Key northern economic area to be converted into tourism centre

The key northern economic region - comprising Ha Noi, Hai Phong city, and the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh - will be developed into a leading tourism centre for the country with various highly competitive products, reinforcing the national cultural identity.

According to a recently approved master plan on developing culture, family, sports and tourism in the area by 2025, tourism in the zone will be a spearheaded as a leading economic sector.

Ha Noi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh will become cultural, sport and tourism centres of the nation, thus promoting the region’s development and its connection with others nationwide and with international counterparts.

The master plan focuses on preserving and upholding tangible and intangible cultural heritage values, and embellishing and upgrading regional relic sites. Movements to build new-style rural areas and modern urban areas will also be promoted.

The plan aims to construct and upgrade cultural and sporting centres, residential quarters, new urban areas with high-standards, and industrials parks and export processing zones with leisure centres for children.

The region will also intensify promotion activities within the country and in foreign markets while developing specific tourism products such as cultural and spiritual tourism, and sea and island-based tourism.

The plan targets the strengthened development of a number of national tourist sites including the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups Culture and Tourism Village, Ba Voi-Suoi Hai, Huong Pagoda and Thang Long Royal Citadel in Ha Noi; Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc; Con Son-Kiep Bac in Hai Duong, Cat Ba and Do Son in Hai Phong, Ha Long, Van Don, Tra Co and Yen Tu in Quang Ninh; and Pho Hien in Hung Yen.

By 2025, the region aims to greet around 9 million international tourists and serve over 26 million domestic visitors with revenues reaching VND170 trillion (US$7.65 million).