With its long stretches of white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and the spectacular scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don is emerging as one of Quang Ninh’s most vibrant tourism destinations during the summer of 2026. The locality continues to diversify tourism products, improve service quality and strengthen its destination branding.
Since early June, Van Don’s tourism sector has entered its peak season, with visitor numbers rising sharply across tourist routes and attractions. In the first six months of 2026, Van Don is expected to welcome around 1.5 million tourist arrivals, up 40.2 per cent year-on-year and fulfilling nearly 45 per cent of its annual target. Of the total, domestic tourist arrivals are estimated at more than 1.4 million, maintaining their position as the core market, while international tourist arrivals are projected to reach 56,500, an increase of 8 per cent compared to the same period last year. Tourism revenue is estimated at VND2.719 trillion, up 86 per cent year-on-year.
On the island communes of Quan Lan and Minh Chau, coastal walking routes, clean beaches and a variety of experiential activities have become key attractions for visitors. Meanwhile, Ngoc Vung Island is increasingly being chosen by families as an ideal holiday destination thanks to its peaceful atmosphere and close connection with nature. Beyond traditional beach and resort tourism products, Van Don is also seeing growing interest from visitors seeking authentic local cultural experiences. Many tourists choose to explore the daily lives of fishing communities, participate in community-based tourism activities, visit spiritual tourism sites or experience the distinctive cultural traditions of coastal residents. This trend reflects the increasingly diverse and experience-oriented preferences of today’s travellers.
In 2026, Van Don aims to welcome 3.4 million tourist arrivals and generate more than VND6.7 trillion in tourism revenue. To achieve this goal, the locality is focusing on developing new tourism products to create additional growth momentum for the sector. One notable initiative is the pilot development of marine and island ecotourism linked to aquaculture activities. The model is expected to become a distinctive tourism product, helping to make effective use of the area’s marine and island potential while offering visitors new and unique experiences.
At the same time, Van Don is steadily advancing its goal of becoming a green, smart and sustainable tourism destination. As part of its digital transformation efforts, the locality has introduced QR-code payment services for Chinese tourists and completed the integration of tourism data into its Intelligent Operations Centre (IOC) system to support management and operation.
With its outstanding marine and island resources, increasingly modern infrastructure and commitment to innovation in tourism management and product development, Van Don is gradually reinforcing its position as one of Quang Ninh’s most attractive coastal and island tourism destinations. The strong growth recorded in the first months of 2026 is not only contributing to local economic development but also raising expectations for a new phase of growth, paving the way for Van Don to become an increasingly attractive destination on Vietnam’s tourism map.
By Hoang Quynh
