Hai Phong news

Lan Ha Bay - Cat Ba, Hai Phong. (Haiphong.gov.vn) – At the recent meeting between Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City on the following issues: Assessment of situations and plans on cooperation to reopen tourism activities and exchange visitors between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh in accordance with the situations of COVID-19 epidemic; Coordination in completing and submitting nomination file of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago to UNESCO to be regconized as The World Natural Heritage; Discussion of plans on visiting and staying overnight on Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Islands after Lan Ha Bay being recognized as a World Natural Heritage; Coordination of state management for tourist transport activities in Lan Ha Bay (Hai Phong) and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh), Tuan Chau - Gia Luan tourist route; the security, social order and marine environment protection in border areas between Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago; Treatment of COVID-19 medical waste in Quang Ninh Province.After listening to reports and issues presented by departments and branches of two localities, Mr. Le Khac Nam, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Province People's Committee together concluded some agreements as follows:In November 2021, opening self-contained tours within the area of Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City Regarding tourism, as the COVID-19 epidemic in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong has been basically controlled, the leaders of two localities agreed to assign Departments of Tourism of two localities to study a plan on cooperation for reopening tourism activities and exchanging visitors between Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province in accordance with the pandemic situation.In the coming time, from November 2021, both sides focus on opening self-contained tours for Quang Ninh’s people traveling to Hai Phong and vice versa, encouraging tourists to get fully vaccinated and SARS-COV-2 tests; create favorable conditions for tourism businesses of two localities to exploit tourists from industrial parks, economic zones, enterprises of Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and other businesses for Quang Ninh and Hai Phong intra-provincial tourism development.The two sides jointly study common tourism promotion programs to well exploit tourists from Hanoi, industrial parks,economic zones of provinces and cities that are safe from COVID-19 epidemic, as well as tourists from economic corporations in the area of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. Building and completing regulations on cooperation between two localities In the field of culture, Departments of Culture and Sports of the two localities were assigned to take the charge cooperating with Hai Duong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to jointly study and propose Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for submitting proposal document to Prime Minister for creating nomination file of Bach Dang victory (Quang Ninh – Hai Phong – Hai Duong)to be recognized by UNESCO as cultural heritage; study criteria, consolidate documents, enrich documents, preserve and exploit dossier effectively, and submit to UNESCO for recognition as a World Heritage. Relevant authorities of the two localities were assigned to coordinate to implement tasks related to IUCN's assessment team; completing corporate Regulations on managing passenger transports on Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay to be ready for use; build a corporate regulation in the state management of environmental protection in border areas, coastal areas, bays and rivers; strengthen the exchange of information; coordinate in inspection, supervision and timely rectify activities likely to harm the environment in the adjacent areas between the two localities; develop a corporate regulation in marine environmental protection in border areas between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Archipelago; study the collection of entrance fees and overnight stay fees on Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Islands after being recognized as a World Natural Heritage to ensure similarities and attract tourists.Both Departments of Health were assigned being contact units to coordinate to arrange human resources for tests and vaccination on large scales; provide emergency vehicles, testing equipment, and treatment machines in case of emergency.Over the past time, Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province have closely coordinated to effectively implement Resolutions, Conclusions of Politburo and the Central Party Committee for each locality, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense - security and social welfare in accordance with the strength of each locality, while continuing to affirm the position of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh as main growth driving forces of the Northern key economic region, contributing positively to the general development of whole region and country.

Investment project on upgrading and expanding Road No.356 through Cat Ba Island is one of 11 key tourism-related projects of Hai Phong. After completing works, these projects will contribute to improving the quality of transport infrastructure, increasing connection among localities in Hai Phong as well as with other provinces and cities. Recently (on October 1), Mr. Do Tuan Anh - Director of Hai Phong Project Management Board of Transportation Works Construction Investment said that project on upgrading Road No.356 through Cat Hai - Cat Ba Island designed with the width of asphalt concrete road being 12m, and the width of sidewalk being 3m on each side.The City approved project in 2007, but the implementation is still in progress due to capital and site clearance problems. In 2019, the road was assigned to Hai Phong Project Management Unit of Transportation Works Construction Investment.Road No.356 goes through Cat Ba Island winding along coastal limestone mountains. "After taking over the project, we urged contractors to focus on construction. After 14 years of approving project, the road through Cat Ba Island has basically been completed with the length of 20 km and total investment of more than 1,800 billion VND. Only the last part is left from Anh Soi T-junction to Residential group No. 2, Cat town with 1.7 km long and doing asphalt concrete" said Mr. Tuan Anh.With the idea of turning cross-island traffic route into a "flower road", since the end of 2019, Cat Hai District People's Committee has invested 64 billion VND in planting bougainvillea along both sides of Road No.356 and building 3 zones of coastal landscape enjoyment.In each zone, Cat Hai District built a watch-tower with the width of 147 m2, and the height of over 11m, designed in an octagonal shape of ironwood and surrounded by green stone banisters. The road is designed with the width of road surface being 12m.Mr. Bui Cong Trong - Director of Cat Hai District Project Management Board of Construction Works said: “The District expects that the project on planting flowers and building zones of coastal landscape enjoyment will bring visitors a new and impressive experience when coming to Cat Ba. Currently, 3 zones of coastal landscape enjoyment have not been completed due to the impact of Covid-19 epidemic," Mr. Trong said and affirmed that these works will finish on October 25.Investment project on upgrading and expanding Road No.356 through Cat Ba Island is one of 11 key tourism-related projects of Hai Phong. After completing works, these projects will contribute to improving the quality of transport infrastructure, increasing connection among localities in Hai Phong as well as with other provinces and cities.

