Creating a unique identity and developing sustainable tourism in Nghe An.
Minh Quan•July 9, 2025 14:04
In recent years, Nghe An's tourism sector has undergone a significant transformation, marked by impressive growth figures in visitor numbers, revenue, and product quality. However, for tourism to truly break through and become a key economic sector of the province, many difficulties and challenges still need to be overcome.
tourism
Outstanding results
The period 2024–2025 will witness the industry's decisive and flexible involvement.Tourism in Nghe AnIn attracting tourists, from the coastal area of Cua Lo to the highlands of the Mekong Delta, the image of Nghe An tourism is increasingly being widely, professionally, and creatively promoted. A series of promotional programs have been implemented synchronously, making maximum use of digital platforms: from the "Visit Nghe An" Fanpage attracting hundreds of thousands of interactions, to modern LED screens at airports and train stations – places that welcome thousands of passengers every day.
Tourists visit the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site. Photo: Minh Quan
Large-scale events such as the National Lotus Village Festival 2025, and the Tourism Festival.Cua LoOrganized in a well-structured manner, rich in cultural and historical significance, and attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists, the "Green Tourism Journey" promotion conference, in collaboration with Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh provinces, not only connects destinations but also demonstrates the aspiration to position Nghe An tourism within a sustainable regional linkage chain.
The 2025 National Lotus Village Festival - a cultural event attracting a large number of tourists. Photo: Thanh Cuong
Notably, the industry has proactively organized famtrip tours bringing together many leading travel businesses nationwide, creating opportunities for major players in the service industry to directly experience and develop products suitable for the market. Deep cooperation with the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club and other local tourism departments has opened up opportunities for Nghe An to integrate into the national tourism map.
Tourists flocked to Cua Lo beach during the April 30th and May 1st holidays. (Photo: Quang An)
Alongside promotional activities, special attention has also been paid to improving the quality of human resources. Well-structured training courses on hotel and restaurant management, food safety and hygiene, and updated knowledge for tour guides have equipped thousands of direct workers in the industry with the necessary skills.
In terms of infrastructure, the completion of the Vinh – Cua Lo highway is a major boost. The route is shorter, but the travel distance is expanded: it takes less than 15 minutes to get from the center of Vinh Phu ward to the most vibrant beach in Central Vietnam – Cua Lo. This is not only convenient for transportation, but also a testament to sound investment, creating momentum for the development of the coastal region.
In 2024, Nghe An welcomed approximately 9.45 million visitors, of which nearly 6 million were overnight stays. Total revenue from tourism reached over 28,500 billion VND – an impressive figure that significantly contributed to the province's GRDP growth.In the first six months of 2025 alone, the number of visitors reached 6.2 million, an increase of 113% compared to the same period.
Destinations in Cua Lo ward and the communes of Quynh Anh, Kim Lien, Chau Tien, and Pu Mat National Park in Con Cuong commune continue to be bright spots on the Nghe An tourism map. Nghe An is also gradually "shaping" its distinctive product lines: beach tourism combined with relaxation and culinary culture; spiritual tourism associated with heritage; community-based ecotourism in the Mekong Delta; MICE tourism, and marine sports tourism…
There are still many difficulties and challenges.
Despite achieving encouraging growth figures, those passionate about tourism in Nghe An province still have many concerns. Many experts and businesses frankly acknowledge that Nghe An's tourism has not yet fully exploited its inherent potential. One prime example is spiritual tourism – a sector considered a "gold mine" for the province. Although Nghe An possesses dozens of ancient relics, temples, and unique traditional festivals, the province still lacks a comprehensive and long-term strategy to effectively exploit this treasure trove.
Tourists explore Pu Mat National Park. Photo: CSCC
Another obstacle stems from the slow progress of key tourism projects, such as the Cau Cau Resort or May Resort. The prolonged stagnation of these key tourism projects not only slows down the revitalization of Nghe An's tourism landscape but also makes it difficult for the province to attract strategic investors – especially large domestic and international corporations with strong financial resources and experience in developing high-class destinations. Meanwhile, the number of international tourists visiting Nghe An remains quite modest, largely due to cumbersome administrative procedures, inconvenient visa application processes, and a lack of flexible policies to support access to the international market.
Human resources – a key factor in tourism development – are also a persistent weakness. Nghe An's tourism industry currently faces a serious shortage of international tour guides and high-quality personnel. This instability in the workforce not only affects service quality but also makes it difficult for many businesses to maintain efficient operations, especially during the off-season.
Furthermore, the distinct seasonality of Nghe An's tourism market makes it unsustainable. During the summer – especially the peak season for beach tourism – destinations like Cua Lo beach (formerly part of Cua Lo ward) and Quynh Nghia beach (formerly part of Quynh Phu commune) are bustling with crowds. However, when winter arrives or after the Tet holiday, many accommodation establishments operate at a reduced capacity or even close down. Meanwhile, tourism infrastructure in many localities is still not fully synchronized, hindering the connection of tours and routes and the enhancement of the visitor experience.
Moreover, the direction and coordination of tourism management in some localities have shown signs of stagnation, partly due to the impact of the restructuring and streamlining of the two-tiered local government apparatus.
Former Youth Volunteers visit the Truông Bồn Historical Site. Photo: Minh Quân
According to Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An province, in the coming time, in its role as a state advisory and management agency, the Department will propose to the Provincial People's Committee stronger preferential mechanisms and policies to support tourism businesses, from tax reductions and access to capital to training and developing high-quality human resources. The focus will be on finalizing the Resolution on tourism development for the period 2026-2030, which clearly identifies solutions to promote strategic investment, improve service quality and the competitiveness of Nghe An's tourism industry in the context of integration. In addition, the tourism infrastructure system will continue to be prioritized for comprehensive investment, from transportation connectivity, accommodation facilities, destinations, to convenient services, contributing to creating a more modern, convenient and attractive "tourism landscape" for tourists.
Regarding tourism products, the Department will focus on developing tourism types that bear the distinctive mark of Nghe An province. One of the new directions is to build boat tours on the Lam River combined with performances of Vi and Giam folk songs – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity – thereby creating vivid and profound cultural experiences. At the same time, it will promote the development of community and eco-tourism in the western districts to exploit the advantages of the landscape, the identity of the highlands, and extend the length of stay of tourists.
In addition, promotional activities will be upgraded to be more modern, flexible, and adaptable to digital transformation. The province will also proactively expand regional and international cooperation, strengthen coordination with airlines to open more routes to Nghe An, and promote improvements in visa policies to maximize convenience for international visitors to Nghe An.
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Businesses need to "join hands" to form "tourism alliances" – cooperating, investing together, and developing common products, instead of engaging in fragmented and scattered competition. At the same time, accommodation establishments and destinations need to develop reasonable incentive policies for travel companies bringing tourists to the area. Collaboration, sharing, and connection between the government, businesses, and the community are key factors in building a truly sustainable and distinctive tourism industry in Nghe An.
Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An Province
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