Domestic market accelerates Hai Phong tourism growth

Boosting competitiveness

In recent days, a vibrant atmosphere filled with festive drumbeats and the cheers of tens of thousands of visitors and local residents has enveloped the central stadium in Do Son Ward, where the qualifying rounds of the 2026 Do Son Traditional Buffalo Fighting Festival are taking place. After a series of dramatic matches, 15 strongest buffaloes officially secured places in the final round, scheduled for the eighth lunar month.

After 37 years of restoration and development, the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival has become increasingly well organized and professional while preserving its traditional values. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, the festival not only carries sacred spiritual significance linked to the worship of the God Dien Tuoc among coastal communities, but has also become a ‘cultural brand’, creating a powerful natural appeal for Hai Phong tourism.

To attract visitors from central, southern and Central Highlands regions and further boost domestic tourism, Hai Phong has recently worked actively with airlines to open new routes and increase flight frequency through Cat Bi International Airport, providing flexible connections with Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Can Tho and Buon Ma Thuot. A major breakthrough in aviation infrastructure came on July 25, 2026, when Sun PhuQuoc Airways officially launched two daily round-trip routes: Hai Phong - Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong - Phu Quoc. These are the airline’s first two routes at Cat Bi Airport, making Hai Phong the seventh domestic destination in Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ network. The arrival of an airline offering internationally standardized five-star service has significantly strengthened air transport capacity to the Hai Phong Port City, meeting the rising travel demand of visitors.

Diverse experiences

According to the Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city welcomed and served an estimated more than 8.7 million tourists in the first half of 2026, up 15.7% year on year. Domestic visitors remained the core market with more than 8.1 million arrivals, accounting for over 92% of total visitors; total tourism revenue was estimated at VND 10.425 trillion. In June alone, Hai Phong served nearly 2.58 million visitors, including more than 2.46 million domestic travelers. Do Son alone welcomed 610,000 visitors and Cat Ba received 854,859 visitors. The evenly distributed growth across island and coastal tourism, cultural and spiritual tourism, and urban tourism reflects the effectiveness of a well-structured tourism stimulus strategy launched from the beginning of the year.

A key foundation behind the turning point for Hai Phong tourism is the integration of cultural and geographical spaces. Seamless connections between the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic complex, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and historical and spiritual destinations such as the Bach Dang Giang relic site, the temple dedicated to the Mac kings and Hang Kenh communal house have created a distinctive heritage tourism route, attracting large numbers of visitors and pilgrims.

In 2026, Hai Phong aims to welcome more than 16.3 million tourists and generate around VND 19 trillion in tourism revenue, with the target of reaching 25 million visitors by 2030 under the resolution of the city Party Congress. Synchronous investment in transport infrastructure and diversification of tourism products, from traditional festivals and island tourism to cultural heritage spaces, will be key for Hai Phong’s domestic tourism to further enhance competitiveness and consolidate its position as a major tourism hub in Vietnam.

Hai Phong News