TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF THE

RED RIVER DELTA AND THE

NORTHEAST COASTAL PROVINCES

KHONG YEN GIANG (MBA)

 OBJECTIVES
 Remember the overview information about the region.
 Identify, classify and understand main tourism resources of
this region
 Know popular destinations of the regions and appreciate
their values in tourism development.
 Examine tourism infrastructure, superstructure and other
developmental conditions of the region.
 Differentiate tourism products from the region’s valuable
tourism resources and identify main tourism markets and
trends.
 Know the national and regional tourism routes.
 OUTLINE
1. Overview of the region

2. Main natural and cultural tourism resources

3. Main tourism products and key developmental areas

4. Tourism developmental conditions

5. Famous attractions

6. Main tourism routes

1. OVERVIEW
 1. OVERVIEW
 S: 21,060 km2
 Population: 20.9 million people (2015) – 23% total
population
 11 provinces and cities.
 Population density: 930 ppl/km2 – the most crowded
of the country
 Borders:
 South: Northern Central region
 East: Gulf of Tonkin – East Sea
 West – Northwest: The northern mountainous region and hill lands
 North: China
 1. OVERVIEW
170 km border line with China at
Quang Ninh province. The crucial
border-gate system include: Mong
Cai, Hoanh Mo and Bac Phong Sinh
The largest coastal island system of
the country. Some islands with
important location include: Bach Long
Vi, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai.
Hanoi Capital – the most important
economic, political, tourism and
cultural center of the country - is
located in the region.
The cradle of Red river civilization.
 2. TOURISM RESOURCES
Resource characteristics:
 Natural resources: attach with national parks, national biosphere
reserves of the Red river delta and coastal attractions of Quang
Ninh and Hai Phong province.
 Cultural resources: rely on the cultural and historical relics of Red
river civilization and important religious centers.
 Other resources: the border gate system with China at the
coastal provinces.
 Main attractions: Huong Pagoda, Ba vi – Hai spring, Hanoi’s
cultural and historical vestiges (Hanoi), Tam Dao mountain, Dai
Lai lake (Vinh Phuc), Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Hoa Lu, Trang An
complex, Cuc Phuong, Van Long (Ninh Binh), Xuan Thuy (Nam
Dinh), Cat Ba, Do Son (Hai Phong), Yen Tu, Ha Long, Bai Tu Long,
Van Don, Tra Co (Quang Ninh) etc.
TOURISM NATURAL RESOURCES
Landforms

Climate

Water resources

Flora and Fauna

 LANDFORMS
a.Red river delta:
 Area: 15,000 square km (4.5% of total area)
 Alluvial accretion by 2 rivers: Red river and Thai
Binh river
 Rich plain adherent with wet rice civilization
 Home of various historic-cultural vestiges and
traditional handicraft villages (2/3)
 Convenient transportation and accommodation 
suitable for tourist’s needs
 LANDFORMS
b. Mountain:
 Low mountain system of 1,000 –
1500 m. The most significant
mountains include: Yen Tu (1,068m);
Tam Dao (1,591m), Tan Vien
(1,287m).
 The mountain system attract
tourists by its magnificent view, cool
climate, quiet and spiritual
atmosphere.
 Suitable for relaxation and
weekend tourism.
 LANDFORMS
c. Karst topography:
Different formations creating unique tourist landscapes
 Shallow Karst: limestone mountains that are scattered between
the western plains of Ha Noi, Ninh Binh and Ha Nam. Famous
attractions are: Huong Son, Trang An, Tam Coc – Bich Dong 
considered as Ha Long on land.
 Submerged Karst: in the Northern coastal provinces (Quang Ninh
and Hai Phong); famous attractions are: Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu
Long Bay, Cat Ba island  create magnificent sceneries.

