Provincial leaders and the tourism sector welcome international visitors to Ha Long

Pursuing a development strategy of shifting “from brown to green”, Quang Ninh aims to become a regional and international tourism centre, a cultural industry hub with world-class resorts, modern infrastructure, diverse and distinctive high-quality tourism products, strong branding and global appeal, thereby drawing in high-spending international travellers.

Recently, at Van Don International Airport, Quang Ninh’s tourism authorities welcomed a group of American millionaires on a sightseeing trip. The group of four, from the Weil and Concordia families, included a well-known financier who travelled by seaplane from Ha Noi to Van Don.

The two families expressed their gratitude for the province’s warm reception and their deep impression of the unique and majestic beauty of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay when viewed from above.

Weil, an American millionaire, said: “We have learned that Viet Nam is a wonderful country with friendly and hospitable people. We are delighted to visit Viet Nam, especially to witness the magnificent beauty of the World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay. We appreciate the warm welcome from the local authorities and the friendliness of the people here.”

This was the second group of millionaires to arrive in Quang Ninh via Van Don International Airport. Earlier in 2025, two American financiers, Jeff Grinspoon and Jon Thomas Foley, visited Ha Long Bay under the same programme. From now until the end of 2025, the province expects to receive another group of millionaires, as well as three charter flights from the Republic of Korea and six from Shenzhen, China.

Such positive signals from luxury, high-end tourists demonstrate Quang Ninh’s efforts to stimulate demand and actively work with domestic and international travel enterprises. The choice of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay as must-see destinations reflects the exceptional allure of these World Heritage sites and reaffirms Quang Ninh’s growing status on the global luxury tourism map.

Nguyen Lam Nguyen, Deputy Director of Quang Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “The tourism sector has identified the expansion and development of new and potential markets as a strategic priority. Quang Ninh is focusing on potential international markets such as cruise passengers, tourists from India, the Middle East, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Australia and European countries, who tend to have high spending power and longer stays.

“At the same time, the province is developing signature products such as island and marine tourism, premium entertainment, luxury resorts and spiritual-cultural tourism. Priority is given to creating distinctive, world-class, high-quality tourism products to meet the growing demands of both domestic and international travellers”, he said.

In addition to traditional products that have built Quang Ninh’s tourism brand, new high-end services have been launched, gradually leaving a strong impression on visitors, particularly international tourists. International hotel brands such as Hyatt and InterContinental Ha Long have also welcomed a growing number of high-end international guests, boosting the sector’s revenue.

To attract high-spending visitors, including billionaires and millionaires, Quang Ninh has worked with travel agencies to tap into this market with the approach of “fewer visitors, higher quality and greater spending”. Specialised, tailor-made programmes have been designed to appeal to this elite segment.

According to Indian travel companies, Quang Ninh is now a favoured destination among Indian tourists thanks to its wide range of high-quality hotels and resorts, alongside numerous natural attractions. World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay and the Yen Tu scenic site are particularly popular, with the number of Indian visitors expected to rise sharply in 2025.

Cruise tourism has also become a remarkable highlight for Quang Ninh, bringing in large numbers of international travellers. Since the beginning of the year, the province has welcomed dozens of international cruise ships carrying more than 50,000 visitors from the US, Germany, the UK, France, Japan, China and elsewhere. In 2025, Quang Ninh is forecast to host around 80 cruise ships with over 100,000 international passengers.

To further expand the high-end international market, Quang Ninh’s tourism sector has stepped up promotion at numerous events. Local enterprises are also targeting affluent travellers. The Vietyacht Club, for example, has invested in 20 private yachts, each worth hundreds of thousands to millions of US dollars, to provide premium experiences on Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays. International visitors now account for 65% of this luxury market.

Deputy Director Nguyen Lam Nguyen noted: “To connect with and develop the high-end international market for late 2025 and beyond, we are focusing on promotion in China, Taiwan (China), the RoK, India, Malaysia and Australia. At the same time, we are working with travel agencies and cruise operators in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beihai to establish Quang Ninh as a year-round cruise destination.”

In the coming period, Quang Ninh will continue to call for reputable investors to develop new tourism products aimed at luxury holidaymakers. Plans include expanding the supply of high-end hotels and forging partnerships with international hotel brands, while improving the quality and consistency of accommodation through a standardised star-rating system. The province also intends to develop eco-tourism resorts on Van Don islands, as well as entertainment complexes, shopping centres and golf courses.

The steady rise in international arrivals, especially high-end travellers, testifies to Quang Ninh’s efforts to diversify its tourism products, enrich visitor experiences, extend stays and increase spending. Together with stronger promotion, these efforts will act as a springboard for the province to achieve its 2025 target of welcoming over 20 million visitors, including 4.5 million international arrivals, and earning more than 57 trillion VND in revenue.