Hai Phong is considered as a locality naturally favored with many plus points in terms of tourism development. (Photo: Foreign tourists visit Viet Hai Island Commune) (Haiphong.gov.vn) – The city's tourism development is identified as one of three pillars to renew the growth model and restructure the economy. At the same time, it is also one of breakthrough solutions that need to be implemented in the 2020-2025 term of the City. In order to achieve that goal, the City has recently put forward many orientations in building mechanisms, policies and infrastructure development.* Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the city's tourismOver the past decade, Hai Phong tourism has made great progress. In a press conference on tourism, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Mr. Le Khac Nam said that before 2012, Hai Phong always failed to achieve the target of tourism development, but from 2013 (when Hai Phong hosted the National Tourism Year of Red River Delta), the city's tourism has prospered with remarkable development steps. By 2019, Hai Phong reached 9 million tourists.Many tourism experts assessed that Hai Phong is a locality naturally favored with many plus points in terms of tourism development. Firstly, it is the advantage of the sea. The sea forms Hai Phong people with "strong-willed, outspoken character", creating a unique feature for visitors coming to the City. The sea is also the source of forming the marine economy, and the landmark of founding Hai Phong Port.According to the history introduction of Hai Phong Port, the port was founded in 1874 when French colonialists embarked on the port construction in order to turn the wharf of Cam village into a major military and commercial port, serving the colonial exploitation intentions of French colonialists. The first large-scale project was a warehouse system consisting of 6 warehouses, so it is called the wharf of 6 warehouses (Ben Sau Kho).From a small commercial port of previous century, up to this time, Hai Phong seaport has become the largest seaport center in the North, in which, the port of Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Port Company Limited (TC-HICT) ) is the largest deep-water container port in the North of Vietnam, having capability of receiving ships with a tonnage of up to 14,000 TEUs and having direct service routes to America and Europe, significantly reducing logistics time and costs.The development of seaports promotes the development of other economic and social sectors including tourism sector. Along with the tourist attraction strategy of Hai Phong tourism sector, the relatives of about 5,000 foreign experts from many countries and territories working in Hai Phong's industrial parks are also "silent messengers" bringing the city’s images to international friends.In addition to the potential of marine economy, Hai Phong is also a locality with many valuable historical and cultural relics. According to Hai Phong Department of Tourism, the whole City currently has 470 ranked relics, including 02 special national relics (Scenic spots on Cat Ba archipelago and Relic site of Trang Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem Temple); 112 national-level relics and hundreds of city-level relics. There are many major festivals such as: Buffalo Fighting Festival (Do Son) - National Intangible Cultural Heritage; Minh The Festival (KienThuy) - National Intangible Cultural Heritage; Cat Ba Fishing Village Festival (Cat Hai); Dump Singing Festival (Thuy Nguyen); Trang Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem Temple Festival (VinhBao); Red Flamboyant Festival - a unique festival held annually has become a spiritual and cultural activity of the city's people. Many traditional craft villages have been restored, maintained and developed for tourism development. Hai Phong cuisine is famous for its seafood specialties such as: Crab rice noodle, Ha Lung cotlete, Cat Ba snout otter clam and many rustic dishes attracting tourists such as: Spicy bread, Bloating fern-shaped cake, Sea lingulida, Jellyfish salad…The City has great tourism potentials, but according to evaluation of Hai Phong Department of Tourism, the city's tourism development has still had a lot of limitations; has not been developed commensurate with its potentials and advantages; and has not yet been confirmed the position and comparative advantages in the region. The economic efficiency of tourism is low, the structure and proportion of tourism in the service sector is still small. There are no major tourist attractions, entertainment areas, resorts, and shopping malls. Tourism products have not been deeply invested and mainly based on exploiting available values, not having unique tourism products, catching up with the trends and needs of tourists; lack of attractive and highly competitive products. Most tourism businesses, especially travel businesses have small scale and low competitiveness. Propaganda, advertisement activities for tourism promotion are still very limited in terms of both funding and implementation methods. The lack of synchronous infrastructure, especially in sea and island areas, is also the city's tourism disadvantage. Quality facilities and professionally trained human resources are also limited.Hai Phong Red Flamboyant Festival - a unique festival held annually has become a cultural and spiritual activity of the city’s people. Photo: Trong Luan * Formulating tourism goals On January 24, 2019, the Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW of the Politburo dated January 24, 2019 on the construction and development of Hai Phong City to 2030, with a vision to 2045. In this resolution, the Politburo set out specific