Applying 360-degree VR technology in Co To island district
Co To island district aims to welcome 300,000 visitors in 2025, implementing a "dual strategy" to promote digital transformation and develop green tourism.
Ms. To currently operates two tourism websites: Amazingcoto.vn and Cototourist.com, providing full information about history, culture, destinations, accommodation with vivid photos, videos and tourism promotions.
In particular, 360-degree VR virtual reality technology has been applied at prominent tourist destinations such as the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site, Truc Lam Pagoda, Mong Rong Stone Beach, and Thanh Lan Island. This technology helps users experience the panoramic virtual space and observe in all directions, as if they are at their destination.
The combination of 360-degree images and automatic explanations helps visitors easily access information and proactively plan their actual trips.
Mr. Luu Duc Duong (Hai Phong City) shared: I get to know Co To through 360-degree VR technology, the more I watch it, the more attracted I am. That is why I am here on this sacred island today.
From the beginning of the year to April 15, Co To welcomed 16,566 visitors, reaching 81.15% over the same period in 2024; of which international visitors reached 664. Total tourism revenue is estimated at 50 billion VND.
Mr. Nguyen Hai Linh - Head of the Department of Culture, Information, Tourism and Science and Technology of Co To district - said: "We are deploying 360-degree VR technology at all tourist destinations across the district. In addition to communication through newspapers and websites, the district also actively promotes on the Zalo platform and integrates QR codes into tourism publications.
On the occasion of 30.4-1.5 this year, there will be 10 famous Kol from Ho Chi Minh City to the island to review Co To on social networks. In 2025, Co To district plans to open 6 pilot tourist routes to islands such as Hon Cat Car, Lion Hon, Co To Island, and Tran Island. Night camping activities, scuba diving in Thanh Lan commune are also being invested to attract tourists to love nature and explore.
Digitization at Quang Ninh Museum
Not only in Co To, the destination digitalization strategy is also being strongly implemented at the Quang Ninh Museum. Since 2014, the museum has launched a "virtual museum" model on a 3D platform, allowing visitors to visit the exhibition spaces online. From September 2024, the automatic explanation system (Audio Guide) supports 3 languages (Vietnamese, English, Chinese), automatically broadcasting content when visitors access the exhibition space or artifact.
Currently, the museum manages about 60,000 artifacts, including 5 typical collections of the province and 12 artifacts which are National Treasures. To date, about 20,000 artifacts have been digitized. The museum has connected 4 cameras in Yen Tu and plans to integrate more cameras at the Special National Monument of President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site (Co To) and Tra Co Communal House (Mong Cai City).
The museum is also implementing 360-degree VR technology in typical spaces such as open-pit coal mines, underpasses, etc., allowing visitors to "go on tours" through virtual reality glasses without moving.
Mr. Nguyen Si Ngoc - Head of the Equipment Engineering Department, Quang Ninh Museum - said: "digitizing valuable documents, images and artifacts helps protect them from damage caused by time and natural disasters, while creating a long-term data warehouse. With 3D technology and virtual reality, we can visibly recreate artifacts and historical stories without real artifacts.
It is expected that from the end of April 2025, the Quang Ninh Museum will deploy online ticket sales via the Zalo application. After a successful transaction, visitors will receive a QR code to enter the entrance.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung - Director of TRIPMAP Tourism Digital Transformation Joint Stock Company - said: "Quang Ninh has a synchronous telecommunications infrastructure, an important foundation for digital transformation in tourism. The province has deployed QR codes at nearly 200 relics, Ha Long City has 107 free wifi points, and is a leader in cashless payments, bringing maximum convenience to tourists".
Based on initial achievements, Mr. Trung proposed that the province promote the application of VR/AR to design 360-degree virtual tours, promote international tourism and may collect experience fees in the future.
Digital transformation is elevating tourism in Quang Ninh. In the first quarter of 2025, the province welcomed nearly 5.7 million visitors, an increase of 6% over the same period and exceeding the plan by 3%, helping Quang Ninh get closer to the target of welcoming 20 million visitors in 2025, affirming its position as a smart and attractive destination.