 One of the main tourism natural resources that attracts

huge number of tourists to the region.
TRANG AN, NINH BINH, VIETNAM
TAM COC (NINH BINH)
KARST TOPOGRAPHY
 LANDFORMS
d. Coastal area and islands:
 The largest island and archipelago area of the country (2,321 islands –
83.7%)
 Long coastal line: > 600 km  a lot of beautiful beaches: Tra Co, Bai
Chay, Do Son
 > 3,000 islands and islets  island system in Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long,
Bach Long Vi, Cat Ba, Cat Hai …
 Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long: > 1,000 islets, Cat Ba: 366 islets
 Gulf of Tonkin: junction of North-Eastern limestone mountain system and
sea  create wide range of islands and islets
Particularly valuable in tourism development with different tourism
products
Some areas are also world’s biosphere reserves with biodiversity and
various endemic species
3-peaches beach Ngoc Vung beach (Van Don)

Minh Chau beach (Quan Lan) Do Son beach (Hai Phong)

 CLIMATE
 Mainly tropical monsoon
Typical for four-season climatic type in Vietnam, suitable for
different types of tourism.
 Spring (Jan – Mar): cool weather with drizzle, 18oC – 22oC 
suitable for festival tourism, religious tourism and sight-seeing.
 Summer (May – Sep): hot weather, high temperature and heavy
rainfall, average 28oC – 33.5oC  beach tourism and mountain
relaxation.
 Autumn (Sep – Oct): cool and dry weather  cultural - historical
tourism, tours to handicraft villages
 Winter (Nov – Dec): cold weather  tours to national park and
visiting historic – cultural vestiges.
 WATER RESOURCES
Diverse and rich in water resources with various of rivers, lakes and mineral
springs.
Red river and Thai Binh river systems not only brings the beautiful scenery
but also contain multiple historical, cultural and traditional values. Rivers
were always considered as streams of life where people were sheltered and
created their peaceful but hustle and bustle life on the two banks
conveniently exploit tourism resources for sight-seeing, festival and cultural
tourism.
The natural lake (West lake) and man-made lake (Dong Mo – Ngai Son,
Hai stream, Dai Lai) systems have a harmonious combination between the
immense blue water with the natural and cultural sceneries that create a
charming landscape  suitable for sport tourism, relaxation tourism and
weekend tourism.
The rich source of mineral springs is capable of healing many diseases such
as joints, stomach, digestive system, gynecology and liver, etc. Some famous
sites: Tien Lang (Hai Phong), Quang Hanh (Quang Ninh), Ba Vi (Ha Noi),
Kenh Ga (Ninh Binh) ….  suitable for rejuvenation and healing tourism
MINERAL SPRINGS
 FLORAL AND FAUNA SYSTEM
6 national parks (Tam Dao, Cat Ba, Ba Vi, Bai Tu Long, Xuan
Thuy, Cuc Phuong)
2 biosphere reserves (Cat Ba and Red river wetlands)
Various historical – cultural – environmental forests (Huong Son,
Soc Son, Con Son – Kiep Bac, Hoa Lu)
A territory to protect typical ecosystems, biodiversity and a
precious genetic source.
Create many natural attractions and beautiful sceneries with
cool fresh climate.
Contain indigenous cultural values
Main tourism products: sight-seeing, research, ecotourism and
community-based tourism
 CULTURAL TOURISM RESOURCES

