Buzz
A few years ago, when Quang Ninh was mentioned, people would often shake their heads, thinking 'it's so dull, what's there to do?' But now, this region is making a comeback as a trendy destination attracting the younger crowd.
Traveling in Quang Ninh – Shifting from a 'neglected' spot to the top travel destination in the North
When my friends said our upcoming travel destination is Ha Long (Quang Ninh), I was quite surprised. Fifteen to twenty years ago, Ha Long was probably a legendary name in tourism. The breathtaking scenery and emerald waters were something every child dreamed of during summer. Almost every Northern family has a few pictures taken with the iconic Chicken Rock, a symbol of Ha Long Bay.
Quang Ninh is not just about Ha Long
Sometimes, I hear people talking about traveling in Quang Ninh to visit temples, seeing Ha Long images on calendars or in the media. Occasionally, I think Ha Long now is probably only for foreigners curious about a place twice recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
The Comeback of the Dragon Land
After a period of absence from travel stories, in 2017 and 2018, Ha Long suddenly appeared in a series of sparkling check-in photos of the younger generation. The landscapes in the pictures were not just the usual bay scenes; they had a vibe reminiscent of Nha Trang, Hoi An, or Da Lat.
Questions like 'What to do in Ha Long' popped up frequently on travel forums during the summer and holiday season. From being a 'neglected' destination, this land has returned as a bright spot in Northern tourism.
Even the friend who used to complain about the dullness of traveling in Quang Ninh had to exclaim: 'Lately, my hometown has so many new things!'
No longer as mundane as before, Ha Long is now brimming with life, especially in summer. On the beach, children playfully splash in the waves. Young people switch from skyjet to paragliding or try out canoes. The older generation enjoys a beach dip and engages in conversations as if forgetting about phones and iPads altogether.
In the city, people flock to the largest theme park in Southeast Asia. Spanning 23 hectares, the park offers a variety of games for all ages, from horseback riding for children to thrilling experiences for adults.
“Quang Ninh has truly changed. In the past, people came here just for the beach. Now, tourists come to play,” said Nguyen Hong Hanh from Hanoi. She was excited as she stepped onto the longest roller coaster in Asia, with a track length of up to 1.1 km. On another side, many young people tried their luck with the 'Furious Rhinoceros,' a spinning game on giant rhinoceros horns, lifting and free-falling at speeds up to 65 km/h.
After expending energy, tourists can head to the pedestrian street near the park to relax. As night falls, the entire street sparkles with myriad lights.
On both sides of the road are houses built in the ancient architectural style of Vietnam. Numerous lively bars with music, charming small eateries, and game counters commonly seen in large shopping centers make this place vibrant, similar to Ta Hien Street in Hanoi or Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City.
Quang Ninh is not just about Ha Long
Ha Long is just a typical example of Quang Ninh's strong transformation in tourism. Other destinations in the province, such as Van Don, Co To, or Tuan Chau, are also evolving every day.
In fact, the provincial government has identified tourism as the local economy's spearhead. According to statistics from the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, estimated in 2018, the total number of tourists to the province reached 12.2 million, a 24% increase compared to 2017. The total revenue from tourists visiting Quang Ninh is estimated at 23,600 billion VND, a 28.1% increase compared to the previous year. The budget revenue from tourism is estimated at 2,750 billion VND, accounting for 9% of the total domestic budget, a 31% increase from 2017.
Tourists' spending in Quang Ninh has significantly increased compared to previous years. Specifically, the average spending of international tourists is $104 per person, an increase of $8.5 per person compared to 2017. Meanwhile, the figure for domestic tourists is 1.6 million VND per person, a 4% increase from 2017.
This result is due to positive changes in management and the province's development direction. Notably, the 'Smile of Ha Long' program, launched since late 2014 with the message of smiles from the heart.
Accordingly, this program will contribute to changing perceptions, behaviors, and attitudes from individuals, starting from the highest leadership to the people, making Quang Ninh a land of smiles, hospitality, and courtesy.
In addition, Quang Ninh's leadership has tightened management, reviewed service quality, and strictly penalized violations in the province.
In 2018, the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism issued 53 administrative penalty decisions with amounts up to 280 million VND, supplementary penalties including revoking the international travel business license for a company and revoking the tour guide license for 2 tour guides, submitting 3 dossiers to the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee for a decision to impose a fine of 161 million VND due to the unit's comprehensive fault,” shared Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuy, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, in the year-end report of the agency.
Above all, investments have been made in the province's infrastructure system, such as the Quang Ninh Museum, Van Don Airport, the Hanoi – Ha Long Expressway, the Ha Long – Van Don Expressway, and more.
To boost tourism, provincial leaders have decided to provide free bus transportation for passengers from Ha Long to Van Don Airport. Earlier, Mr. Nguyen Duc Long, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, announced that the province is considering reducing or exempting fees for visiting Ha Long Bay and the scenic Yen Tu area.
In addition, in the coming time, the province will continue to invest in constructing rest stops, public restrooms meeting standards along road tourism routes; installing wifi systems on Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and tourist areas; improving infrastructure of beaches in the province to serve locals and tourists; investing in the development of tourist fleets to serve visitors exploring Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don, Co To, ensuring quality and safety.
On the other hand, major projects related to the tourism sector continue to be researched and planned for investment in Mong Cai, Van Don, Co To, Quang Yen, Uong Bi, Dong Trieu, contributing to expanding the market and diversifying tourism products as well as enhancing connectivity between destinations.
In 2019, the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism hopes that the number of tourists visiting the province will increase to 14 million, generating revenue of 27,000 billion VND.
According to Kim Ngan/ Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour
MytourMay 28, 2019
