Van Don – the “Golden Coordinates” attracting tourists in summer 2024

With a developed transportation infrastructure and a diverse ecosystem, Van Don and Bai Tu Long Bay are becoming a “golden coordinate” attracting both domestic and international tourists, with new tours and routes being launched to explore the Forest – Bay – Island at the heart of the World Natural Heritage site.

Boom in tourist arrivals to Van Don

Quang Ninh is one of the provinces with the highest tourism development rate in the country. In 2024, Quang Ninh targets welcoming 17 million visitors, with 3 million international tourists and a total revenue from tourism exceeding 39,000 billion VND.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, in the first four months of 2024, the province welcomed 7 million tourists, including 1.5 million international visitors, up 19% compared to the same period in 2023 and exceeding the plan by 25%. Total tourism revenue was estimated at 14,500 billion VND, up 34% compared to the same period in 2023. Statistics also showed that in 2023, Van Don welcomed 1.3 million visitors, more than half of the number of visitors to Ha Long Bay (2.46 million). During the recent April 30 – May 1 holiday, Van Don welcomed nearly 80,000 visitors, an increase of more than 40% compared to the same period in 2023.

Ao Tien International Cruise Port is always packed with tourists during the summer season.

Thanks to its advantage in modern, synchronized transportation infrastructure, including Van Don International Airport, the Hanoi – Ha Long – Van Don – Mong Cai Expressway, Ao Tien International Port, and numerous 4-5* hotels and resorts that are now operational, Van Don is rapidly becoming an attractive tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. Tourism experts predict that the number of tourists to Van Don will continue to rise in the coming period.

Launching new tours and routes in Bai Tu Long Bay

To enhance the appeal of Van Don tourism and increase visitor experiences, starting this summer, Quang Ninh Province has cooperated with tourism businesses to launch several exciting new tours and routes departing from Ao Tien International Port to explore the Forest – Bay – Island ecosystem in Bai Tu Long Bay. These tours include: Ao Tien – Ban Sen (via Tay Hoi Island, Lazy Cat Island, Nha Tro Cave), Ao Tien – Minh Chau Island (via Phat Co Cave, Black Stone Island, Crow Island, Cong Lao Vong fishing village, Du Island), Ao Tien – Swan Island, Phat Co Island, Hon Xep Park, and more.

Exploring the Forest – Bay – Island ecosystem is a favorite choice for tourists when visiting Van Don.

Adventurous tourists can join tours to visit the Bai Tu Long National Park, home to thousand-year-old primeval forests, trekking tours to Tra Ngo Island to admire its rich ecosystem, cave exploration tours to mysterious limestone caves that preserve prehistoric human traces, or cultural experience tours of the Red Dao, Tay, and San Diu ethnic villages on Ba Mun, Dong Ma, Sau Nam, Tra Ngo Lon Islands, and more.

At night, tourists can enjoy moments floating on 5* cruise ships, considered “floating hotels” on the sea, while admiring the shimmering beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay and enjoying luxurious dinners prepared by famous chefs.

Experience overnight stays on 5* “floating hotels” in the stunning Bay of Bai Tu Long.

According to a representative from Crystal Holidays, a major land tour service provider in Van Don, “New tours exploring Bai Tu Long Bay by boat and cruise are always fully booked from the beginning of summer. Many tourists have to plan and book tours early to avoid missing out on their summer vacation.” The company also noted that tourists highly appreciate the service quality and hospitality of the hotels and resorts in the region, especially the delectable seafood dishes from Van Don’s famous seafood market.

Activating the resort real estate market

The boom in infrastructure, tourism services, and the growing number of tourists have created momentum for the rapid development of the resort real estate market in Van Don.

Many real estate developers, along with real estate business units and tourism services, have flocked to Van Don with a series of high-end hotels and resorts projects. Prominent brands such as Sun Group, CEO Group, Everland Group, Mai Quyen, and Phuong Dong are involved in these developments.

The Crystal Holidays Van Don project, offering views that encompass the entire Bai Tu Long Bay, will begin operation in Q3 2025.

Located 7 km from Van Don International Airport and just a 5-minute walk from Ao Tien Port, Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don is a large-scale tourism, resort, and entertainment complex with over 2,000 hotel rooms and apartments, offering a fully integrated, modern investment with all services and amenities for accommodation, resorts, conferences, shopping, sports, entertainment, and dining, catering to both domestic and international visitors coming to Van Don and Bai Tu Long Bay. The project has a prime location “backed by mountains and facing the water,” offering panoramic views of the Bai Tu Long Bay heritage site. The apartments at Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don are designed in a “resort apartment” style, benefiting from all 5* services of the project as well as the amenities of the Van Don commercial port area.

Launched in 2022 and constructed by reputable contractors, the project is accelerating its progress to be partially operational by the third quarter of 2025 and fully operational by the end of 2026. Upon completion, Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don will be an ideal destination for high-end tourism and resort services and a significant boost to the resort real estate market in Van Don.