Historic – cultural – architectural and art

vestiges

Festivals

Folk culture

Others
HISTORICAL – CULTURAL – ARCHITECTURAL
AND ART VESTIGES
These vestiges attach with values of Red river civilization.
2,232 national heritages (70%) out of 3,125 heritages.
7 UNESCO world’s natural and cultural heritages
Hanoi -a thousand-year-old capital- is the center of the region
with more than 1,000 national cultural – historical relics  an
outstanding resource for tourism activities.
 HISTORICAL – CULTURAL – ARCHITECTURAL AND
ART VESTIGES
Archeological sites: Nguoi Xua cave (Cuc Phuong, Ninh Binh), Cai
Beo (Cat Ba, Hai Phong). Dong Dau (Yen Lac, Vinh Phuc), Soi Nhu (Bai
Tu Long, Quang Ninh), Thang Long Royal citadel (Hanoi), etc.
Historical sites: Co Loa citadel, Dong Da mound, Ho Chi Minh
mausoleum, Hoa Lu ancient citadel, Binh Than pier, Con Son – Kiep Bac,
etc.
Architectural and art vestiges: pagodas, shrines, temples, churches,
old quarter, ancient town have not only contains architectural and art
values but also comprise cultural, social and spiritual values. Famous
sites include: Literature temple, Hien ancient town, Tran Quoc pagoda,
One pillar pagoda, But Thap pagoda, Dau temple, Tram Gian temple,
Cua Ong temple, Hanoi old quarter, etc.
 Significant tourism resource to create unique and competitive tourism
products for the region.
 FESTIVAL
Famous for different types of traditional festival as the
region was the cradle for agricultural and historical –cultural
festivals of the nation. Those festivals reflect the wet rice
civilization, Red river civilization as well as the Oriental
cultural, spiritual and philosophical life.
Often taken place in spring and autumn at large scale and
rich in content  are able to attract both domestic and
international tourists.
Popular festivals: Huong pagoda festival, Co Loa festival,
Giong festival, Lim festival, Yen Tu festival, buffalo-fighting
festival, Giay temple festival ….  considered as the symbol
of the country.
FESTIVALS
FESTIVALS
 FOLK CULTURE
a. Folk music:
Unique and various art performances results from the Red
river civilization
 Water puppetry: water worshiping, an art performance only exists in Red
river delta; bearing the essence of wet rice civilization.
 Quan ho folk songs: the values embodied in lyrics, theme, music and the
ability to connect people together.
 Ca Tru singing: the pinnacle of human music, a unique art in the national
traditional culture. This is an elegant singing style, with the harmonious
combination of singers, musicians and audiences. Such an academic and
scientific art performance is nurtured, existed and developed in the hearts
of the working middle class.
 Cheo singing: a narrative stage with a close exchange between performers
and audiences. Cheo singing is full of lyrical character of proverbial
singing, often filled with optimism in a rustic smile, intelligent, humorous and
intellectual. The humanity is clearly shown in this form of art.
 FOLK CULTURE
b. Gastronomy
Express the typical cultural identity of the Northern
Vietnamese people. Food is varied and has a moderate,
frugal and gentle taste that shows the harmonious of yin-yang
principles. The northern art cuisine is a delicate, elegant and
ingenious combination of senses, decoration and the skillful
coordination of ingredients for the dish.
Famous dishes: La Vong grilled fish, Pho, spring rolls, green
bean cake (Hai Duong), Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls, West
lake shrimp cake, Hanoi combo noodle soup, Van village’s
wine (Bac Ninh), crab noodle soup (Hai Phong), etc.
 Essential for tourism development and enrich the
experiences of tourists at the destination.
 FOLK CULTURE
c. Traditional handicraft villages
900 villages (43.5% of total country)
Mainly located at Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hung Yen, Hai
Duong.
Specialized in producing unique handicraft products. A lot of villages
have long existence, experiencing ups and downs but still develop well such
as:
 Pottery villages: Bat Trang (Hanoi), Huong Canh (Vinh Phuc), Dong Trieu (Quang Ninh), Phu Lang
(Bac Ninh), Chu Dau (Hai Duong).
 Jewellery villages: Dinh Cong, Hang Bac, Kieu Ki’s gold and silver plated (Hanoi), Dong Sam
silver carving (Thai Binh), Chau Khe (Hai Duong).
 Embroidery villages: Van Phuc silk village, Quat Dong embroidery village (Hanoi), Xuan Neo
embroidery village (Hai Duong), Van Lam (Thai Binh).
 Lacquer villages: Chuon Ngo, Ha Vy, Ha Thai (Hanoi).
 Carpentry and Wood carving villages: Chang Thon (Hanoi), Đong Ki (Bac Ninh), La Xuyen (Nam
Dinh).
 Bronze casted villages: Ngu Xa (Hanoi), Dai Bai (Bac Ninh)
 Painting villages: Dong Ho, Hang Trong
 FOLK CULTURE
c. Traditional handicraft villages
Export value: approximately 600 mil USD
Mostly is family business model (80.1%)
The production activities are still spontaneous, simple
and haven’t fully optimized the values of these
handicraft villages.
A very unique type of cultural tourism products 
attract a lot of tourists
A potential for Vietnam tourism
 OTHERS
Museums:
 Many museums of all kinds
that have high values for
historic, cultural,
archeological, architectural
tourism products.
 MAIN TOURISM PRODUCTS
Cultural - historical tourism results from Red river wet rice
civilization.
Beach and island tourism in the Northern coastal provinces of
Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
Religious and festival tourism to experience cultural and
spiritual beliefs of the Northern people.
MICE tourism in main cities of Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang
Ninh.
Agricultural tourism in the outer of Hanoi
Sight-seeing, relaxation and Ecotourism at national parks
and other provinces.
 KEY DEVELOPMENTAL AREAS
Hanoi capital: associates with the center’s historical
- cultural relic systems and natural sceneries of the
outer areas.
Quang Ninh – Hai Phong: associate with beach
and island tourism, especially Ha Long bay, Cat Ba
island, Van Don island district and Do Son beach.
Ninh Binh: associates with Tam Coc – Bich Dong,
Hoa Lu, Trang An, Van Long, Cuc Phuong, Tam Chuc
– Ba Sao and the related areas.
 TOURISM DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
1. Tourism infrastructure and superstructure:
a. Transportation:
Air transportation: Noi Bai international airport, Cat Bi
domestic airport and Gia Lam military and service airport.
Road transportation: important highways: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 18
from Hanoi to other regions and provinces.
Sea/river transportation: river transportation of Red river and
Thai Binh river and the sea port system of Hai Phong/Quang
Ninh such as Tuan Chau port, Cai Vieng port, etc.
Rail transportation: parallel with highways system.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
b. Electricity:
Thermoelectric power plant (Pha Lai)
Good conditions in main cities and centers  favorable condition to
develop tourism for the region.
c. Accommodation:
Increasing in numbers of hotels and accommodation annually

