Khanh Hoa tourism: More potential and strengths after merging

From July 1, 2025, according to the resolution of the National Assembly, the two provinces of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan officially merged to form the new Khanh Hoa province. Formed from two lands with many rich tourism resources, the new Khanh Hoa province promises to become one of the most important tourism centers in Southeast Asia.

Rich tourism resources

With an area of ​​over 8,500km2, the new Khanh Hoa province has a very diverse terrain with sea - plains - mountains - deserts; has the longest coastline in the country with many beautiful bays such as Van Phong, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh and Vinh Hy. After merging, Khanh Hoa province has rich indigenous culture. In addition to the culture of Kinh people, the province also possesses many Cham and Raglai cultural heritages, which are very favorable for developing cultural tourism and community tourism. The province also has a rich mountain and forest ecosystem, with diverse flora and fauna, especially Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Nui Chua National Park, Phuoc Binh National Park, ... with great potential for developing ecotourism from the sea to the forest.

Visitors to Po Klong Garai Tower

Before the merging, Khanh Hoa was already the leading beach tourism and resort destination in Vietnam with the number of visitors staying up to more than 10.6 million in 2024. Places such as Doc Let, Nha Trang, Bai Dai, Cam Ranh are familiar to Korean, Russian, Chinese tourists, etc., and are continuously voted as favorite destinations for international tourists. Meanwhile, Ninh Thuan province (old) stood out with unique types of tourism such as: desert eco-tourism, agricultural tourism (vineyards, sheep fields), Cham cultural experience tourism... The merging has combined two regions rich in complementary tourism resources, creating a diverse and distinctive tourism picture. “The merging of Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces into Khanh Hoa province (new) is the premise to shape a regional tourism ecosystem, with similarities but still many differences, helping to optimize resources, increase international tourism attraction, and economic growth. At the same time, this is an opportunity for Khanh Hoa tourism industry to reorient the management model, promote and develop products towards green - identity - sustainability. From there, enhance the Khanh Hoa tourism brand, making Khanh Hoa a dynamic, colorful destination, helping tourists have a comprehensive and different experience”, Cung Quynh Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism shared.

Cam Ranh International Airport is a gateway to draw tourists to Khanh Hoa.

Cam Ranh International Airport is the gateway to attract tourists to Khanh Hoa. Before the merging, tourism service providers in Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan had established long-term cooperative relationships through linking tours, sharing resources and supporting each other in operations. When coming together, these cooperative relationships will be further tightened and enhanced. “This merging will create favorable conditions for investing in inter-regional product development and connecting the tourism ecosystem more effectively; thereby, contributing to promoting sustainable tourism development, with depth and competitiveness in the context of the market increasingly demanding high service quality”, Nguyen Anh Vu - Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Tourism Association (former) shared.

Re-planning space, developing specific products

With open development space, rich tourism resources, convenient transportation, Khanh Hoa tourism has many conditions for breakthrough development, becoming a national and international tourism center. However, to promote this advantage and potential, Khanh Hoa tourism needs systematic, synchronous, long-term and sustainable solutions.

According to Pham Minh Nhut - Chairman of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, to open up the tourism potential of the new Khanh Hoa province, it is necessary to soon re-plan the tourism development space, thereby creating unique products, avoiding duplication, helping tourists have diverse itineraries in the same destination. In the immediate future, Nha Trang and Bai Dai areas will continue to play the role of high-end beach resort centers, the southern area of ​​the province needs to be identified as a special tourism development area: desert ecology, experiential agriculture, indigenous cultural tourism. In the long term, the province needs to promote investment in tourism infrastructure in the southern region; in which, priority is given to calling for investment projects in the Phan Rang area to form a system of hotels, commercial centers, complex entertainment areas combined with resorts and accommodation; high-end coastal resorts. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen and expand training, improve foreign language skills and professional skills for tourism staff in the southern region of the province to create uniformity in service quality.

Building new inter-regional tours and routes will be a strategic move. Many businesses have seen opportunities to upgrade and renew special tours. The coastal route will take visitors through the beautiful coastal areas of Nha Trang, Bai Dai, Vinh Hy, Binh Tien, Ninh Chu... Visitors can experience a diverse journey of discovery from bustling cities, crowded beaches to pristine beaches in one trip. In addition, Khanh Hoa tourism can promote the exploitation of special tours such as: Cham culture discovery tour, taking visitors to Po Nagar Tower, Po Klong Garai Tower connecting the traditional craft villages of Bau Truc pottery making, My Nghiep brocade weaving; eco-adventure tours to explore Nui Chua National Park, Mui Dinh sand dunes; Agricultural tours to explore Cam Lam mango orchards, Phan Rang vineyards... According to Tran Minh Duc - Head of Khanh Hoa Travel Association, to exploit the potential and strengths, Khanh Hoa tourism not only needs to connect within the province, but also needs to expand to other provinces. The routes Nha Trang - Ninh Hai - Da Lat or Nha Trang - Mui Dinh - Mui Ne can connect marine resources, forests and plateaus. The coordination between travel businesses inside and outside the province will create attractive product packages, increasing the length of stay and spending of tourists.

Tourists cruising Nha Trang Bay

Along with re-planning the development space, upgrading and diversifying tourism products, Khanh Hoa tourism also needs to change its communication and promotion strategy. The new image of Khanh Hoa needs to be introduced not only as a high-class beach resort but also as a destination for experiences, cultural exploration, and sustainable lifestyles. “Khanh Hoa needs to proactively organize events at new tourist destinations, cooperate with digital platforms, influencers on social networks to experience, ... will be an effective way to leave an impression in the hearts of tourists", Nguyen Minh Hieu - Director of Hoan My Resort Phan Rang expressed.

With a strategic vision, synchronous participation from management to business, along with special natural advantages, Khanh Hoa can completely become a tourist center of Southeast Asia - a place where beautiful bays and historical cultural heritage intersect, between wildness and sophisticated experiences.

XUAN THANH - THANH XUAN

Translated by T.T