Right from the beginning of 2026, the number of international visitors to Cat Ba has continued to increase significantly, accounting for a large proportion of the tourism market and creating important momentum for the locality to aim for the target of welcoming 5 million visitors this year.

Maintaining Growth Momentum

Since New Year 2026, Viet Hai Island has been bustling with groups of international tourists. Mr. Peter White, an Irish visitor traveling with three friends, chose Cat Ba as their destination during their trip to Vietnam at the beginning of 2026. It was his first time experiencing a trekking journey lasting more than three hours, starting from the center of Cat Ba National Park to Viet Hai Island, which left him with unforgettable memories.

Since the beginning of the year, Viet Hai Island has welcomed more than 900 international tourists daily for sightseeing, dining, and accommodation. The surge in foreign tourists this spring has brought great joy to local households engaged in tourism services while creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere on this remote island. With the current stable number of visitors, during the peak summer season of 2026, Viet Hai Island is expected to welcome more than 2,000 visitors per day, including domestic tourists.

Not only Viet Hai, visitors to Cat Ba in early 2026 also enjoy many interesting experiences such as exploring the emerald waters of Lan Ha Bay, visiting Quan Y Cave – a wartime field hospital located deep in Khe Sau Valley, Frog Pond with the sounds of thousands of wild frogs, and more. Lien Minh Ancient Village, known for its wild myrtle flowers, raspberries, quiet valleys, and specialty Lien Minh chicken, has also attracted many visitors during this period.

Mr. Pham Tri Tuyen, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Division of Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone, stated that in January 2026, Cat Ba welcomed more than 142,000 visitors, an increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2025. Among them, international visitors reached over 97,000, accounting for 68% of total tourists and increasing by 14% year-on-year.

These results demonstrate that Cat Ba tourism is growing strongly. Favorable weather conditions have boosted travel and leisure demand, while the recognition as a World Natural Heritage Site continues to attract more international visitors than in previous years. Along with the increase in tourist arrivals, total revenue from accommodation and dining services in Cat Hai Special Zone exceeded VND 140 billion, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025.

Target of 5 Million Visitors

The positive results in attracting tourists in the first month of 2026 provide a strong foundation for Cat Ba tourism to confidently aim for the milestone of welcoming 5 million visitors this year for the first time.

This target is achievable because in 2026, Sun Group plans to put into operation many large-scale, high-quality, internationally standardized entertainment facilities at the Central Bay Commercial and Tourism Service Area of Cat Ba. Notable highlights include a central square, an international-standard public artificial beach, pedestrian streets, the Vui-Fest night market, and vibrant service chains along both sides, all expected to enhance visitor experiences and attract more tourists to Cat Ba in 2026.

According to Mr. Vu Huu Vung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone, the number of tourists visiting Cat Ba during the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026 is expected to increase by 10% compared to Lunar New Year 2025. Therefore, the special administrative zone is focusing on organizing diverse cultural, artistic, and sporting activities to serve both residents and tourists. Tourism and accommodation businesses in Cat Ba have prepared their facilities to ensure service quality for the expected increase in visitors.

Additionally, Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone is urgently preparing to organize a series of cultural, sports, and tourism events to mark the opening of Cat Ba Tourism Year 2026 and the 67th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Cat Ba and Cat Hai at the end of March. This is the largest tourism promotion event of the year and will serve as a highlight for the peak tourism season in 2026.

To maximize the value of the World Natural Heritage Site in attracting tourists, in 2026 Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone will focus on developing Cat Ba into a “green island,” combining tourism development with environmental protection and sustainable development, alongside implementing the green transition project for Viet Hai community-based tourism from 2025 to 2030. The locality is also accelerating the preparation of documents to seek recognition of Cat Ba Island as a National Tourist Area and to announce designated entertainment zones across the bays within the Cat Ba.

NGUYEN DUONG – Source: Hai Phong online news.