Vietnam’s Tourism Year 2026 brings mountains and sea together

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026 will run as a year-long nationwide campaign, backed by coordinated efforts from central ministries, local authorities and the private sector to strengthen destVietnam’s Tourism Year 2026 Brings Mountains and Sea Togetherination branding and economic impact.

The central province of Gia Lai will host the program, which includes 244 tourism, cultural and sports events.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will lead 18 events, Gia Lai will organize 109 and 22 other provinces and centrally-governed cities will carry out 117 supporting activities, reflecting the initiative’s national scale.

According to the organizers, the program, themed “Gia Lai – Mountains Embrace the Sea,” serves as a bridge connecting the highlands and the coastline, forests and seas, while harmonizing economic development with the preservation of ethnic cultures, including the Central Highlands’ gong heritage and epic traditions.

Gia Lai was selected through a competitive process that evaluated its development potential, rich cultural and natural assets, and strong political commitment, said Do Thi Dieu Hanh, Director of the Gia Lai Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“This is about substance,” Hanh said on February 2 at a press conference in Hanoi, citing the province’s readiness to convert heritage into sustainable tourism value.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, said the National Tourism Year has become one of Vietnam’s most influential tourism platforms.

Beyond promoting the host destination, the program supports job creation, cultural exchange and the capacity to host large-scale international events, he said.

Activities will span festivals, sports and cultural events, destination promotion, media campaigns, investment forums and community-based tourism experiences. Quarterly themes will guide implementation to maintain momentum throughout the year.

The first quarter will open with the “Gia Lai - A New Day” campaign, featuring the official launch of National Tourism Year 2026, a New Year countdown linked to the first flight arrival and Tet celebrations for the Year of the Horse.

The second quarter, themed “Quy Nhon - A Sea Paradise, Gia Lai - A Fascinating Destination”, will mark the peak season and feature the opening ceremony. Activities will focus on destination promotion, regional connectivity and investment attraction.

In the third quarter, under the theme “Gia Lai - Experiencing the Land of Martial Arts”, the province will host summer festivals, the VnExpress Marathon 2026 and the Golden Kite Film Festival to expand tourism offerings during the high-travel period.

The fourth quarter will conclude with “Gia Lai - Touching the Rhythm of the Gong - The Soul of the Central Highlands”. Key events include the Central Highlands International Gong Festival, Wild Sunflower Week at Chu Dang Ya Volcano and the closing ceremony.

The opening ceremony will take place in March 2026 in Quy Nhon Ward and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television and Gia Lai Radio and Television. The closing ceremony will be held in Pleiku Ward in December 2026.

Located in central Vietnam, Gia Lai Province holds a diverse range of cultural assets with national and international appeal.

Its heritage includes Bai Choi and Hat Boi folk performances, Central Highlands gong culture, Binh Dinh traditional martial arts and landscapes shaped by history and geology, from the Roc Tung-Go Da relic site and Kon Ka Kinh National Park to ancient volcanic formations and Cham tower complexes.

Quy Nhon, one of the province’s key gateways, has gained international attention after being named among Lonely Planet’s Top 25 global destinations for 2026 and earning the ASEAN Clean Tourism City 2026 title.