recording positive growth signals right from early 2026, Quang Ninh's tourism industry is entering the peak season under considerable pressure from economic fluctuations. However, with a proactive spirit and flexible response, the province along with localities and businesses quickly rolled out a series of stimulus programs and attractive tourism products, while organizing a diverse array of unique cultural and sports events to draw visitors and deliver many memorable experiences.
Vibrant series of attractive events
Quang Ninh Province's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Week welcoming summer 2026 themed "Ha Long Carnaval 2026 - Wonder Illuminates the New Era" takes place from April 25 to May 3, expected to attract 1.3 million visitors, contributing to achieving the Q2/2026 target of welcoming 5.92 million visitors with estimated total revenue of 18,176 billion VND.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thuy Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, through this series of distinctive cultural, sports, and tourism activities, the event aims to evoke national pride, honor, and promote the fine traditional cultural values of the nation, spread the image of Quang Ninh's people, and extensively promote the province's outstanding potentials and advantages—especially the value of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay, an emblem of majestic nature, and the World Cultural Heritage Yen Tu Complex of Monuments and Landscapes, a top destination regionally and internationally. This is also an opportunity to vigorously drive tourism promotion and marketing, the development of commerce, services, cultural industries, and the night-time economy; attract domestic and international tourists, thereby contributing to increasing service revenues and creating momentum for socio-economic development.
The highlight of Quang Ninh Province's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Week welcoming summer 2026 is the opening art performance "Ha Long Carnaval 2026 - Wonder Illuminates the New Era", scheduled to open at 20:00 on April 30 at October 30 Square (Ha Long Ward) on a scale of up to 50,000 people. The program will feature a street parade, a formal ceremony, and an art performance.
Alongside this is a series of special events promising to create a vibrant, colorful festive atmosphere to welcome visitors; notable activities include: the street carnival "Dance of the 5 Continents - Quang Ninh Welcomes Summer", taking place from April 28 to May 2 along the coastal roads of Ha Long, Hong Gai, and Bai Chay wards heading toward October 30 Square; the street music performance "Sounds by the Bay" from April 28 to May 3 at October 30 Square and the Bai Chay coastal road; and the design and creation contest of signature parade floats of Quang Ninh province parading from April 28 to May 2 along the coastal roads of Ha Long, Hong Gai, and Bai Chay wards heading toward October 30 Square.
In addition, activities such as the Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple Festival will also take place over 2 days, from April 29 to 30 at Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple; the "festival wave" light show of tourist cruises on the Heritage Ha Long Bay from April 28 to May 2 along the coastal area from Hon Gai Beach - Ha Long International Cruise Port to Tuan Chau International Passenger Port, featuring 50 tourist cruises decorated with synchronized artistic lighting systems, cruising in formation along the coastal route combined with music and coastal light effects to create an outstanding visual highlight.
From April 25 to May 3, locals and tourists will also have the opportunity to attend the Quang Ninh Summer Film Week 2026 at the Planning, Fair, and Exhibition Palace, the Provincial Museum - Library, the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes Complex, Van Don, Co To, and Mong Cai; an exhibition of literary, artistic, and sculptural works of the Mining Region at October 30 Square and Bai Chay coastal road; the Ha Long International Food Street at October 30 Square (Ha Long Ward) or Sun Carnival Square (Bai Chay Ward); hot air balloon displays and experiences titled "Soaring with the Wonder" at October 30 Square and Bai Chay tourist area, Bai Chay Ward; and an OCOP product fair and showcase of Vietnamese folk arts at Sun Carnival Square, the Planning, Fair, and Exhibition Palace, and October 30 Square with 120 local booths alongside a series of distinctive sporting activities.
At the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes Complex, the Yen Tu Welcomes Summer 2026 art performance will also take place on April 19 with a scale of 10,000 attendees, promoting the values of the Yen Tu World Cultural Heritage and holding the Memorial Ceremony for the death anniversary of the Second Patriarch Phap Loa. The event reaffirms the enduring values of Truc Lam ideology with its spirit of worldly engagement, harmony, and guiding people toward a virtuous and peaceful life. This is also an occasion to educate on traditions, spread the cultural and Buddhist heritage values associated with the sacred Yen Tu heritage area, and contribute to preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity.
Organizing a simultaneous series of appealing tourism events to kick off the summer helps businesses and travel operators proactively promote and introduce options to tourists. According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Hai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of THK Tourism Services and Trading Joint Stock Company (Ha Long Ward), the province's events have created favorable conditions for tour operators to proactively introduce and market products to customers. With Chinese tourists as their primary market, as soon as information about these events was announced, the company worked with partners and received positive responses. Many tour groups have chosen to visit Quang Ninh during this period to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and experience local culture.
