Ha Giang, the northernmost province of Vietnam, boasts immense potential for tourism development thanks to its majestic natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage of 19 ethnic groups. Over the past years, the province established itself as an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.
Ha Giang was honoured as Asia's Leading Emerging Tourism Destination by the World Travel Awards (WTA) in 2023. In 2024, the province welcomed over 3.2 million visitors and earned tourism revenue of more than 8,149 billion VND.
The three most-visited sites in Ha Giang include the Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery, the 26/3 Square, and the Lung Cu Flagpole.
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Each year, Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery receives tens of thousands of tourists (Photo: VOV) |
Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery is the resting place of nearly 2,000 soldiers who laid down their lives during the resistance wars against France and the US States, as well as in the battle to protect the northern border.
Each year, the cemetery receives tens of thousands of tourists, as it is the first stop on their journey to explore the history in the northernmost part of Vietnam. It also helps to educate young generations about patriotism and revolutionary traditions.
The 26/3 Square in Ha Giang City features a statue of President Ho Chi Minh speaking to the people of Ha Giang's ethnic groups during his visit to the province in 1961.
Tourists to the square can admire the beautiful mountain cityscape and check in at the Km0 milestone, which marks the beginning of the Happiness Route that runs through four districts in the Dong Van Karst Plateau – an official member of the Global Geo-parks Network.
After a long journey from Ha Giang City to the Dong Van Plateau, passing through fields of buckwheat flowers blooming on rocky hills in winter or cherry and plum blossoms in spring, a popular stop for tourists is the Lung Cu Flagpole.
This is the northernmost point of Vietnam, offering breathtaking natural scenery and traditional cultural values of the local Mong and Lo Lo ethnic groups.
Nhan Dan Newspaper’s ‘Love Vietnam So Much’ project not only helps advertise Vietamese tourism but also promotes digital transformation in heritage management, bringing heritage sites closer to the public.
These three historical and cultural sites in Ha Giang have been selected by the Ha Giang Provincial Party Committee to install Near-Field Communications (NFC)-enabled signs under Nhan Dan Newspaper’s ‘Love Vietnam So Much’ project.
The project is being implemented at historical and cultural sites in 63 provinces and centrally-governed cities nationwide.
It not only helps advertise Vietnamese tourism but also promotes digital transformation in heritage management, bringing heritage sites closer to the public.
The project creates a map connecting tourist attractions in each locality through NFC technology, providing a unique exploration experience for tourists.
In Ha Giang, NFC chipboards are installed at prominent and accessible locations. Locals and tourists use their phones to check in at these sites and post photos, all their images and messages are collected and combined into a map of Vietnam featuring people from all over the country.
Additionally, the NFC boards offer information search, navigation, and exploration of nearby tourist attractions, monuments, and scenic spots.
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A tourist checking-in at the NFC chip panel at the Lung Cu Flagpole. |
After checking in and sending a message to the NFC board at Lung Cu Flagpole, Nguyen Khac Tha, a tourist from Hanoi, said, "My journey to the northernmost point of Vietnam becomes more interesting and meaningful as I can save my photos and messages about the places I've experienced. This motivates me to find other NFC points in other provinces and cities across the country."
Over a week after their launch, thousands of tourists checked in at NFC boards in Ha Giang.
Nguyen Doan Khanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lung Cu Commune, Dong Van District, reported that every day, the Lung Cu Flagpole welcomes thousands of tourists.
“Installing NFC boards provides tourists with a more exciting experience, increasing their stay time, thereby promoting local tourism development,” he applauded.