goals for Hai Phong to strive with tourism sector, by 2025, Hai Phong City must basically complete the cause of industrialization and modernization; meet the criteria for grade I urban areas; become an industrial city with the direction of modernity; is a national key marine economy, a national center for logistics service, a national center for training, research, application and development of marine science and technology, a Northern region center for fisheries, fishery logistics and search and rescue services; Cat Ba, Do Son together with Ha Long become international tourism centers. In order to achieve these goals, in addition to taking advantage of available potentials and advantages, the City Party Committee, the City People's Council, and the City People's Committee have directed leaderships, issued resolutions for implementation.The Resolution of Hai Phong City Party Congress determined that the city's development direction is to arouse all potentials and advantages, attract resources to focus on developing breakthroughs in transport and urban infrastructure. The city's three economic pillars are identified namely: high-tech industry, seaport - logistics, tourism – trade. According to the process of industrialization and modernization of the City was set out by Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW of the Politburo, one of economic targets needs to be achieved by 2025 is to attract 20 million tourists.Recently, Hai Phong city has approved many projects and plans to promote the city's tourism development, including Plan No. 85/KH-UBND on implementing the Strategy for Vietnam Tourism Development to 2030 in Hai Phong City.This plan has set out a goal, by 2025, Hai Phong City strives to build and develop Cat Ba, Do Son and Vu Yen tourist areas to become international tourist centers as well as becomes a national major tourist center, welcoming and serving 20 million tourists per year, including 2.7 million international visitors. By 2030, Haiphong City strives to welcome and serve 35 million tourists, including 5.8 million international visitors, creating 23-25 thousand directjobs in tourism sector.Besides, the City has also approved the project on “Developing countryside tourism in association with new rural construction in Hai Phong in the period of 2021-2025 with orientation to 2030". The project focused on assessing the current potentials and conditions of countryside tourism development in Hai Phong; the viewpoints and goals of countryside tourism development of central and city governments; as well as forecasting trends, consumer demands for tourism products. From those points, the project proposed tasks and solutions to develop countryside tourism in association with new rural construction in Hai Phong.The project has studied the current potentials and conditions of tourism development in Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, An Lao, Thuy Nguyen, KienThuy and An Duong Districts from 2016 to present and proposed solutions to develop countryside tourism in Hai Phong in the period of 2021-2025, with an orientation to 2030.In addition to tourism products, Hai Phong has focused on building an infrastructure system to serve socio-economic development in general and tourism sector in particular, such as the development of Cat Bi International Airport, the construction of bridges serving inner city traffic demands and connecting other localities. In the period of 2015-2020, the City has put into use 5 5-star hotels. In the period of 2021-2025, the City will build and complete 6 other 5-star hotels./.Th.s Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy

Vietnam is planning to reopen certain tourist destinations from November this year, towards a full resumption in June 2022, according to a plan mapped out by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.Vietnam is planning to reopen certain tourist destinations from November this year, towards a full resumption in June 2022. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is planning to reopen certain tourist destinations from November this year, towards a full resumption in June 2022, according to a plan mapped out by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Under the draft plan that the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) announced at a recent meeting, domestic tourism would be resumed from November with travelers from localities where the COVID-19 pandemic is under control allowed to travel under strict pandemic preventive rules regarding vaccination, RT-PCR testing, “5K message,” health declaration, and health app use. As for foreign visitors, Phu Quoc will re-open on a pilot basis from November this year to March 2022, followed by other destinations meeting certain requirements like Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Hoi An (Quang Nam), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) and Da Lat (Lam Dong) from December 2021 to June 2022. The full opening to international visitors could be in June 2022. (Photo: VNA)The full opening to international visitors could be in June 2022. On October 7, the central province of Thanh Hoa proposed to the ministry that it hopes to receive foreign tourists at the end of this year. Meanwhile, northern cities and provinces like Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Ha Giang have built various tourism products in preparation of the return of domestic visitors. Localities that want to reopen tourism asked the VNAT to work with concerned agencies, including the Ministries of Health, Transport, Public Security and Foreign Affairs, to design consistent regulations for tourism when reopening./. VNA

