Cat Ba gears up for international tourist peak season
Entering the 2026 international tourist peak season, Cat Ba is stepping up promotion, demand-stimulating partnerships and green tourism initiatives to exceed its target of 1.35 million visitors.
Expanding markets, connecting destinations
Returning to Cat Ba in late September, Belgian tourist Olivier Doku said its majestic, pristine landscapes had inspired him to visit the island for a second time, following a cruise experience nearly a year earlier. This time, he planned to spend more time exploring the beauty of Cat Ba National Park.
Ahead of the international tourist peak season, Hai Phong City and Cat Hai Special Zone have carried out a range of promotional activities since early this year, with a focus on the third quarter of 2026. At the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo in late August, Cat Ba tourism area was a highlight of Hai Phong's promotional space.
Cat Hai Special Zone has also continued promoting the beauty of the Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site through major domestic and international television channels. In particular, the special zone worked with the Department of External Information under Vietnam Television to produce and broadcast the documentary Heritage Journey on sustainable tourism development as part of the “Hello Vietnam” program. It also worked with Australia's Contiki television production team to film at Lan Ha Bay, Cai Beo Fishing Village and Cat Ba Square.
Expanded air connectivity is also making it easier for Cat Ba to attract international visitors. The launch of the direct Hai Phong – Guangzhou (China) route has brought the total number of international routes at Cat Bi International Airport to five, connecting Hai Phong with Bangkok (Thailand), Incheon (South Korea), and Guangzhou, Nanning and Lijiang (China), enabling businesses to organize visitor programs in Hai Phong, combining city tours with island stays.
Keeping appeal through green experiences
According to Mai Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Hai Phong Tourism Association, market promotion and demand-stimulating partnerships are only necessary conditions for attracting international visitors to Cat Ba. The tourism environment, attractions, unique cultural features and distinctive experiences are the factors that matter most to international tourists.
According to the Cat Hai Special Zone People's Committee, Viet Hai community tourism site is one of the key attractions being developed for international visitors. Nestled amid mountains and forests, the site appeals to visitors with its natural scenery, peaceful way of life and close interaction with residents on the isolated island. Hiking through the forest, cycling around the village and then exploring Lan Ha Bay meet the needs of international tourists seeking a return to nature and a break from urban pollution and noise.
To make Viet Hai more attractive, Cat Hai Special Zone is accelerating green transition at the community tourism site. In late September, most households living in Cat Hai Special Zone received support to replace gasoline-powered motorbikes with electric ones. Visitors to Viet Hai this fall and winter will experience a green tourism environment free of exhaust fumes and pollution from fossil-fuel engines. Maintaining clean air and limiting engine noise also helps protect the values that international tourists seek here.
According to Vu Huu Vung, Vice Chairman of the Special Zone People's Committee, the locality will continue encouraging businesses to participate in the autumn-winter demand stimulus campaign, particularly targeting international visitors. It will also develop bilingual English-Vietnamese information materials, install QR-code signs at tourist sites in Viet Hai, strengthen inspections of tourism services on Cat Ba Island, ensure security and safety for visitors, and preserve the civilized, friendly and welcoming tourism brand.
NGUYEN CUONG