With the potential and advantages of combined forest - sea tourism, Gia Lai expects to become a prominent destination on the Vietnam tourism map.
"Golden forest, silver sea", a boost for the tourism industry
According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province, in the first 6 months of 2025, the total number of tourists to Binh Dinh (old) reached 6.5 million, an increase of 14.3% over the same period in 2024. Total revenue from tourists reached VND16,850 billion, up 14.5%.
In Gia Lai (old), the same period recorded 890,000 visitors, an increase of 16%, with revenue of VND493 billion, an increase of 11% over the previous year. After the merger, Gia Lai became the second largest province in the country, possessing a special advantage with both forests and sea. When Quy Nhon enters the rainy season, the low season, the Gia Lai plateau is in the dry season, the peak tourist season.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee - said that the province will focus on investing in two main tourist clusters: the Eastern cluster associated with ecotourism of Kon Ha Nung World Biosphere Reserve, connecting Quy Nhon sea area. The western cluster of the Chu Dang Ya Sea - Volcanoe tourism area is planned to connect the Se San River, Ialy Hydropower Plant, and expand the connection with the western part of Quang Ngai.
Bien Ho commune, Chu Pah commune is a locality with great potential for resources, tourism and hydropower. In particular, Chu Dang Ya volcano was voted by the British magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful volcanoes in the world.
Gia Lai also owns majestic natural landscapes such as Ham Rong mountain, T'Nung lake, Phu Cuong waterfall, and lush green sea tea fields. At the same time, the province is a place to preserve traditional ethnic minority cultural values such as Bahnar and Jrai, expressed through ranks, cemeteries, cemetery statues and special festivals.
The East Gia Lai area also has a system of Sa Huynh cultural relics, Cham tower temples, Tay Son farmers' movement... attracting many tourists. Binh Dinh (old) has a long coastline with many beautiful bays such as Quy Nhon, Ky Co, Eo Gio, Hon Kho, Cu Lao Xanh, Ghenh Rang - Tien Sa, Trung Luong beach... Intangible cultural heritages such as traditional martial arts, boy band singing, cad cho...
Promoting Gia Lai tourism to the world
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province has coordinated with the Institute of Cultural Studies (under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) to successfully organize the International Scientific Conference "Protecting and promoting the intangible cultural heritage and traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh" to complete the dossier to submit to UNESCO.
The Department has also reported to the Provincial People's Committee to propose preparing a scientific dossier for the Van Chai Fish Bridge Festival (Nhon Hai) to register a national intangible cultural heritage; at the same time, requesting a license to excavate the archaeological relic of Truong Luy Binh Dinh...
Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province - said that in the last 6 months of the year, the province aims to welcome 4.4 million visitors, achieving revenue of VND 11,160 billion, and at the same time developing 12 new tourism products. Gia Lai tourism industry implements the "3K" message: No price increase, no price pressure; no customer competition; no noise pollution, no waste.
Along with that is the message "3A": Traffic safety, food safety and hygiene, safety of life and property. To maximize the potential of forest and sea tourism in the province after the merger, Gia Lai will promote at international events such as the Kits Fair (Korea), WTM London, and the Tourism Development Linking Conference between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Key Economic Zone.
Lam Dong aims to welcome 22.4 million visitors in 2025
Mr. Nguyen Van Loc - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province - emphasized: "Tourism is a bright spot of Lam Dong province after the merger of three provinces".
According to Mr. Loc, from the beginning of 2025 to now, the whole province has welcomed 12.1 million visitors. Of which, there are more than 798,000 international visitors. After the merger, a clear advantage is that the number of accommodation facilities increased to 4,200 with more than 66,000 rooms. Of which, 110 hotels meet 3-5 star standards with a total of 11,266 rooms. To effectively exploit the potential of "golden forests - silver seas", Mr. Loc said that the province will organize at least one tourism event per week in three localities in the former provinces: Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Dak Nong. With the cooperation of the tourism industry and businesses, the province aims to welcome 22.4 million visitors in 2025.
DUY TUAN