Variety of restaurants offered different kinds of food  suitable

with different eating needs of tourists

Still need to improve entertainment centers for providing tourists with

various entertainment activities
 HOTEL STATISTICS – 2018 (VNAT)
No Region Number of accommmodations Number of rooms
5 star 4 star Luxury 5 star 4 star Luxury
acc. acc.
Red river delta and the northern 35 50 1 8,636 7,222 15
coastal provinces
1 Hanoi 21 16 5,866 2,401
2 Vinh Phuc 2 1 200 172
3 Bac Ninh 3 1 543 86
4 Hung Yen
5 Hai Duong 1 157
6 Hai Phong 2 8 1 235 931 15
7 Quang Ninh 6 20 1,601 3,045
8 Thai Binh
9 Ha Nam 1 191
10 Nam Dinh
11 Ninh Binh 3 430
 TOURISM DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
2. Tourist:
Domestic and international tourists increase sharply through years.
International tourists:
 1/3 of the country, come from different nations.
 Mainly visit Red river delta, especially Hanoi as the city is famous for its long
history, peacefulness, cuisine and distinctive cultural values.
 A popular city that welcome VIPs from important countries such as the US,
Australia, etc.

Domestic tourists:
 Increase sharply, from all parts of the country
 Main purposes: beach tourism, visiting famous attractions (Ha Long bay, Cat
Ba, Do Son, Tra Co), participating in festivals of all kinds (Lim festival, Huong
pagoda festival, Yen Tu festival), and visiting historical – cultural relics as well
as UNESCO world’s heritages.
 TOURISTS TO THE REGION 2015
(ITDR)
Items Unit 2000 2005 2010 2015
Total tourists Thousand 7,533.2 15,670.7 30,472.9 46,177.9
people
International tourists Thousand 1,441.5 3,177.9 5,400.5 7,440.0
people
Compare with other % 35.0 37.1 37.2 31.0
regions
Domestic tourists Thousand 6,091.7 12,492.8 25,072.4 38,737.9
people
Compare with other % 32.8 31.1 34.3 24.2
regions
INTERNATIONAL
TOURISTS TO
MAIN
DESTINATIONS
OF VIETNAM
2018

48
 TOURISM DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS
3. Tourism revenue:
Tourism revenue increase strongly in compare with the
increase in the number of tourists.
Account for ¼ revenue of the total country, 2nd position
(after the Southeast region).
Hanoi accounts for 80.3 % of the region’s total revenue,
followed by Quang Ninh (8.6%) and Hai Phong (4.0%).

