Increasing tourism value to contribute to growth

Creating more value to achieve new growth targets

Resolution No. 11 of the Hai Phong Party Committee sets the target of average annual GRDP growth of at least 13% in 2026 and the 2026 - 2030 period. As part of the city’s overall efforts, tourism is an area with considerable room to create more value and contribute to growth.

Following the merger with Hai Duong Province, Hai Phong now has a diverse tourism landscape: the east features sea and islands, port urban areas, Cat Ba - Lan Ha and Do Son; the west offers cultural, historical and spiritual attractions, craft villages and agricultural ecology. Two World Heritage Sites, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago and Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex, provide an advantage for developing connected itineraries with diverse experiences.

In the first seven months of 2026, the city welcomed more than 11 million visitors, reaching 64% of its target, including about 760,000 international visitors, or 42% of the target. Total tourism revenue reached VND 13,169.6 billion, equivalent to 63.98% of the target. Under Plan No. 294/KH-UBND dated July 31, 2026, which adjusts the economic growth scenario, the city aims to welcome 17.1895 million visitors and generate about VND 20,582 billion in tourism revenue for the full year.

Alongside effectively tapping the domestic market by leveraging its transport advantages, Hai Phong needs to strengthen promotion in key international markets to increase foreign-exchange earnings. At the same time, tourism must overcome seasonality by promoting cultural, festival, culinary, resort and experiential products in the fall and winter to maintain visitor flows year-round.

Building connections to retain visitors and increase spending

According to Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Minh Hung, tourism effectiveness should not be measured simply by the number of people passing through a destination, but by the number of nights stayed, spending levels, satisfaction and the rate of return visits.

Therefore, the City Tourism Association and businesses need to shift from simply building connections to leading the market; trade fairs, famtrips and survey trips should focus on specific contracts, tours and visitor sources. Each event should create an additional tour, each heritage site should generate an additional product, and each visitor should generate additional value.

From the perspective of the accommodation sector, Nguyen Huu Hang Tam, Director of Business Development at Nam Cuong Hotel System, proposed shifting from developing individual destinations to building a tourism ecosystem. Accordingly, the city center should connect the Food Tour with urban culture, shopping and entertainment; Do Son should develop beach tourism, resorts, sports and events; Cat Ba - Lan Ha should focus on nature, ecology and resorts; while Con Son-Kiep Bac, Thanh Mai, Chu Dau and craft villages should form a western space for heritage, culture and experiences.

From the travel sector, Nguyen Thi Ha, Director of Hai Ha International Tourism and Communications JSC, proposed that the city support the opening and stable operation of international air routes, with policies to encourage airlines and travel businesses to bring visitors, especially international ones, to Hai Phong. According to Ha, stable air routes enable businesses to proactively develop products and markets year-round.

Thus, the direction for Hai Phong tourism is to increase value per visitor, develop four-season tourism, connect destinations into itineraries and turn promotion activities into marketable products. With its eastern sea and island advantages, western heritage and culture, as well as its transport, urban and culinary foundations, the city is well positioned to develop multi-experience destinations that generates spillover benefits for various service sectors and communities.

HAI HAU

HAI HAU