Major businesses such as Vingroup and Sungroup have launched various summer discount programmes in response to the tourism promotion campaign of the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh in 2020.

A corner of Ha Long Bay - a world natural heritage site in Quang Ninh province
(Photo: VNA) 

From May 16, Vingroup, a real estate giant in Vietnam, offers seven preferential packages for vacationers, including free return air tickets and free entrance into Vinwonders and Vinpearl Safari parks for those who book rooms for two nights or more at resort areas of Vinpearl Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Da Nang-Hoi An.

Meanwhile, Sungroup - one of the largest real estate developers in Vietnam, will provide a free programme worth VND290,000 per passenger when they visit Ha Long Bay through Ha Long International Cruise Port.

On May 14, the provincial People’s Council approved a tourism stimulus package worth VND200 billion (US$8.5 million) with the aim of attracting more visitors at home and abroad.

Under the incentive, starting from May 15, ticket fees will be exempted for all visitors, both Vietnamese and foreigners, to Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Museum and the complex of Yen Tu monuments and landscape until the end of the month and upcoming holidays.

In addition, passengers going through Van Don International Airport will receive free round-trip bus rides to Ha Long and Uong Bi cities until the year's end.

Quang Ninh is endowed with natural advantages for sea and island tourism. It has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and more than 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam.

It is home to popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, Ha Long Bay National Park and some islands.

In particular, Ha Long Bay was twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000. The bay spans 1,553 square kilometres and includes 1,969 islands of various sizes. It features thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various shapes and sizes. The limestone in the bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments.

Quang Ninh welcomed only 1.54 million holidaymakers in the first four months of 2020, a year-on-year decline of 77%, due to COVID-19.