Cat Ba welcomes over 1.3 million international visitors in 2025

In 2025, Cat Ba tourist area in Cat Hai special zone has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors, up over 13% against its plan and over 23% compared with 2024. Of this total, international arrivals reached more than 1.3 million, an increase of 16% against the plan and 26% year on year.

Total revenue from accommodation and catering services in Cat Hai special zone exceeded 4.6 trillion VND, rising by 27% against the plan and 38% compared with 2024.

The impressive growth in visitors in 2025 was the result of efforts by the city and Cat Hai special zone to step up communication and promotion of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site. Strong focus was placed on strict and effective State management of tourism, especially during peak periods.

This growth was also driven by the launch of Cat Ba Central Bay tourism and commercial service complex by Sun Group, featuring a series of international-standard cultural and sporting events. In particular, the “Green Island Symphony” show set two Guinness World Records and attracted a large number of visitors to Cat Ba tourist area during the summer of 2025.

Cat Hai special zone has rolled out key solutions to meet the target of welcoming 4.7 million tourists in 2026, including a focus on building Cat Ba into a “green island,” linking tourism development with environmental protection and sustainable development.

Key measures include implementing a green transition at Viet Hai community-based tourism site for the 2025 – 2030 period, coordinating efforts to accelerate the preparation of a dossier proposing recognition of Cat Ba island as a national tourist area, and announcing entertainment zones on bays within the Cat Ba archipelago.

NGUYEN CUONG