Proactively stimulating demand, upgrading services
According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in Q1/2026, Quang Ninh Province welcomed about 6.3 million visitors, an increase of about 10% compared to the same period in 2025. Of these, domestic visitors reached an estimated nearly 4.9 million, and international visitors reached approximately 1.4 million. Total tourism revenue in Q1/2026 was estimated at 15,687 billion VND, up 20% compared to the same period in 2026. This serves as an important foundation for the tourism sector to enter the peak season with high growth expectations.
However, alongside these positive signals is mounting pressure from global political and economic fluctuations. Rising fuel and energy costs have directly impacted airfares and freight charges, driving up input costs for tourism businesses. This makes it difficult to maintain stable package tour prices, compelling companies to adjust retail rates.
Faced with economic volatility and shifting consumer behavior, the tourism sector is demonstrating a proactive adaptation trend to enter the peak season with greater flexibility. Instead of focusing on long-haul, high-cost products, many businesses have quickly adjusted their strategies, heavily developing short-term tours, nearby destinations, and reasonable spending levels. This is considered an approach aligned with current consumer trends while helping to sustain a stable flow of visitors. In parallel, improving the quality of experience has become a top priority.
Speaking on the business's proactive adaptation, a representative of Vietravel Quang Ninh Branch said: In response to market impacts, the unit proactively prepared early for the peak season by restructuring products flexibly, focusing on short tours, in-depth experiences, and diverse price ranges. Simultaneously, the company strengthened coordination with airline and accommodation partners to stabilize supply and control costs. In addition, it tightened cost management and collaborated with transport partners, favoring operators that utilize fuel-efficient and green energy vehicles to offset part of the expenses. Crucially, it focused on enhancing service quality and incorporating products deeply rooted in local identity and culture to provide varied choices for diverse customer segments.
Furthermore, lodging facilities have promptly oriented and introduced products serving summer tourism, primarily for the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday and the April 30 - May 1 holiday. FLC Ha Long Hotel introduced an experience-optimized promotional package starting at only 1,540,000 - 1,990,000 VND per person for standard room stays, buffet breakfast, and daily main meals. Additionally, units have actively connected and designed land-based vacation combos paired with Ha Long Bay sightseeing or dinner cruises to create novel, unique experiences for visitors.
Along with corporate adaptation, localities have also proactively stimulated demand by presenting many new tourism products. Ms. Ngo Thi Minh Sao, Deputy Head of the Culture - Social Affairs Division of Co To Special Zone, said: The locality has identified plans to continue rolling out the Hong Hai Smart Tourism Village; pilot water sports and recreation services along with tours visiting three major islands: Co To, Thanh Lan, and Tran; and gradually develop the Sovereignty Flag-Raising Ceremony on the islands into an official tourism product. Alongside this is upgrading the "Co To Digital" ecosystem, integrating utilities to manage and serve tourists, striving for completion in Q2/2026; developing the night-time economy along the culinary street, coastal road, and regulating lake area; developing Tinh Yeu Beach to standard; developing sightseeing products at Hamlet 2 Shrine; marine agri-ecotourism experiences at Hon Ngang; and organizing cultural, sports, and tourism activities celebrating the 65th anniversary of Uncle Ho's visit to the island...
This summer, tourist arrivals to Mong Cai 1 Ward are anticipated to increase significantly. The locality has focused on training tour guides with in-depth knowledge of culture and beliefs to accurately and thoroughly convey the destination's values to tourists. Besides, transport infrastructure, accommodation facilities, and food services around tourist destinations will be synchronously upgraded to elevate the experience quality. In particular, developing and effectively exploiting the "night-time economy" is identified as a key solution. Street cultural and artistic activities, musical performances combined with shopping and dining will help attract and retain tourists. Currently, the Tra Co beach area—the core zone of the national tourist area—is also being urgently renovated to restore its inherent pristine beauty, representing one of the locality's efforts in preparing for long-term, sustainable tourism development.
By organizing a large-scale, diverse, and appealing series of cultural, sports, and tourism events that refresh tourist experiences, combined with flexibly implemented stimulus programs ranging from service incentives to tour route connections, Quang Ninh not only boosts its appeal during the peak season but also continues to affirm its role as a dynamic, unmissable destination for domestic and international travelers alike.
