Van Don - Bai Tu Long - Co To and the island tourism route are beautiful and branded destinations of Quang Ninh tourism. Therefore, connecting the destinations into key tourism routes will open up many remarkable prospects.
According to experts, in response to the need for innovation and product diversification, combining "brands" into unique, distinctive products is becoming a trend and an urgent need.
To realize and exploit the value of key tourism routes and the great potential of Bai Tu Long, in 2020, Quang Ninh province approved the Master Plan for management and development of Bai Tu Long - Co To - Van Don island tourism. Previously, in 2014, the province issued the Master Plan for Quang Ninh tourism development; oriented to develop the island tourism products of Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long - Van Don - Co To... into key island tourism routes.
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In fact, the potential for connection between the above "brands" is huge. It can be seen that Bai Tu Long Bay still retains the pristine features of a wild archipelago with hundreds of rocky islands and beautiful sandbanks. Not to mention that Bai Tu Long National Park has been recognized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as the 38th ASEAN Heritage Park, containing many unique and rare values of biodiversity, landscape, and ecological environment.
Adjacent is the Van Don - Co To island area, which is developing strongly and dynamically with destinations and products that have established "brands", such as: Minh Chau, Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung... With Co To, the pristine beaches stretch for kilometers, white sand, beautiful coral reefs, clear blue water next to primeval forests, creating a unique attraction for summer tourism.
Mr. Nguyen The Hue, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, who participated in the survey of sea and island tourism routes, shared: It can be said that this is a favorable condition for building unique tourism products, creating a difference. Expanding and connecting into key tourism products and routes is what many tourism businesses desire.
Thus, connecting the above attractive and potential destinations will create a large space, containing a huge treasure of value for tourism activities. This is a favorable condition for organizing continuous tours, connecting Bai Tu Long - Van Don - Co To with each other, with Ha Long and neighboring areas. Even creating unique and different tourism products, with competitive advantages domestically and internationally.
In practice, from 2014 to present, Quang Ninh tourism has initially shown the success of tourism products moving along the Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long route. In particular, there is the pioneering exploitation of the wild beauty of Bai Tu Long by the Indochina cruise ship, Bhaya... Recently, in the 2024 tourism product development plan of the Provincial People's Committee, there are 11/62 products exploiting the advantages of Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
The focus of expanding tourism space is in the areas of Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don, Co To and some islands in the province; focusing on developing diverse and unique products, especially resort tourism products... Especially the tourism products for sightseeing and accommodation connecting Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long - Van Don have received much attention from businesses and tourists. Currently, Viet Thuan Transport Company Limited has pioneered the introduction of 2 high-class twin Grand Pioneers cruise ships into service, exploiting the route connecting Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long, aiming to reach a variety of customers, building the destination brand "Wonder of 4 seasons"...
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It can be seen that, although there have been encouraging initial movements, the connection between localities has not been really effective. The results achieved are only initial, implemented in some routes with full infrastructure and favorable landscapes. There is currently a lack of connections and linkages to continuous tourist routes in the region such as Bai Tu Long - Van Don - Co To; tours combining visits to islands and destinations on land...
Another difficulty that needs to be solved is that inter-island sea routes have their own specific characteristics, are highly inter-regional and inter-sectoral. The development space extends to the sea and island areas of the three localities of Cam Pha, Van Don, and Co To, including issues related to many fields and sectors. Many issues are under the authority or regulatory laws at the central level. In addition, there is a lack of tourism infrastructure for routes, routes, as well as the interest and participation of businesses...
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