Hạ Long Bay in Quảng Ninh province was named one of the idyllic seaside places across Asia to watch sunrise and sunset by US magazine Travel Leisure. — Photo of baoquangninh.vn

HÀ NỘI — Last year, northern localities enjoyed flourishing tourism while many destinations in this region won international awards and recognition, greatly contributing to Vietnam’s tourism development.

Vũ Thế Bình, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said northern provinces and cities have shown fruitful cooperation in creating many tourism products to attract more visitors and encourage holidaymakers to extend their stay, thus helping with tourism development nationwide, reported Đầu Tư (Vietnam Investment Review).

Tourism in the north has bounced back strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control, especially in 2023.

Nguyễn Mạnh Thân, head of the group of northern localities’ tourism associations and Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said the Hà Nội association worked with its peers to organise many programmes last year such as the one on tourism development cooperation between eight northeastern provinces and HCM City; a trip for the tourism associations of some provinces, including Quang Ninh, Hải Phòng, Hải Dương, Thái Bình, Nam Định, and Ninh Bình, to explore products in central Bình Định province; and a delegation of travel companies coming to Laos for tourism promotion activities.

He noted thanks to such programmes, many new tours and routes have taken shape, forming strong links among localities to attract more visitors to their destinations.

In 2023, Việt Nam’ tourism revenue was estimated at VNĐ37.8 trillion (US$1.5 billion), surging 52.5 per cent from the previous year, proving the effectiveness of travel stimulation policies of provinces and cities, including those in the north. Many in this region like Hà Nội, Quảng Ninh, and Ninh Bình were among the best performers nationwide in terms of the tourist number and revenue, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

In addition, many international tourism titles came to northern localities last year. For example, Hà Nội was named Asia’s Leading City Destination and Asia's Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards 2023, Hà Giang province – Asia’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination, Hà Nam province – Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination, Mộc Châu district (Sơn La province) – Asia's Leading Regional Nature Destination, Cúc Phương National Park – Asia's Leading National Park, and Tam Đảo township (Vĩnh Phúc province) – Asia’s Leading Town Destination.

Mộc Châu district of Son La province was named Asia's Leading Regional Nature Destination at the World Travel Awards 2023. — VNA/VNS Photo

International media have also honoured many destinations in the north such as Hạ Long Bay as one of the idyllic seaside places across Asia to watch sunrise and sunset by Travel Leisure (the US), Hà Nội as one of the most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia by The Travel (Canada), and Ninh Binh as one of the best places to travel in 2023 by Forbes (the US).

Most recently, Hạ Long Bay of Quảng Ninh province and Sa Pa township of Lào Cai province were listed among the seven destinations honoured at the Traveler’s Choice Awards Best of the Best of Tripadvior.

To enrich tours and strongly help develop tourism in 2024, Binh suggested localities in the north further capitalise on such new products as golf tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism, cultural tourism, and ecological tourism.

As northern destinations are forecast to attract more domestic and international tourists who will stay longer and spend more there in the coming time, travel companies have been working to create new tours and products focusing on the region’s advantages, and diversify services to raise revenue.

Meanwhile, Thân noted the Hanoi Tourism Association will coordinate with other localities to increase promotion and stimulation activities as part of Visit Vietnam Year 2024. The group of northern localities’ tourism associations will also strengthen partnerships with domestic and international airlines to introduce their products and services to passengers and organise tours more professionally. — VNA/VNS