The Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026 closed with impressive growth figures for tourism in the Central region.
In 9 days of Tet, Hue city achieved revenue of 1,121 billion VND, an increase of 350% compared to the same period; Da Nang collected nearly 4,000 billion VND with about 1.1 million visitors.
These growth figures show that tourism in the Central region seems to have passed the simple recovery phase to enter a new growth phase.
In Hue, the number of international visitors accounts for a large proportion of the total number of more than half a million visitors during Tet. This shows that the international visitor market has not only returned but has also operated stably.
More importantly, the room occupancy rate reaching nearly 80% reflects the customer absorption capacity of the accommodation system. Heritage is no longer a stagnant resource, but is placed in a festival space, cultural experience and accompanying services.
Da Nang, meanwhile, shows its role as the center coordinating the flow of passengers. International cruise ships dock, high-class hotel blocks reach a capacity of about 85%, festivals and events are organized simultaneously.
This is not the coincidence of a peak season, but the result of a long process of product preparation, market connection and infrastructure operation.
What is even more noteworthy is how the two localities operate in a connected space. Tourists no longer see Hue or Da Nang as separate destinations, but as a connecting journey.
When the flow of tourists is distributed along routes, economic benefits spread instead of being localized. This is a clear sign of a regional tourism ecosystem being formed.
Growth during Tet also shows that destination management capabilities have been improved. No major incidents recorded, no serious overload occurred, and the tourist support system operated smoothly - these are silent factors but determine the feelings of tourists and the ability to return.
However, overcoming recovery means entering a higher demanding stage. As the market size expands, pressure on the environment, human resources, transportation and resource conservation also increases. If only chasing short-term growth, competitive advantages may be eroded.
Therefore, the challenge for the Central region at this time is not how to increase by a few tens of percent in a holiday, but to strengthen the long-term foundation: planning typical products, improving service quality, training professional human resources, protecting heritage and the natural environment.
Binh Ngo Tet 2026 may only last 9 days, but its meaning is greater than that. When Hue grows dramatically, when Da Nang achieves revenue of trillions of VND in a short time, it is a signal that this region has met the conditions to enter a new development cycle.
Overcoming recovery means no longer just trying to get back what has been lost, but starting to build higher standards for ourselves. If the momentum of linkage and upgrading governance as it is now is maintained, tourism in the Central region can completely become one of the stable growth axes of the regional economy in the coming years.
