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Thai Nguyen’s 2026 tourism season will run from mid-May 2026 under the theme “Lake on the Mountain - Tea in the Clouds,” featuring a series of cultural, sporting and tourism activities. The program includes art performances, drone shows and fireworks, alongside visitor experiences at Ba Be Lake, aiming to draw large numbers of visitors and strengthen the province’s destination image.
On May 5-6, 2026, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Center for Tourism Development and Promotion organized a Famtrip - Presstrip themed “Paradise of mountain-lake tourism.” The event attracted more than 50 journalists, along with representatives from travel agencies and tourism service providers, who took part in field surveys.
The activity is intended to strengthen communications, promote local potentials and strengths, and highlight tourism products. It also seeks to improve linkages with businesses in building tours, diversifying products and expanding the tourist market for Thai Nguyen.
At Ba Be Lake’s tourist area, the first stop is Hua Ma cave, described as having pristine and mystical scenery. The cave is nearly 700 meters long, with a ceiling height of up to 50 meters, and a stalactite system. The stalactites are presented as forming varied shapes, with lighting arranged to emphasize the luminous and mysterious atmosphere of the space.
Hua Ma’s distinctive feature is its unusually pristine condition. Although it has been open to tourism for more than 20 years, the cave remains relatively quiet and less affected by commercialization. Conservation and improvements to tourism infrastructure are currently being prioritized to make the destination both accessible and rich in experiential value.
Visitors to Ba Be Lake are also drawn to the area’s community heritage, described as a “living heritage” preserved by generations. Mountains surround the blue lake, while peaceful Tày ethnic villages are located on the hillsides, supporting community-based tourism as a key highlight.
Three tourism service villages around Ba Be—Pac Ngòi, Bo Lu and Coc Toc—are highlighted for their distinct characteristics. Pac Ngòi is described as convenient but under pressure from concrete development. Bo Lu is presented as simpler in character, while Coc Toc is noted for its pristine charm and homestay models that combine tradition and modernity.
In Ba Be, visitors can kayak on the lake, trek through forests and hills, and join cultural community activities. The atmosphere is described as culturally rich, with the sounds of the đàn tính, Then singing and traditional dances.
Mr. Nguyen Chu Thu, Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen issued a plan to open the 2026 Tourism Season with the theme “Lake on the Mountain - Tea in the Clouds.” The province expects the season to feature distinctive cultural, sports and tourism activities that can attract domestic and international visitors, while promoting Thai Nguyen as a land with identity linked to its tea culture.
According to the plan, the opening program took place at 8 p.m. on May 5, 2026 at Vo Nguyen Giap Square and was broadcast live on multiple digital platforms. The night’s highlight included a special artistic program combining the opening ceremony with drone performances and high- and low-altitude fireworks.
The 2026 Thai Nguyen tourism season also includes activities such as a water motor show at Nui Coc Lake, an art program titled “Heritage Resounding Among Ba Be’s Great Forest” linked to Ba Be National Park’s ecological and cultural space, the running event “Footprints on the Azure Lake,” a National Circus Gala, and a video clip competition promoting tourism on digital platforms.
A forum titled “Green Agriculture and Tourism Development Directions in Thai Nguyen,” linked with “Tea Morning with Entrepreneurs,” is described as a platform connecting managers, enterprises and experts. The province aims to develop sustainable tourism tied to agriculture, with a focus on promoting tea culture as a unique local strength.
The opening of the 2026 Tourism Season is also intended to implement tourism development plan objectives and strengthen cultural values and people’s heritage for the 2026–2030 period, while broadening the reach of the province’s image and heritage values.
2026 is described as a breakthrough year for Vietnam’s tourism sector. In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam welcomed 8.8 million international visitors, up nearly 15% year on year...
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