The opening arts program of Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026, under the theme "Symphony: Lake on the Mountain, Tea in the Clouds”, elaborately staged and leaving a deep impression on the audience, residents and visitors

A distinctive series of activities

What gives Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026 its distinctive appeal lies not only in the scale of organization but also in the way the locality has built a diverse program of activities, harmoniously connecting arts, sports, technology, culture and experiential tourism. Each event adds its own color to a vivid portrait of a Thai Nguyen that is youthful, dynamic, rich in identity and full of appeal.

Launching the series of activities was the opening night on May 15 at Vo Nguyen Giap Square, which left a lasting impression on the audience, residents and visitors. Under the theme "A Symphony: Lake on the Mountain, Tea in the Clouds”, the program took audiences through a wide range of emotions, from quiet reflection and pride to energy and modernity.

The nighttime drone performance, a true highlight of the opening ceremony of Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026

The combination of symphony, musical theater, folk arts and light-show technology created a grand, artistically rich stage. In particular, the nighttime drone performance became a true highlight of the event. Images of Nui Coc Lake, Ba Be Lake, green tea hills, the legend of Chang Coc and Nang Cong and tea culture symbols appeared one after another in shimmering, vivid formations, stirring pride in the homeland and leaving a deep impression on visitors.

Watersports activities at Nui Coc Lake, adding a distinctive dimension to the program

If the opening night was a symphony of light and emotion, Nui Coc Lake then burst into vibrant life with a watersports showcase. Across the vast expanse of the lake, jet skis roared at full speed, flyboard athletes soared high into the air and skilled wakeboarding performances created a spectacle that was both modern and exhilarating. Every surge of acceleration and every wave-cutting turn drew continuous cheers from the crowd. Many visitors said they had never imagined that a professional, captivating watersports show could take place in a midland region like this. The event not only offered a fresh experience but also opened up expectations for developing high-quality sports tourism and resort products at Nui Coc Lake.

The arts program "Heritage Resonates in the Heart of Ba Be" vividly evoking the natural beauty and distinctive cultural life of ethnic communities

From the vibrant energy of Nui Coc Lake, the emotional current flowed onward to the ethereal setting of Ba Be Lake through the arts program "Heritage Resonates in the Heart of Ba Be." Amid the forests and mountains of Viet Bac, Then singing, the Tinh lute, traditional dances and semi-landscape performances vividly evoked the natural beauty and distinctive cultural life of ethnic communities. This deeply identity-rich artistic space served as an invitation for visitors to explore a land where nature and culture are interwoven with quiet elegance.

Also at Ba Be Lake, the running race "Footsteps across the Azure Lake" brought an entirely different dimension to the season. Nearly 700 athletes from across the country ran along scenic lakeside trails, where every stride was not only a physical challenge but also a journey of experiencing the natural beauty and indigenous culture of the area. Images of enthusiastic runners checking in and sharing their experiences on social media helped spread the appeal of Thai Nguyen tourism to a wide audience.

The circus gala "Colors of Childhood in the Green Tea Land" bringing a lively, joyful atmosphere for families and children

Meanwhile, at the provincial Sports Arena, the circus gala "Colors of Childhood in the Green Tea Land" brought a lively and joyful atmosphere for families and children. Elaborately staged acts of juggling, acrobatics, balancing, magic and animal circus drew continuous gasps of admiration and rounds of applause from the audience, from young children to the elderly. The bright laughter of little ones and the delighted eyes of children created an artistic space filled with joy, enriching the cultural and spiritual life of the community.

Alongside the performance and experiential activities, the 2026 Thai Nguyen Tourism Promotion Video Clip Contest generated strong outreach across the digital space. With 325 competition entries, tens of millions of impressions and nearly 10 million views on Thai Nguyen Portal Fanpage (TNGOP), the contest demonstrated the creativity of young people and the effectiveness of modern communications. Each video offered a fresh, emotionally resonant perspective on the scenery, culture and people of Thai Nguyen, helping to bring the province's image closer to a broader public.

From a brilliantly colorful arts night, spirited sports performances and identity-rich cultural spaces to captivating entertainment activities and creative digital campaigns, Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026 has offered residents and visitors unforgettable experiences. More importantly, this series of activities has not only created an emotionally rich festival season but also sent a clear message about the province's determination to build tourism into a major economic sector.

Stimulating tourism demand and expanding livelihood opportunities for local communities

The broad reach of Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026 was also clearly felt through the bustling activity at tourist sites, accommodation facilities, restaurants and local specialty stalls. During the days of the event series, visitor numbers at Nui Coc Lake, Ba Be Lake, the Tan Cuong tea-growing area and many of the province's community tourism destinations increased considerably. In parallel, room occupancy rates at numerous hotels and homestays reached high levels, while restaurants, eateries and specialty shops were busier than usual.

Many business owners reported that from the beginning of May, booking inquiries had increased noticeably. Many groups of visitors stayed for one to two nights to take part in the Tourism Season activities while also sightseeing and exploring. "What is gratifying is that after visiting, many tourists expressed appreciation for the scenery and service quality and said they would like to return with family and friends”, said Ms. Quynh Mai, owner of Quynh Mai Homestay in Ba Be Commune.

Visitors experiencing tea production at Hao Dat Tea Cooperative, Tan Cuong Commune

Not only accommodation businesses benefited; local specialty products such as tea, clean agricultural produce, souvenirs and regional cuisine also sold better than usual. Ms. Dao Thanh Hao, Director of Hao Dat Tea Cooperative, shared that during the Tourism Season, the number of visitors coming to tour the facility, experience the tea production process and purchase products increased considerably compared to normal days. Many visitors were delighted to pick tea leaves in person, savor freshly brewed tea and learn about the story of Thai Nguyen tea culture. "This is a great opportunity for us to introduce our products, expand our market and bring Thai Nguyen tea closer to consumers”, she said. According to Ms. Hao, what is especially encouraging is that a growing number of visitors are not only purchasing products but also showing interest in the cultural values associated with the tea plant, which helps raise the value of each product and motivates cooperatives to invest more in quality, packaging and experiential services.

The vibrant activities of the tourism season have helped reawaken the community's enthusiasm for tourism. Residents have grown more mindful of preserving the landscape, protecting the environment and presenting a friendly image to visitors with courteous conduct. Businesses have also moved boldly to upgrade services and diversify products in response to the market's rising expectations. Through Thai Nguyen Tourism Season 2026, Thai Nguyen Province calls on strategic investors, the business community and travel companies to continue partnering with the province in researching and developing high-quality tourism products; effectively tapping the potential of eco-tourism, resort tourism, community-based tourism and tea cultural tourism; and building the brand and competitiveness of Thai Nguyen tourism, so as to progressively affirm its position as an attractive destination of the northern midlands and mountain region and the country as a whole.

Owing to the collective efforts of the entire province, in the first four months of 2026, total tourist arrivals to the province were estimated at nearly 3.3 million, including over 113,800 international arrivals, with tourism revenue estimated at over VND 4,594 billion. At this pace of growth, the targets of welcoming approximately 8 million visitors and achieving total tourism revenue of VND 11,000 billion in 2026 are considered entirely achievable. These figures not only reflect the growing appeal of Thai Nguyen as a destination but also indicate that tourism is gradually becoming a significant economic sector, making positive contributions to growth and job creation for local residents.

A new tourism season has begun. With confidence in its rich potential, distinctive identity and determination to innovate, Thai Nguyen will increasingly affirm its position as an attractive destination in the northern midlands and mountain region and across the country, making tourism a vital driver of the province's socioeconomic development.