That memory is the image of a large, simple ship with two rows of wooden chairs, gently squeezing, taking visitors to explore the islands and rocky mountains in many shapes that emerge from the clear blue waves in the heart of heritage.
In the summer of 2018, as a travel reporter, I had the opportunity to return to Ha Long with the press to attend the first professional music minishow held on a 5-star yacht in the bay.
In the windy space, the piano sound resounds in the sunset, making Ha Long appear classy as a surreal - romantic and emotional painting. At that moment, I realized that this heritage area had put on a new coat, more brilliant and seductive than ever.
Not only seeing Ha Long from ships, tourists can observe thousands of limestone islands from a high view, through the glass windows of seaplanes.
The Ha Long Bay seaplane flight service has been in operation since 2014, initially mainly serving international visitors. It was not until 2020 that the seaplane flying experience began to attract Vietnamese tourists.
At the end of 2024, on my third business trip back to Ha Long, I had the opportunity to fly a plane - experience exploring the heritage site from above.
Taking off the water, Ha Long opened before my eyes like a beautiful natural painting: the lackluster rocky islands in the middle of the blue ocean, each bay border is winding like a talented palm. far away, in front of the eye is the bright red horizon, where the seabirds spread out in the endless air. The 15-minute journey brings completely new and unique experiences and perspectives of Ha Long Bay.
In recent years, the Quang Ninh tourism industry has made a strong change, from infrastructure to tourism thinking. Investment in the expressway system, international passenger port, specialized yacht wharf... and new products have created conditions for Ha Long to become a tourist destination for all four seasons.
Most recently, the Ha Long survey program welcoming Summer 2025 - "Ha Long Voyage: Culture, Heritage & Renew" once again took me back to explore a very different Ha Long: closer but more novel.
Still a luxury yacht with 5-star amenities, still a journey to visit the heritage area with many attractive activities such as kayaking, fishing, learning about the history of Vung Vieng fishing village... but only shortening the day to suit the needs of visitors. Because, before that, if they wanted to experience all of these activities, tourists often had to take a 2-day, 1-night tour or longer.
Not only coming to see the beautiful scenery of Ha Long, visitors can experience more in a journey to promote sustainability, guiding visitors to preserve heritage and cultural, historical and traditional values of the locality.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, General Director of Vitamin Tours & Events, Head of the program's Organizing Committee shared: "We - local tourism service providers and travel businesses - are both responsible for preserving and promoting heritage values, and renewing the tourism experience in Ha Long Bay, how to make Ha Long always interesting and attractive in the eyes of tourists, so that this place is not just a sightseeing destination, just a one-time sightseeing destination.
With promotional campaigns, Famtrip trips and the support of newspapers and media, we hope to introduce and spread new tourism products from affordable to high-end, to attract tourists to Ha Long Bay".
The good news is that these activities are receiving support from local authorities. In 2025, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 20 million tourists, including 4.5 million international visitors. Total revenue from tourism activities reached VND50,000 billion.
However, in the context of the economy still facing many difficulties and fierce competition from emerging destinations, the local tourism industry is facing many challenges.
Every time I return, I see Ha Long "transformed" once more with more complete infrastructure, new services and experiences from affordable to high-end. And I understand that, like any other business trip, our job as journalists is to record and spread those positive changes, so that heritage is not only preserved, but also continues to be lived by its own appeal.
