Despite recording positive growth signals right from early 2026, Quang Ninh's tourism sector is still entering the peak season under considerable pressure from economic fluctuations. However, with a proactive spirit and flexible response, the province along with local authorities and businesses have promptly launched a series of stimulus programs and attractive tourism products, while also organizing a chain of unique cultural and sports events to attract visitors and offer many memorable experiences.
Vibrant series of engaging events
Quang Ninh Province's Summer Welcoming Culture, Sports, and Tourism Week 2026, themed "Ha Long Carnaval 2026 - Wonder Illuminates a New Era", takes place from April 25 to May 3 and is expected to attract 1.3 million visitors, contributing to achieving the second-quarter 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 the series of distinctive cultural, sports, and tourism activities, the event aims to evoke national pride, honor and promote the nation's fine traditional cultural values, spread the image of the people of Quang Ninh, and broadly promote the province's outstanding potentials and advantages, especially the values of the World Natural Heritage site Ha Long Bay - a symbol of magnificent nature, and the World Cultural Heritage site Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes Complex - a leading attractive destination regionally and internationally. This is also an opportunity to strongly boost tourism promotion and marketing activities, develop trade, services, cultural industries, and the night-time economy; attract domestic and international visitors, thereby contributing to increasing service revenue and creating momentum for socio-economic development.
The highlight of Quang Ninh Province's Summer Welcoming Culture, Sports, and Tourism Week 2026 is the opening art performance - "Ha Long Carnaval 2026 - Wonder Illuminates a New Era", scheduled to open at 20:00 on April 30 at October 30 Square (Ha Long Ward) with a scale of up to 50,000 attendees. The program will include a parade, a ceremony, and art performances.
Along with that is a series of special events, promising to create a vibrant, splendid festival atmosphere to welcome visitors; notable activities include: the street carnival "Dances of the Five 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 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 two days, from April 29 to 30 at Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple; the Ha Long Bay Heritage cruise light show "Festival Waves" will run from April 28 to May 2 along the coastal area from Hon Gai Beach - Ha Long International Cruise Port to Tuan Chau International Cruise Port with 50 cruise ships decorated with synchronized artistic lighting systems, moving in formation along the coastal route, combining music and coastal lighting effects to create an outstanding visual highlight.
From April 25 to May 3, locals and tourists also have the opportunity to attend the Quang Ninh Summer Film Week 2026 at the Provincial Planning, Fair and Exhibition Center, the Provincial Museum - Library, Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes, Van Don, Co To, and Mong Cai; the Exhibition of Literary, Artistic, and Sculptural Works of the Mining Area 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); the hot air balloon performance and flight experience "Soaring with the Wonder" at October 30 Square and Bai Chay tourist area, Bai Chay Ward; and the OCOP Product Fair and Vietnamese Folk Arts Showcase at Sun Carnival Square, the Provincial Planning, Fair and Exhibition Center, and October 30 Square featuring 120 local booths along with a series of special sports activities.
At the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes, an art performance titled "Yen Tu Welcomes Summer 2026" 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 the Commemoration Ceremony of the death anniversary of the Second Patriarch Phap Loa. The event affirms the enduring values of Truc Lam thought with its spirit of worldly engagement, harmony, and guiding people toward a benevolent and peaceful life. This is also an opportunity to educate about traditions and spread the values of cultural and Buddhist heritage associated with the sacred Yen Tu heritage area, contributing to preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity.
Simultaneously organizing a series of attractive tourism events to kick off the summer helps businesses and organizations proactively promote and introduce them to tourists. According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Hai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of THK Tourism, Trading and Service Joint Stock Company (Ha Long Ward), the province's events have enabled travel agencies to proactively introduce and promote them to tourists. With the primary market being Chinese tourists, as soon as information about these events became available, we worked with partners and received positive feedback. Many tour groups have chosen this occasion to visit Quang Ninh for the opportunity to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and experience the local culture.
