Ba Ria – Vung Tau to boost the "smokeless industry"

With a well-planned and comprehensive development strategy, the province is prioritizing the “smokeless industry” — tourism — as a spearhead of sustainable economic growth, steadily asserting its position as one of the most attractive destinations in the region.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau Tourism: Appealing to Investors and Tourists Alike

In recent years, the tourism sector in Ba Ria – Vũng Tàu has made remarkable progress, solidifying its role as a key destination in the Southeast region and contributing significantly to economic growth. From 2021 to 2025, the province is expected to welcome approximately 64 million visitors, with an average annual growth rate of 11.34%. Tourism revenue is projected to reach VND 71 trillion, increasing by 11.01% annually, contributing around 4.5% to the province’s GRDP (excluding oil and gas) by 2024.

For 2025, Ba Ria – Vũng Tàu aims to achieve nearly VND 7.5 trillion in tourism revenue, up more than 13% compared to 2024 (an increase of about VND 880 billion), with visitor numbers expected to rise by over 12–13%.

According to the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the tourism sector has continued to thrive in the first half of 2025, with accommodation service revenue rising 22.68%, far exceeding the full-year target of 13.22%. Total overnight stays reached over 3 million, including nearly 165,000 international arrivals. Major events such as the Ba Ria – Vũng Tàu Tourism Music Festival in Vũng Tàu City and the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Xuyên Mộc District drew over 80,000 direct participants and nearly 27 million social media engagements. The province also hosted national sports tournaments like archery, handball, kickboxing, and Muay Thai to attract both spectators and tourists.

Currently, the province has 1,458 accommodation facilities offering nearly 29,000 rooms. Among these, 73 hotels are rated from 1 to 5 stars, with 12 five-star hotels catering well to both domestic and international high-end travellers.

In addition, 132 tourism projects are underway in the province, with total investment reaching VND 57.641 trillion and over USD 8.9 billion. Of these, 51 projects are already operational. Promotion and marketing activities have delivered significant results, helping shape the image of Ba Ria – Vung Tau as a friendly, dynamic, and promising destination.

Alongside popular beach destinations like Long Hải and Hồ Tràm, or the Bình Châu hot springs, the province is also fostering ecotourism, community-based tourism, and agricultural tourism in districts such as Xuyên Mộc, Đất Đỏ, and Châu Đức.

Once dubbed "hell on earth," Côn Đảo has now transformed into a paradise for tourists and a symbol of resilience. It remains a “red address” of historical significance, and a night tour of the Côn Đảo prison system is set to be piloted.

High-end resorts, golf courses, and amusement parks are being robustly developed to diversify tourism products.

The province is also maximizing its cruise tourism potential by strengthening coordination with cruise lines, tour operators, and port authorities to ensure safe and professional reception.

In 2024, 50 cruise ships docked at the Cai Mep – Thị Vải port cluster, each bringing 2,000–5,000 passengers.

In the first four months of 2025, 31 international cruise ships arrived at the port, bringing tens of thousands of international visitors to explore the Southeast region.

At the same time, the province is promoting 48 classified historical and scenic sites along with traditional craft villages through various specialized tours such as: coastal Vũng Tàu tours, inner-city Vũng Tàu tours, interlinked tours between Phú Mỹ – Bà Rịa – Long Điền, Bà Rịa – Đất Đỏ tours, shopping tours in Bà Rịa, and rural countryside experiences.

The province’s tourism development goals for 2025 and beyond are highly achievable, especially with improved transport infrastructure including the Bien Hoa – Vũng Tàu expressway, Ben Luc – Long Thanh expressway, the expressway connecting Long Thành Airport to Hồ Tràm, the Gò Găng Airport, and upgrades to coastal roads. Additionally, image promotion and hosting national and international cultural and sports events are key areas of focus.

Developing Tourism in the New Era

According to the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to ensure sustainable tourism development, the Provincial Party Executive Committee issued Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU on February 18, 2025. The resolution outlines a strategic vision for tourism development by 2030, with a vision to 2050 — aiming to make tourism one of four pillar economic sectors.

The resolution emphasizes enhancing service quality, building a recognizable tourism brand on the domestic and international map, and creating unique products that offer distinctive experiences to attract and retain tourists. By 2024, tourism is expected to contribute 6.5%–7% of the province’s GRDP.

By 2030, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu aims to become a premier entertainment and resort destination in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Vũng Tàu City is expected to develop into a high-end international tourism center.

To realize this vision, the province will focus on developing a tourism-cultural value system, preserving heritage, and raising public awareness of tourism’s role in socio-economic development. Digital transformation in tourism will also be accelerated to optimize visitor experiences.

In particular, regional tourism products and a modern, sustainable tourism ecosystem will be developed, applying digital technology while preserving natural and cultural resources. The province will emphasize its strengths in wellness tourism, marine/island sports, spiritual and MICE tourism, cultural and historical tourism, and develop international-standard night entertainment and beach resorts. New models such as limited casinos and seaplanes will also be piloted.

At the same time, Ba Ria – Vung Tau aims to attract reputable strategic investors for tourism-golf resort projects, positioning itself not only as a destination, but as a diverse tourism experience hub meeting both domestic and international demand.

The province targets welcoming about 150 million visitors, with an average annual growth rate of 17%. Overnight stays are expected to reach 50 million, growing 20% annually. Tourism’s value-added (VA) contribution is projected at 18–20% of the total service sector VA and 9.5–10% of the province's GRDP by 2030.

The tourism workforce will grow from the current 21,000 direct workers to approximately 47,340 by 2030, including 34,000 directly employed. Infrastructure and services will be upgraded to international standards, doubling the number of hotel rooms from 28,521 in 2024 to around 58,000 by 2030, with more 4-5 star hotels and integrated entertainment complexes like golf courses, casinos, and marinas.

The implementation of this strategy will double tourism revenue compared to the natural growth trajectory, reaching VND 170 trillion during 2026–2030, with an average annual growth rate of 19%. Tourism is expected to contribute 5.5%–6% to the province’s GRDP by 2030 (excluding oil and gas), compared to 4.5% in 2024. This strategy ensures both robust growth and sustainability, aiming for tourism to contribute about 12% to the province's total GRDP.

Vision to 2050: Tourism will become a key driver for other sectors, playing a vital role in shaping a modern economic structure based on sustainable green growth.

The province will strongly apply digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in tourism management and development to enhance visitor experience and optimize operations.

With the united efforts of government, businesses, and the public, Ba Ria – Vung Tau stands at the threshold of a breakthrough opportunity — to build a sustainable tourism industry that drives socio-economic growth, preserves culture, and ensures national defense.

In particular, following the expected regional integration with Ho Chi Minh City and Bình Dương, new development space will open up for various sectors, especially tourism. The full potential and advantages of Ba Rua – Vung Tau will be unlocked.