New “door” connecting Chinese tourist market

China is a key international market for Vietnamese tourism in general and Quang Ninh in particular. To exploit this potential market more strongly, the tourism industry has made efforts to connect and open new "doors", while promoting and promoting with Chinese tourism agencies.

Travel agencies connect and exchange contact information with representatives of Van Don International Airport. — Chinese travel agencies connect and exchange contact information with representatives of Van Don International Airport.

In early December, the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism hosted a famtrip of 40 travel agencies and Chinese tourism associations. During the 4 days, the group surveyed Mong Cai International Border Gate, Hoanh Mo Border Gate (Binh Lieu District), several high-end hotels, Cai Bau Pagoda (Van Don District), Vung Duc Cave Tourist Area, Onsen Quang Hanh Mineral Spring Resort (Cam Pha City). After that, the group will visit Ha Long Bay, experience new products on the bay, survey high-end hotels in Ha Long and go to Yen Tu Historical Site (Uong Bi City).

In Van Don, the delegation arrived at Van Don International Airport. This is one of the locations that many travel agencies are interested in with the goal of organizing full-flight flights, connecting and bringing tourists from Chinese provinces to Quang Ninh. Ms. Liu Yan, a Chinese travel agency, shared: We have been connecting Chinese tourism with Vietnam for 20 years, but this is the first time I have come to Van Don International Airport. When we learned that this was an airport built by a private corporation, we were very surprised. In particular, we were very impressed with the preferential policies at many destinations in the ecosystem of Sun Group. We really look forward to cooperating to connect and open flights to Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh.

The Blue Dream Melody ship departed from Beihai City (Guangxi, China) and docked at Ha Long International Passenger Port.

In order to open full-flight flights from China to Quang Ninh, tourism agencies also hope to propose stronger stimulus support policies not only from businesses but also from localities. From there, new doors will be opened to connect more closely with this potential market.

Along with air routes, major shipping lines connecting China with Quang Ninh are also becoming more frequent. Last November, Ha Long International Passenger Port welcomed the cruise ship Blue Dream Melody from Beihai City (Guangxi, China) bringing more than 1,100 passengers to Quang Ninh, opening up opportunities for trade and tourism development between the two localities. The smooth opening of this cruise route marks the good cooperative relationship between the two sides, especially in the tourism industry. Ms. Xiang Hong, Deputy General Director of Guangxi Port Authority Group, China, affirmed: I am very honored to be one of the first passengers on the cruise route from Beihai to Ha Long. The success of this cruise is a stepping stone for the two sides to continue to cooperate to bring many cruises from Beihai to Ha Long and vice versa. Because currently, the cruise port in Beihai has just been invested in modernly and is expanding connections to cruise tourism routes, especially international routes. In Quang Ninh, Ha Long International Passenger Port is a favorite destination of many shipping lines with modern, synchronous infrastructure.

Mong Cai international border gate is bustling with tourists at the end of the year.

It is expected that during the peak period of November 2025, there will be 3 Beihai - Ha Long passenger ships per week. Connecting cruise tours between Beihai and Ha Long also contributes to creating conditions for tourism businesses to develop products to serve tourists, while promoting the expansion of the Chinese tourist market. Previously, Ha Long International Passenger Port also welcomed Chinese tourists through the Costa Serena cruise ship on the Hong Kong - Ha Long route. It is known that since the cruise tourism season started in September, the Costa Serena cruise ship has visited Ha Long 5 times and brought about 7,000 Chinese tourists. In addition, since the beginning of the year, a series of cruise ships such as: Zhao Shang Yi Dun has visited Ha Long 8 times, bringing about 9,000 passengers; the Blue Dream Melody ship brought 800 passengers, opening a route connecting Nansha with Ha Long.

As a locality with land, sea and air borders with neighboring China, Quang Ninh province always identifies this as an important international tourist market. At Mong Cai International Border Gate, since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 5 million people entering and exiting the country. Not only that, recently, the Department of Transport of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China) and the Department of Transport of Quang Ninh Province (Vietnam) have allowed New National Line Group Transport Co., Ltd. (China) to cooperate with Viet Trung Global Friendship Group Joint Stock Company (Vietnam) to implement a fixed route for transporting passengers by shuttle bus according to a fixed international schedule from Nanning City (China) - Ha Long City (Vietnam) via the Bac Luan Bridge II Customs Clearance. The operation of the road tourism route from Nanning City (China) - Ha Long City (Vietnam) contributes to diversifying tourism products and experiences for Chinese tourists coming to Ha Long - Quang Ninh.

According to Mr. Vu Tuan Anh, Head of the City's Department of Culture and Information, in order to effectively exploit the Chinese tourist market through Mong Cai International Border Gate, in the coming time, the city will continue to strengthen communication, promotion, promotion, tourism stimulus, linkage, and cooperation in tourism development with Dongxing City and Fangcheng District (China); create favorable conditions for implementing entry and exit procedures through the border gate. At the same time, improve the quality of existing tourism products, build new tourism products, as well as promote and advertise tourism to the Chinese market. Thereby, contributing to attracting tourists, extending their stay, using services... in Mong Cai City and Quang Ninh Province.

In recent years, China has always been a key international tourist market of Quang Ninh. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chinese tourist market has been quiet for a long time. Up to now, the tourism industry is actively promoting, advertising, and "warming up" this traditional market. According to the Department of Tourism, in 2024, the number of Chinese tourists is expected to reach about 1.8 million. With a synchronous and modern transport infrastructure by air, road, and sea, along with the diversity and attractiveness of tourism types, natural landscapes, and unique culture, the Quang Ninh tourism industry expects to be an attractive destination for Chinese tourists in the near future.

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