Proactively stimulating demand, upgrading services
According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first quarter of 2026, Quang Ninh Province welcomed about 6.3 million visitors, an increase of about 10% compared to the same period in 2025. Of which, domestic tourists were estimated at nearly 4.9 million arrivals, and international tourists were estimated at 1.4 million arrivals. Total tourism revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was estimated at 15,687 billion VND, up 20% compared to the same period in 2026. This is an important foundation for the tourism industry to enter the peak season with high growth expectations.
However, alongside these positive signs is growing pressure from global political and economic volatility. Rising fuel prices and energy costs have directly impacted airfares and transport rates, driving up input costs for tourism businesses. This makes it difficult to keep package tour prices stable, forcing businesses to adjust their selling prices.
In the face of economic fluctuations and shifts in consumer behavior, the tourism sector is showing a trend of proactive adaptation to enter the peak season with a more flexible mindset. Instead of focusing on long-haul, high-cost products, many businesses have quickly adjusted their strategies, strongly developing short-term tours, nearby destinations, and reasonable spending levels. This is considered a suitable direction for current consumer trends, while also helping maintain a steady flow of visitors. In parallel, enhancing the quality of the experience is becoming a top priority.
Speaking on the enterprise's proactive efforts to adapt, a representative of Vietravel's Quang Ninh branch said: In response to market impacts, the unit has proactively prepared early for the peak season by restructuring products toward flexibility, focusing on short-term tours, in-depth experiences, and diverse price ranges. At the same time, the enterprise has enhanced coordination with airline and accommodation partners to stabilize supply and control costs. Additionally, it has tightened cost management, working with transportation partners to prioritize operators utilizing fuel-efficient and green fuel to mitigate expenses somewhat. Crucially, it has improved service quality and introduced numerous products steeped in local identity and distinctive culture to create diverse choices for various visitor segments.
In addition, accommodation establishments have also promptly oriented and introduced products for summer tourism, in the immediate future for the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday and the April 30 - May 1 holiday break. FLC Ha Long Hotel has introduced incentive packages that optimize the guest experience with rates starting from only 1,540,000 - 1,990,000 VND/person for resort services in standard rooms, breakfast buffet, and main meals of the day. Furthermore, establishments have proactively connected and developed onshore resort combos combined with touring Ha Long Bay or enjoying dinner parties at sea to create many fresh, unique experiences for tourists.
Along with the adaptation of enterprises, localities have also proactively stimulated demand and offered many new tourism products. Ms. Ngo Thi Minh Sao, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Office of Co To special zone, said: The locality has identified continuing to implement the Hong Hai Smart Tourism Village; piloting water recreation services and tours to the three large islands of Co To, Thanh Lan, and Tran; and gradually developing the island sovereignty flag-raising ceremony into an official tourism product. Along with that is upgrading the “Co To Digital” ecosystem, integrating utilities for management and visitor services, striving for completion in the second quarter of 2026; developing the night-time economy in the culinary street, coastal road, and regulating reservoir area; building standard-compliant Tinh Yeu (Love) Beach; developing sightseeing products for the Village 2 Shrine; experiential tourism associated with marine ecological agriculture at Hon Ngang; and organizing cultural, sports, and tourism activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Uncle Ho's visit to the island…
This summer, the number of tourists visiting Mong Cai 1 ward is expected to rise sharply. The locality has focused on training a team of tour guides with in-depth knowledge of culture and beliefs to accurately and fully convey the destination's values to visitors. In addition, transportation infrastructure, accommodations, and dining services around tourist attractions will also be upgraded synchronously to enhance the quality of the visitor experience. In particular, developing and effectively exploiting the “night-time economy” is considered a core solution. Street cultural and artistic activities, singing, and performances associated with shopping and culinary experiences 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, which is also among the locality's efforts in preparing for a long-term, sustainable tourism development orientation.
By organizing a large-scale, diverse, and attractive series of cultural, sports, and tourism events that help refresh visitor experiences, alongside flexibly implemented stimulus programs ranging from service discounts to tour and 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 tourists.
