Ninh Binh ready to welcome "wave" of international visitors

With the advantages of nature, heritage and innovative efforts, Ninh Binh is getting closer to the goal of welcoming more than 2 million international visitors in 2025, affirming its position as a civilized and attractive destination on the world tourism map.

Diversifying products, enhancing experiences

These days, the Ngo Dong River is covered in a gentle purple colour of the lotus season, creating a poetic and impressive scene. This is one of the unique tourism products that Tam Coc tourist area has put into operation in recent years to build the image of "Tam Coc four seasons", contributing to increasing the experience and retaining visitors, especially international visitors in the last months of the year.

According to Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, a representative of Tam Coc Bich Dong Tourist Area Management Board, after a period of exploitation, the lotus river has received the love and positive effects from tourists.

The Management Board has arranged wooden bridges and pontoon bridges for tourists to freely check-in and take photos in the middle of the lotus fields. In addition, to welcome the wave of international visitors to Ninh Binh during the peak months of the year, this tourist area has completed many infrastructure and service items to improve the quality of customer service; put into operation products and package tours such as: Tam Coc - Thai Vi Temple - Bich Dong Pagoda - experience Van Lam embroidery; Tam Coc Trang An tour; and cycling tour to explore the countryside.

“We have focused on renovating the boat dock, rationalising waterway traffic flow and training communication skills and civilised behavior skills for the boat drivers. In 2024, Tam Coc welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors, of which 70% were international visitors. With the current growth rate, in 2025 we aim to welcome 1 million visitors; including many tours from Europe, the Republic of Korea and Australia,” said Ngoc.

As one of the pioneers in developing community tourism in former Nam Dinh province, Ecohost Hai Hau has been affirming its brand and becoming a high-quality destination loved by many international tourists.

The highlight of this model is to bring visitors the most authentic and intimate experiences of nature, culture, customs and beliefs of the local people and land.

Hoang Thuy, Ecohost System Coordinator, said with the advantage of an accommodation area attached to a garden and fish pond, Ecohost Hai Hau is aiming for the criteria of "green and absolutely safe for tourists". The unit has planted additional plants with natural insect repellent properties, completely replacing chemical measures, ensuring a clean and friendly space.

Not only investing in landscapes, Ecohost Hai Hau also focuses on training local human resources. Regular training sessions are organised for tour guides, accommodation owners and households participating in welcoming guests. The content focuses on communication skills, service procedures, and awareness of sustainable tourism, helping each person become a "cultural ambassador" of the land.

According to Ecohost statistics, each year the establishment welcomes about 1,500 visitors, most of whom are international visitors from France, Spain and Italy. In recent years, the number of visitors has increased steadily thanks to diversified products and the spread of green, responsible tourism. Ecohost is targeting the English-speaking market, a group of customers with great potential and especially interested in sustainable tourism, cultural and natural experiences.

“In the coming time, Ecohost will continue to expand the network of Ecohost-standard accommodation facilities in the locality. In addition, we continue to improve the quality of experiential services such as cycling through the countryside, learning about the history of Catholic missionary work in Vietnam; experiencing silver carving, mat weaving, salt making, water puppetry; enjoying local cuisine, etc. At the same time, we will survey and build new tourist routes connecting traditional craft villages to form specialized and exclusive tourism products for international travel partners,” Thuy added.

Accelerating connectivity and promoting global destinations

Not only are tourist areas and spots actively preparing, international travel businesses are also showing special interest in Ninh Binh.

Nguyen Tien, Head of Operations at Hi Viet Nam Travel Tourism Company, commented: “After merging three provinces (Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh) into Ninh Binh province, we see a great opportunity to build regionally linked tours with experiential and cultural depth”.

According to Tien, Ninh Binh's outstanding strength is the diversity of tourism products in a concentrated space, with both international heritage and craft villages, rural areas, spiritual culture and unique cuisine. “European tourists love cycling through the fields, learning about local people's lives, sleeping in homestays and participating in experiential activities with the locals. These are the products that make Ninh Binh different and memorable in the eyes of international friends”.

The representative of Hi Viet Nam Travel also said that in recent surveys of the unit, Ninh Binh has always been in the top of the most favorite destinations in the North for international visitors. Since the beginning of the year, on average, each quarter, the unit has brought nearly 1,000 international visitors to Ninh Binh. Currently, this enterprise is coordinating with foreign partners such as the Republic of Korea and the Philippines to expand tours for international visitors to Ninh Binh.

Along with the initiative of businesses and destinations, the provincial tourism industry is also accelerating preparations to welcome the "wave" of international visitors in the last months of the year.

One of the key activities is organising an international famtrip programme organised by the Vietnam Tourism Association in coordination with the Ninh Binh Tourism Association in mid-October, with the participation of nearly 50 travel businesses from the RoK and the Philippines.

The famtrip delegation surveyed many prominent routes such as: golf course system; Trang An scenic complex and some cultural and historical sites, craft villages in Hai Anh commune, some accommodation facilities and restaurants.

Hoang Binh Minh, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh Tourism Association, said: “This famtrip activity is very important, not only helping to promote the image of Ninh Binh tourism to international markets but also opening up opportunities for direct cooperation between local businesses and foreign travel agencies. This is a practical step for Ninh Binh to be more proactive in its strategy to attract international visitors”.

According to Minh, the Ninh Binh Tourism Association has been closely coordinating with travel agencies, accommodation facilities and local authorities to complete a closed service chain, from experience products, infrastructure to welcome guests, human resources, to communication and promotion activities.

“Ninh Binh is shifting strongly to developing sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism, focusing on cultural and experiential factors. This is the direction that helps us retain international visitors longer and increase their ability to return,” Minh emphasised.

From October this year to March next year is considered the “golden season” to welcome international visitors in Ninh Binh as well as in Vietnam. In the past nine months, Ninh Binh welcomed nearly 17 million visitors, including 1.6 million international visitors, with total revenue reaching nearly 18 trillion billion VND (684 million USD).

With the proactive and careful preparations of the tourism industry, Ninh Binh is getting closer to the goal of welcoming more than 2 million international visitors in 2025, contributing to the country's successful achievement of the goal of serving 25 million foreign holidaymakers this year./.