The Quang Ninh People’s Committee is promoting the tourism potential of Bai Tu Long Bay, making it a can’t-miss destination in the northern region and creating new tourism products for tourists in the summer of 2023.

Ao Tien Port in Van Don District is now in operation, helping to synchronize the infrastructure system, from the airport and expressways to the modern cruise terminal, and promising a new appeal for the old commercial port area in Quang Ninh Province. 

The advantages will quickly unlock the tourism potentialities of Bai Tu Long Bay.

A lesser-known bay

According to the People’s Committee of Van Don District, in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the district received an average of one million tourists each year. 

Among them, the Quan Lan - Minh Chau tourist area in Bai Tu Long Bay saw a continuous increase in the number of visitors over the years.

However, compared to nearby Ha Long Bay, the tourist attractions in Bai Tu Long Bay are not as well known by tourists because of poor infrastructure.

Ao Tien Port would help Van Don District be connected by air, road, and sea.

Ta Duc Quyet, director of Mai Quyen Tourism Company and investor of Ao Tien high-class port, said that the corporation aims to work with many cruise ship unions to attract tourists, especially those from Vietnam’s northwest region and tourists from China.

Pham Ngoc Thuy, director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, said that due to the upcoming peak travel season, the department asked grassroots authorities to ensure facilities, human resources, service quality, and favorable conditions for the local tourism business environment.

The authorities have also worked on launching new tourism products as one of the long-term solutions that not only attract tourists to Quang Ninh, but also encourage them to spend more and return to the province.

New tourism products 

A number of tourist attractions have been proposed by the Quang Ninh People’s Committee in order to effectively unlock the tourism potential of Bai Tu Long Bay, expand local tourism potentialities, and reduce the load on Ha Long Bay, as well as renew Quang Ninh’s sea and island tourism products.

Accordingly, two tours have been planned, with one spanning about 53 kilometers from Ao Tien Port across Phat Co Cave – Da Den Islet - Crow Islet – Lao Vong Culvert – Dua Islet to the final stop on Minh Chau Island.

The other route is about 30 kilometers long, departing from Ao Tien Port, running through Tay Hoi Island, Meo Luoi Islet – Sen Village – Nha Tro Cave, and ending at Sen Village Wharf.

These destinations are connected to maximize the landscape value of the rocky mountains, beaches, caves, and island routes in Bai Tu Long Bay.

In addition, the management board of Bai Tu Long National Park also proposed implementing a host of ecotourism activities with specific tourist routes such as a single-day trip to Ao Tien, the Lao Vong culvert’s fishing village, Big Tra Ngo Island, and Thien Nga Island.

Besides, a two-day-and-one-night trip will bring tourists from Ao Tien Port to the Cai De area and Mang Ha Overnight Stop, while a three-day-and-two-night tour comprises such tourist sites as Big Tra Ngo Island, Cai Lim Beach, Mang Ha Overnight Stop, and the Cai De area.

Meanwhile, Doan Manh Cuong, director of Indochina Junk Joint Stock Company, said that over the past ten years, the firm has offered a variety of tourism products in Bai Tu Long Bay. 

The company's most popular is a two-day-and-one-night tour taking visitors to the bay, the Vung Vieng fishing village and caves, and giving them chances to go kayaking and swimming.

These tours are favored by tourists, mainly those from Europe and the Americas. Yet, they often take tours in small groups to keep their privacy and boost personal experiences. 

“We consider Bai Tu Long a potential bay which has just been partly exploited. As Quang Ninh Province is boosting tourist routes and tourism products in Bai Tu Long Bay, travel firms will have opportunities to come up with many new products, namely leveraging a number of small beaches and catering services in some spots,” Cuong said.

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