Existing with blue sea, white sand, mountains and diverse ecosystems, Cat Ba is now more splendid and majestic with a unique resort complex bearing the brand of Flamingo.Cat Ba’s beauty is equivalent to a nature-created picture From the top must-visit national parks in the world…The American newspaper Buzzfeed has just voted Cat Ba in the top 10 national parks to visit as soon as international traffic reconnects after the pandemic. Cat Ba is introduced by foreign experts as not only featuring attractive cruises but also a biosphere reserve with diverse flora and fauna.On the tourist map of the northern provinces, the "jewel" of Cat Ba stands out with its wild and majestic beauty like a "harmony" of the forest and the sea. Possessing a series of natural advantages: beautiful terrain, pristine beaches, diverse ecosystems, mild climate, along with Ha Long Bay - a world natural heritage, Cat Ba pearl island is considered as "rare asset" on the northern tourist map.Cat Ba’s beauty is equivalent to a nature-created pictureHolding its hands around Cat Ba, Lan Ha Bay (voted the most beautiful bay in the world) stretches emotionally with a clear blue coast and hundreds of small islands. Seen from above, this place looks like a natural picture with the green color of the forest in harmony with the blue of the sea. Cat Ba is also a rare archipelago of Vietnam that owns one of the two most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia: Cat Co 2 - with a long sparkling sandy beach, jade blue sea, lying along the the bay’s shore in an inviting way.… to a new Cat BaIn the general development trend, Cat Ba has made dramatic changes in recent years.Hai Phong has been implementing a series of large infrastructure projects to promote Cat Ba tourism. These projects are considered as a lever for the strong development of resort tourism here, attracting a large number of tourists to return to "Pearl Island". With the emergence of the high-class four-season resort complex Flamingo Cat Ba, from a beautiful unspoiled sea, only reaching "a lot of potential" but still remaining closed, Cat Ba gradually sheds her skin and puts on herself a new look, becoming a dynamic, attractive tourist paradise, attracting tourists with all the advantages endowed upon by nature.Cat Ba’s hectic transformationBesides, in the context of the current pandemic and pollution, many people yearn to have a healthy living space with greener, safer architecture, not too crowded, not too high-rise, low construction density for distancing. Flamingo Cat Ba is not only a temporary tourist resort, but also really becomes a dream "second home", a peaceful place in harmony with the scenery of sky - sea - green trees, located in a complex of fully integrated utility services - entertainment, yielding relaxation both physically and mentally.As a resort complex with the most beautiful location and the most spectacular scale in the North (3 high-rise towers and 1002 rooms), reflected in the delicate and unique green architecture, imbued with the brand's identity of Flamingo, has been recognized through many prestigious international awards, Flamingo Cat Ba has been present and put into operation more and more smoothly, helping to strengthen customers' trust, serving all customers' needs in the best possible way.This is considered a potential investment product combined with comprehensive infrastructure and a worthwhile utility system, affirming the style of the villa’s owner. After all, Flamingo Cat Ba is a complete wholeness, yielding a special experience of a happy home for the whole familyA new Cat Ba with the emergence of Flamingo Cat BaThe launch of Flamingo Cat Ba marked a turning point, for Cat Ba to become a new Cat Ba, completely transformed. With these positive changes, it is predicted that in the near future, Cat Ba will quickly become a leading tourist and investment attraction in the Northern region.

A conference debating solutions and plans for resuming domestic tourism activities was held on October 5 by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.A view of Trang An Landscapes Complex in Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A conference debating solutions and plans for resuming domestic tourism activities was held on October 5 by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Representatives from tourism management agencies of provinces and cities nationwide focused their discussions on measures to gradually recover tourism activities in line with a safe roadmap. Accordingly, this month, provinces and cities began organising training courses on COVID-19 prevention and control regulations, processes in welcoming and serving tourists, criteria for safe tourism services, as well as preparations for incidents and risks. From November, localities that have controlled the pandemic will start welcoming back domestic holiday-makers. They are required to strictly comply will regulations on vaccination against COVID-19 and testing.Illustrative image (Photo: nhandan.vn)A pilot plan on welcoming international tourists with vaccine passports to Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will be implemented from October this year to March 2020. This scheme will prioritise key markets that have effectively controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, and had high vaccination coverage such as Northeast Asia, Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Australia. By the end of 2021, Vietnam will welcome foreign tourists back to other destinations, including Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, Hoi An ancient city in central Quang Nam province, Nha Trang in central Khanh Hoa province and Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong./.VNA