Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2026: Promoting heritage-site branding and regional tourism

Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2026, themed “Ninh Binh - Journey of Heritage Through the Ages,” will take place for ten days in late May 2026. The event is designed to promote the province’s cultural and historical identity and to strengthen Ninh Binh’s position on both the domestic and international tourism map.

Tourism Week aims to build an annual heritage-focused product

Led by the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, the program seeks to develop an annual tourism product with a distinct identity, aligned with sustainable development. The province highlights its long history and culture, dense heritage resources, a rich festival system, and distinctive religious life, with intangible heritage, traditional crafts, folk arts, and local cuisine viewed as high-potential inputs for tourism and value-added cultural industries.

According to the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, tourism has been developing strongly in recent years, with visitor numbers and tourism revenue growing year after year and contributing to economic growth while shifting the economy toward services.

Q1 2026 performance underscores momentum

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of visitors to tourist sites in Ninh Binh reached nearly 9.9 million, up 20.9% year-on-year. Overnight stays at tourism accommodations rose to over 1.718 million, up 22.46%, while total guest nights approached 1.815 million, up 19.81%. Total tourism revenue reached nearly 10,053 billion VND, up 18.07% year-on-year.

Scale, targets and key venues

Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2026 is expected to welcome about 600,000 visitors during the event, with expected hotel room occupancy exceeding 85%. The program will be held across multiple key destinations, including Tam Cốc - Bích Động Tourism Area, Trang An Scenic Complex, Tam Chúc Tourism Area, Đinh Tiên Hoàng Square (Hoa Lư ward), and some coastal areas.

Festival chain and cultural programming

Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism Nguyễn Văn Trọng said the highlight is the opening ceremony at Đinh Tiên Hoàng Square under the theme “Nét họa ngàn năm” (A Thousand-Year Portrait), bringing together about 200 artists. The opening will be staged as a live-stage production that combines traditional arts with modern technology to recreate the depth of history and culture of the ancient capital.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, visitors will attend the Sắc vàng Tam Cốc Festival at Tam Cốc - Bích Động Tourism Area. The experience includes the golden season on the Ngô Đồng River, a procession of agricultural offerings, and folk arts at sites such as Bến Thánh, Hang Cả, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba.

The Forestival – Trang An Music and Creative Festival runs from April to May 2026 at the Trang An Scenic Complex, themed “Chiến binh Bình Minh” (Morning Warrior). The festival combines music, cinema, and multimedia arts to explore the cultural-archaeological depth of the heritage and provide a new visitor experience.

An international cultural highlight is the 2026 Yosakoi Việt Nam Festival on 24–25 April at Tam Chúc Tourist Area, featuring art troupes from Vietnam and Japan.

In addition, the 2026 Ninh Bình Sea Tourism Season runs from 28 April to 1 May at the Thịnh Long coastal tourism area, with performances, OCOP product showcases, promotion of seafood cuisine, and activities focused on coastal culture.

Supporting activities and delivery approach

Beyond the main events, the Week includes supporting activities such as “Tam Cốc Golden Season” photography tours, famtrip and presstrip programs, photography exhibitions, and performances of water puppetry, chèo, xẩm, and folk songs from three regions.

The tourism week is planned on a large scale and will be implemented across multiple destinations to boost overall appeal and connect the province’s tourism spaces. The Department of Tourism said the event will be rolled out with a green, sustainable tourism approach and digital transformation, while strengthening price controls to protect visitors’ rights. With a program that blends tradition and modernity, it is expected to further elevate Ninh Binh’s image as a leading heritage destination in Vietnam.