Quang Ninh to offer SEA Games 31 athletes free admission to tourist attractions

Quang Ninh (VNA) - More than 1,400 athletes, coaches, referees and organising committee members taking part in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) events in Quang Ninh will be entitled to free admission to popular tourist attractions in the northern province.

Free sightseeing tours and experience activities will be held during the games, alternating between competition days, to allow all athletes and coaching staff to join, according to Nguyen Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports.

SEA Games 31 is the biggest sports event ever hosted by Quang Ninh. It is deemed as a perfect opportunity for the coastal province to introduce its magnificent natural landscapes to international visitors.

The province has designated five three- to five-star hotels to accommodate sports delegations, referees and organising committee members.

It will host competitions in seven sports, namely beach volleyball, beach handball, triathlon, women’s football, Chinese chess, indoor volleyball and chess, from May 6 - 22.

It expects to welcome about 535 athletes, 414 referees and over 329 coaches during the games.

For 2022, Quang Ninh looks to attract over 10 million visitors, including 1.5 million foreigners, with a revenue of about 21 trillion VND (918.3 million USD).

On Vietnam’s northern coast, the povince is building a community-based tourism development project that aims to welcome 1.7 million domestic tourists and 1.1 million international holidaymakers by 2025, with the local tourism sector earning 5.9 trillion VND in revenue.

By 2030, it is to welcome 3 million domestic visitors and 1.8 million foreigners, with revenue reaching 12.1 trillion VND.

Quang Ninh is endowed with natural advantages for sea and island tourism. It has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and more than 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam.

It is home to popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, Ha Long Bay National Park and some islands.

In particular, Ha Long Bay literally “descending dragon” bay, was twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000. In 2011, it surpassed more than 400 destinations from over 200 countries and territories to be named as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World by the organisation New Open World.

Amidst the beautiful landscape, Sun World Ha Long Park complex in Ha Long Bay provides fun and tremendous excitement to visitors of all ages, as they can take part in exciting and adventurous games at Dragon Park and Typhoon Water Park.

They can also take sightseeing trips to Bao Hai Linh Thong Tu cultural and spiritual complex or experience their journey across Ha Long Bay and admire the beautiful heritage city scene at night from above by Queen Cable Car in the complex. 

As a tourism magnet, Quang Ninh province offers all types of accommodation for tourists, from budget homestays to luxury resorts.

Alongside international standard hotels such as the Wyndham Legend Halong and Muong Thanh Grand Ha Long, or unique homestays, travellers can also spend their stay at Premier Village Halong Bay Resort, which offers the most breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay.

Food experience is one of reasons why people love to visit Quang Ninh, where they can enjoy fresh and savoury seafood and great local delicacies.

Quang Ninh is also home to majestic trekking routes, including the “dinosaur spine” in Binh Lieu border district, or the routes leading to sacred religious sites such as the Cai Bau Pagoda, Cua Ong Temple, Bao Hai Linh Thong Tu, and the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape./.