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With visitor numbers reaching 93% of the annual target and tourism revenue reaching 96% after the first 10 months of the year, Cat Ba, Hai Phong, is entering the final months of 2026 with positive momentum.
In October, tourism revenue in Cat Ba grew faster than visitor numbers, a particularly encouraging sign.
In the first 10 months of 2026, Cat Ba welcomed more than 4.4 million visitors, up 7% from the same period in 2025. Domestic tourists continued to drive growth, accounting for more than 3.31 million arrivals, an increase of 10%. Revenue from accommodation and food services exceeded VND 4.7 trillion, up 10.6%.
These figures provide a solid foundation for Cat Ba to achieve its annual tourism targets. However, the international market still needs further momentum. In the first 10 months of the year, Cat Ba welcomed more than 1.1 million international visitors, equivalent to 82% of its annual target.
In October alone, international tourists accounted for nearly 54% of the approximately 300,000 visitors to Cat Ba. Therefore, making the most of the international tourism season in the final months of the year will be crucial to the destination’s continued growth.
Cat Ba’s strength lies in its ability to offer a variety of experiences within a single trip. From exploring Lan Ha Bay and staying overnight on a cruise to discovering the forest and experiencing local community life in Viet Hai, each itinerary offers visitors more options. This also creates opportunities for businesses to develop longer-stay packages, encouraging tourists to spend more on local services.
Mr. Dinh Van Manh, a visitor from Hanoi, said: “I enjoy trips that combine time in nature with opportunities to learn about local life. If information about activities and sightseeing routes is clearly presented, it will be easier for us to plan our stay and spend more time here rather than following a short itinerary.”
Cat Ba’s capacity to serve tourists is supported by a network of accommodation facilities both on the island and on the bay. Cat Hai Special Zone currently has 352 accommodation establishments with 6,972 rooms, including three five-star hotels. In the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, there are 87 sightseeing boats and 82 tourist boats offering overnight accommodation, providing an additional 1,684 rooms.
These resources enable Cat Ba to cater to a wide range of visitors, from families seeking leisure holidays to those opting for premium services. The challenge for the year-end season is to improve connections between accommodation providers, transport services and tourist attractions, making it easier for visitors to plan their trips.
To stimulate the autumn-winter tourism market, Cat Hai Special Zone has called on 10 prominent local tourism businesses to participate in the 2026 tourism promotion program. The program’s effectiveness needs to be reflected in concrete tourism products, coordinated services and experiences that offer value commensurate with the costs visitors pay.
For international tourists, comprehensive information, convenient itineraries and consistent service quality are among the priorities of the special zone. Stronger cooperation among businesses can also create a wider range of options, particularly packages combining bay tours, forest exploration and local cultural experiences.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Chairman of the Cat Hai Special Zone Business Association, if tourists are to stay longer, each day of their journey must offer worthwhile experiences. Businesses need to work together to develop itineraries connecting the sea, forests and rural villages, while ensuring quality at every stage, from welcoming visitors and providing accommodation to guiding sightseeing tours. When visitors are satisfied, they will be more willing to recommend the destination to others.
One practical initiative this year is the addition of information services in Viet Hai. The locality is developing introductory content in both English and Vietnamese and installing five QR-code signs at Viet Hai’s community-based tourism sites. The bilingual information allows visitors to explore the destination independently, meeting the needs of those who prefer to discover places at their own pace.
Businesses and household enterprises are also being encouraged to adopt cashless payments and join Hai Phong’s Digital Food Map. From searching for dishes and choosing services to making payments, greater convenience at every stage helps enhance the visitor experience.
Alongside efforts to stimulate demand, Cat Hai Special Zone is also working to maintain destination quality. In October alone, local authorities inspected business establishments and provided guidance on regulatory compliance, while promptly addressing three complaints and feedback reports from tourists. Receiving and handling such feedback helps identify shortcomings in service delivery and enables timely corrective action.
According to Mr. Vu Huu Vung, Vice Chairman of the Cat Hai Special Zone People’s Committee, the results achieved in the first 10 months have laid the groundwork for Cat Ba tourism to accelerate its growth. The final months of the year will also test the effectiveness of tourism promotion programs and the destination’s ability to serve the international market. The special zone is currently working closely with businesses to attract visitors during the autumn-winter season, improve service quality and promptly address tourist feedback.
In the coming period, Cat Hai Special Zone will continue coordinating efforts to expedite the application process for recognition of Cat Ba as a national tourist area and step up promotion of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site. It will also work to complete the dossiers and procedures for a proposal on ecotourism, resort and recreational development in the water areas of three zones: Cua Cai – Minh Tu, Ba Dinh and Van Ta.
Developing tourism while preserving landscapes and the environment and creating livelihoods for local residents will be key to ensuring Cat Ba’s long-term appeal.
Bao Nam
