Ha Long Bay is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Northern Vietnam that has maintained its status for more than 20 years because of its world-class quality of natural views and tourist services.
The Bay of Descending Dragon is known for its amazing 1,969 limestone karsts and isles that rightfully earned its title as an UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site. The spectacular stalagmites at the caves of Trinh Nu, Sung Sot, Thien Cung and Dau Go are also something worth visiting for. Moreover, there are many other sights and activities that the place offers that makes one’s stay truly worthwhile and memorable.
For the history buffs, there are more than 500 relic sites such as Van Don and Mong Cai. There is a two-day cruise that passes through the limestone isles, caves and floating villages. For the outdoor people, they can enjoy certain activities like kayaking, diving and squid fishing, just to name a few. Fresh seafood is also always available for visitors to buy and have cooked. Best of all, the weather is generally pleasant the whole year round so anytime is the best time to visit.
Image by: http://www.halongbay.info/
Because of Ha Long Bay’s steady rise in its tourism sector, the provincial government of Quang Ninh is also continually taking steps to improve its services and products. Recently, infrastructure in the province has been speedy and innovative. The Ha Long – Hai Phong Expressway, the improved highways to Van Don and the airport in Van Don (worth VND6.7 trillion) greatly help in bringing in more visitors to the area. Foreign investors have also been pouring in, proof that the financial environment of the province is trustworthy. Big companies like Vingroup, FLC, Sun Group and Bim Group have invested billions of dollars into resorts and other tourism-related projects in Ha Long.
The provincial government of Quang Ninh has even taken a notch higher and instead of just focusing on pure revenues, it has actually turned to green tourism to take responsibility of the environment as well. In fact, it has made tourism an independent unit, separating it from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and making it the Department of Tourism. The main purpose is to make the Quang Ninh Province “an international travel destination and Vietnam’s leading tourism hub with developed infrastructure and diverse tourism products imbued with the national identity and the traditions to be able to complete regionally and globally.”
Quang Ninh Province hopes to mould tourism into a major economic sector that will bring in long-term and stable socio-economic growth. The new Department of Tourism will focus on harnessing its human resources, entice foreign investors and developers, and provide world-class services among its tour and travel firms.
So far, the serious commitment of the provincial government in developing its tourism sector has yielded extraordinary results. Tourists who entered Quang Ninh increased dramatically from 3.1 million in 2006 to about 8 million last year. VND1.2 trillion (US$53.6 million) or 6% of the total domestic collection in the province was earned in 2015. This year, there is an expected 10.5 million tourist arrivals. The first four months of 2016 alone welcomed almost 3 million tourists, a 2% increase of the same period last year.