Tourism in the Ancestral Land Surges Early in the Year: Promising Signs of a Breakthrough

Right from the early days of 2026, the province’s tourism sector has recorded highly positive signals, with a strong growth in sightseeing and pilgrimage visitors. The bustling atmosphere during the New Year and the Lunar New Year not only brought impressive revenue but also reaffirmed the allure of the Ancestral Land. With concrete figures and thorough preparation of products and services, Phu Tho tourism is confidently moving toward fully achieving its socio-economic goals for 2026.

In the early days of the year, tens of thousands of residents and tourists visited the Hung Kings Temple to offer incense in memory of the Hung Kings.

Entering 2026, Phu Tho tourism witnessed a clear resurgence starting with the New Year holiday. Total tourist arrivals during this period were estimated at 305,000, an increase of about 8.5% year-on-year. Economic efficiency was confirmed by estimated revenue of 311 billion VND, a growth of over 10%. The average room occupancy across the province exceeded 70%, with some high-quality eco-resorts reaching 90%–95%.

Following that momentum, the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday served as a major “catalyst” for local tourism. During the 9-day holiday, total tourist arrivals reached approximately 506,000, up 11.5% compared to the previous year. Total tourism revenue hit 315 billion VND, an increase of over 12.5%. Destinations such as the Hung Kings Temple, Mau Au Co Temple, Thanh Thuy Hot Springs, Xuan Son National Park, and Long Coc Tea Hills were constantly crowded with visitors.

Ms. Le Thu Trang from Ninh Binh province shared her memorable experiences at the Hoa Binh Lake area, expressing her impression of the local preparation and her intention to return in the following years.

Beyond spiritual tourism, the number of visitors choosing leisure combined with sports, especially golf, remained stable. International tourists primarily focused on community-based tourism and retreats linked to industrial zones. To achieve these results, accommodation facilities and restaurants proactively organized cultural and artistic activities, folk performances, and “check-in” spaces. Simultaneously, security, safety, and price control were strictly implemented, ensuring peace of mind for visitors.

Evaluating the results, Mr. Dang Tuan Hung, Head of the Tourism Management Division (Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism), stated: "Tourism activities in the early days of the year have been vibrant and stable, with clear growth. This is a crucial foundation for the sector to confidently execute the 2026 socio-economic development plan. In 2026, the Division will focus on advising the effective implementation of the Phu Tho Tourism Development Resolution and Project for the 2026–2030 period."

As projected for 2026, Phu Tho province has set several key targets: a total tourism and service revenue of 16,300 billion VND; a total of 15 million visitor arrivals; and 4.95 million staying guests, including 165,000 international visitors. The province aims to maintain 21,450 guest rooms with an average occupancy rate of 40.5%. To achieve these goals, the province has proposed drastic solutions to effectively implement the Tourism Development Project for the 2026–2030 period.

Key strategies include developing unique and competitive tourism products by leveraging local resources alongside the two UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritages. The focus will be on eco-tourism, sports, community-based cultural tourism, as well as rural agricultural and school-based tourism products.

Additionally, the province will actively promote its potential and destinations, strengthening tourism alliances and connecting tours with other provinces and cities nationwide. These efforts aim to increase tourism income and enhance investment promotion to attract both domestic and foreign capital. Furthermore, Phu Tho will prioritize in-depth human resource training, effectively implement tourism cooperation programs with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and the eight expanded Northwest provinces, and accelerate digital transformation to improve management efficiency and visitor experiences.

Huong Lan