Quang Ninh seeks tourism development along expressway to Chinese border

Provincial authorities expect to develop cruise tours, eco-tourism, cuisine and entertainment activities as well as casino services along the expressway.

Quang Ninh People’s Committee has ordered tourism officials to work with relevant agencies and travel firms to launch products that create a big hit for the local tourism industry.

Van Don – Mong Cai Expressway, which covers more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) and connects Van Don Economic Zone and Mong Cai Town bordering China, opened to traffic on Sept. 1 and helps reduce the travel time from Hanoi to Mong Cai to three hours instead of 5.5 hours as before.

It connects with two other existing expressway sections: Bach Dang – Dai Yen (25 kilometers) and Ha Long – Van Don (71.2 kilometers) to create the 176-kilometer expressway section running through Quang Ninh to link Ha Long Bay with the Chinese border at Mong Cai.

Quang Ninh, which used to be a favored tourist destination among Chinese tourists before the pandemic, is home to UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay and high-end resorts.

It hopes to attract 10 million tourists, including 1.6 million foreigners, this year.

Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway as part of the expressway system connecting Hanoi and Mong Cai town at China border. Graphics by Ta Lu