Phu Tho post-merger: A promising new space for tourism development
WVR - A promising new space for tourism development has officially opened following the merger of three provinces: Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, and Vinh Phuc. The new Phu Tho has unique cultural heritage, diverse ecological landscapes, and a variety of fresh and appealing tourism products.
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| Hung King Temple relic in Phu Tho province. (Photo: Tung Vy) |
Following the merger, the new Phu Tho encompasses a vast area, bordering the capital Hanoi, with synchronized transportation infrastructure and a diverse terrain ranging from midland, mountainous to plain regions. This creates a harmonious convergence of three unique cultural areas: the sacred Land of the Ancestors, the legendary Muong Hoa Binh cultural region, and the modern, sophisticated misty land of Tam Dao - Vinh Phuc.
These are the three main "source streams" forming a continuous flow of history-culture-nature, providing a solid foundation for comprehensive tourism development. High-quality tourism products such as spiritual cultural tourism "returning to the roots", ecological tourism, wellness retreats, community tourism associated with the ethnic identities of Muong, Thai, Dao, Cao Lan, sports tourism, golf, and MICE tourism are being developed.
Possessing "golden resources"
For a long time, the former Phu Tho province has been a prominent cultural-spiritual destination. The Hung King Temple Special National Historic Site, a symbol of the Hung Kings worship belief recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, serves as a spiritual convergence point connecting Vietnamese communities both domestically and internationally.
Valuable heritages such as Xoan singing, Ca tru, Tug-of-war festival, and the Three Palaces belief have created a distinctive cultural identity that attracts both domestic and international tourists.
Meanwhile, the former Hoa Binh province is the cradle of the globally renowned "Hoa Binh Culture", a testament to the long development process of humanity. The rich Muong cultural identity is expressed through gongs, ancient stilt houses, traditional festivals, and community tourism models in Lac village, Ke hamlet, Mo hamlet, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.
Additionally, the system of lakes, caves, forests, and the rare Kim Boi hot springs provide an advantage for developing adventure sports tourism, medical treatment, and high-end resorts.
Vinh Phuc, often referred to as the "Dalat of the North", offers a modern touch with the dreamy Tam Dao, ancient French architecture, international-standard golf courses, and resorts.
The resort space at Dai Lai, the Flamingo complex, and high-end entertainment centers have positioned Vinh Phuc as an ideal destination for mid to high-end and international tourists.
After the merger, the new Phu Tho is seen as an ideal land for ecology and relaxation. Xuan Son National Park, where the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountains meet clear streams, is home to the Dao and Muong ethnic communities with their pristine cultural traits.
Meanwhile, Hoa Binh Lake tourist area, Thanh Thuy hot mineral water area, Ao ChAu swamp, Ly Lake, Tam Dao, and Dai Lai are ideal destinations for tourists seeking tranquility and closeness to nature. These are the "golden resources" for the Land of the Ancestors to develop various forms of ecological, resort, and community tourism.
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| Tay Thien Festival. (Photo: Huong Giang) |
Proactive tourism promotion
Seizing this opportunity, tourism promotion efforts have been implemented comprehensively, actively, and effectively. Specifically, the Phu Tho Tourism Promotion Information Center has enhanced communication on digital platforms: websites dulichphutho.gov.vn, visitphutho.vn, YouTube channel "Dat To" (Land of the Ancestors), and TikTok Du lịch Phu Tho. They have collaborated with central and local media to spread the image of Dat To tourism to domestic and international tourists.
Notably, two major tourism promotion events have left a strong impression. In Republic of Korea, from July 18-21, Phu Tho participated in the Vietnam Tourism Promotion Program at the KITS International Tourism Fair with various promotional and business connection activities.
The province's exhibition booth introduced spiritual, community ecological, resort, and MICE tourism products to Korean partners. This is a potential market with high-spending tourists, suitable for Phú Thọ's distinctive tourism products.
In Ho Chi Minh City, from August 25 to September 15, Phu Tho participated in the 19th International Travel Expo 2025 (ITE HCMC 2025). This is the country's leading prestigious tourism trade event.
The Dat To booth attracted a large number of tourists and travel agencies with promotional products such as night tours at Hung King Temple, Xoan singing experiences, community ecological tourism in Xuan Son, Hung Lo, and Hoa Bnh Lake...
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| Ripe rice season at Mai Chau Ecolodge. (Photo: Thanh Binh) |
Additionally, the province participated in various domestic programs such as "Colours of Dat To Tourism - Phu Tho 2025", the 21st Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, the Vietnam International Travel Mart in Hanoi, and the Ban Flower Festival in Dien Bien province... This creates more opportunities to promote the image and tourism products to friends both domestically and internationally.
The province has also implemented many stimulus programs for 2025, offering discounts from 10-30% on various services such as accommodation, dining, transportation, resorts, and entertainment. The Hung King Temple historical site offers a 20% discount on travel combos for groups, Mieu Lai Len offers Xoan singing experiences, Sai Gon Phu Tho hotel offers discounts and room upgrade packages, and Long Coc Ecolodge homestay offers up to 40% discounts and free community cultural experiences.
In the future, Phu Tho will focus on major orientations such as developing key products, complete and attractive inter-provincial tours connecting Phu Tho-Hoa Binh-Vinh Phuc, aiming at international tourists with longer stays and higher revenue.
Simultaneously, the province will enhance promotion on digital platforms, apply digital transformation to expand the market, actively participate in domestic and international events, and welcome famtrip groups, KOLs, and bloggers to spread the image of Phu Tho tourism. Additionally, a new tourism brand identity will be developed, harmonizing tradition and modernity...
Furthermore, the province will continue to boost investment attraction, prioritizing large projects in high-end resorts, entertainment, golf courses, and hot spring resorts... If effectively implemented, these large-scale projects will be the "leverage" to elevate Phu Tho tourism to a new height.
With an expansive tourism space, rich cultural-ecological potential, and a well-planned development strategy, Phu Tho stands before a golden opportunity to become a diverse tourism center, gradually affirming its position on Vietnam's tourism map.
| Phu Tho currently has 2,778 relics, including 979 ranked relics (6 special national relics, 176 national relics, 797 provincial relics); 6 national treasures; nearly 2,000 intangible cultural heritages, with 5 recognized by UNESCO. Currently, the province has 1,520 accommodation establishments with over 20,000 rooms, including 185 hotels (9 hotels with 4-5 stars); 94 travel enterprises, including 15 international enterprises. In 2025, Phu Tho is estimated to welcome 14.5 million visitors, including 4.5 million staying guests; total tourism revenue is estimated at 14,800 billion VND; the average growth rate is over 10% per year. These figures affirm the potential and strong momentum of the tourism industry in the new context. |
