The festive atmosphere, rich with spring colors, conveyed a clear message of Vietnam as a safe, friendly and ready destination from the very first moments of the year.

Welcoming the first visitors, often referred to as “first-foot” guests, is seen as a symbolic opening activity, reflecting efforts by local tourism agencies to refresh destination images, create positive first impressions and set an early foundation for tourism growth in 2026.

Hanoi gears up for new tourism season
To mark the 2026 New Year, celebrate the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and welcome the Lunar New Year , Hanoi’s tourism sector  lauches a series of cultural and tourism events across the capital.

Traditional Tet spaces of the Red River Delta are recreated at heritage and cultural sites, including the Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street, the Cultural and Arts Center at 22 Hang Buom Street, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism. Heritage routes, craft village tours and major festivals such as Huong Pagoda, Soc Temple and Co Loa are organized in parallel.

A key highlight is the Binh Ngo Spring Fair 2026 at the F1 racetrack area, covering around 20,000 square meters, alongside tourism promotion and stimulus programs that officially kick off Hanoi’s tourism activities for the year.

Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and major tourism hubs kicked off the New Year

At Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony to welcome its first international visitors of 2026, featuring traditional cultural activities in a festive spring setting. The event reflected the city’s determination to refresh its destination image and enhance its appeal to international travelers.

Da Nang, meanwhile, welcomed the first flights of the year at Da Nang International Airport and Chu Lai Airport, while also organizing greeting activities at popular attractions such as Hoi An Ancient Town, the Marble Mountains and My Son Sanctuary.

During the 2026 New Year holiday, the city is set to record more than 800 flights with approximately 125,000 arrivals, up nearly 14% year on year, supporting its target of welcoming over 19 million visitors in 2026.

Cruise tourism and heritage destinations

In northern Quang Ninh province, more than 3,000 international passengers arrived on the first cruise ship of the New Year at Ha Long International Passenger Port, marking the opening of the 2026 cruise tourism season and reinforcing the province’s position as a key cruise destination in the region.

In central Vietnam, Quang Tri organized a ceremony to welcome the first visitors to Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage site, marking the start of a new tourism year. Hue, Gia Lai and Sa Pa also launched early-year tourism activities linked to local cultural experiences and distinctive tourism products.

Expectations for the 2026 tourism year

The nationwide organization of New Year welcome ceremonies demonstrate the readiness and coordination of Vietnam’s tourism sector as travel demand continues to recover and expand. These early signals are expected to provide momentum for tourism growth in 2026 as a contribution to boosting socio-economic development at both local and national levels.

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Tourism destinations refresh offerings to welcome New Year/Lunar New Year visitors

To attract visitors during the year-end holiday season, particularly the New Year and the Lunar New Year (Tet) of 2026, tourist destinations across Vietnam are accelerating efforts to renovate facilities, diversify tourism products, and improve service quality.