Items Unit 2000 2005 2010 2015

Total revenue Trillion VND 5.7 8.68 29.0 69.3

Compare with other regions % 33.8 28.9 29.6 20.5

 FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS
Ha Long bay
Cuc Phuong national park
 HA LONG BAY
Location: Northeast corner of Vietnam, Quang Ninh province
Area: 1,553 sq. km
1,969 islands, 90% are limestone islands
989 islands are named
Borders:
 West and northwest: Yen Hung dis., to Van Don dis.,
 Southeast and South: western shore of Tonkin Gulf
 Southwest: Cat Ba island (Hai Phong province)
51
 HA LONG BAY
Area of the World heritage

World heritage area

Dau Go
 Area: 434 sq. km
Grotto
 775 islands, 411 are named
 Boundary: triangle of Dau Go grotto – Cong
Cong Tay island – Ba Ham Lake Tay
Island
Recognized as World
heritage twice by UNESCO Ba Ham
 1994: exceptional and universal value Lake
of the landscape
 2000: special value of geology and
geomorphology
52
 Area of the World heritage

Dau Go Grotto

Cong Tay Island

Ba Ham Lake

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 LEGEND OF HA LONG BAY
Ha Long: “Descending Dragons”
Legend:
Long ago, Viet people were attacked by foreign
aggressors
The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and a herd of
Child Dragons to help the Viet fight the invaders
Dragons spat out innumerable pearls which were changed
into innumerable stone islands linked together into a firm
citadel that checked the enemy’s advance and smashed
their vessels into pieces

54
 LEGEND OF HA LONG BAY
Legend (cont.)
After the invaders were driven out, Mother Dragon and her
Child Dragons stayed on earth
The spot where the Mother Dragon landed was Ha Long
where the Child Dragons came down was Bai Tu Long
The place where their tails violently wagged was called Long
Vi( present Tra Co peninsula)

55
HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Aesthetic value
A mighty, wonderful and unique sculptural site by Nature
Various interesting shapes of the islands and islets (Trong
Mai islet, Dai Bang islet, La Vong islet …)
The beauty of Ha Long Bay is formed of mountains, islands,
colors of its waters, and rich system of grottos and caves

56
 Ga Choi islet Dau Nguoi islet

Canh 3/27/2023
Buom islet La Vong islet Lu Huong57islet
 Trong cave
Trinh Nu cave

3/27/2023
Luon cave Sung sot cave 58
 Thien Cung grotto
Bo Nau cave

3/27/2023 Tien Ong cave Me Cung grotto

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HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Geological value
Geological formation value
A multi-layers system of carbonate sediment
Recording great events of the geological processes in this
area 500 mil years ago
Can be seen through the colors, material composition, stone
layer formation, and fossil relics
Geological structure of Carboniferous period about 340 to
286 million years ago (nghich dao tao son)
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HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Geological value
 The Quaternary and marine geological value
 Typical characteristics of the Quaternary geology:
 The sediment layers,
 The rising sea shelf,
 Terraced plains submerged in the bay,
 The ancient rivers, grottos and caves and their sediment,
 The traces of the old sea level and the selfish found high on the
cliffs
 A modern agglomerated basin which was formed by a system of
preventive islands, not protruding capes  unique marine notch
caves and interesting strange shapes of limestone islands
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HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Geological value
Karst geomorphologic value
 An ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during
a wet tropical climate (>20 mil years)
 Various and multiform caves and grottoes, dividing into 3
groups
 Old phreatic caves (Sung Sot, Tam Cung, Lau Dai, Thien Cung,
Dau Go )
 Old karstic foot caves (Trinh Nu, Bo Nau, Tien Ong and Trong)
 Marine notch caves (Luon Cave, Ba Hang and Ba Ham lakes)
62
 HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Biodiversity value
High bio-diversity with the typical ecosystems of the
tropical sea
In 2008: 2,949 species of fauna and flora
10 kinds of typical eco-systems divided into 2 systems
The tropical forest ecosystem
The seashore ecosystem

63
HA LONG BAY’S OUTSTANDING VALUES
Cultural and historical value
 Home of ancient Viet people with three continuous pre-historic
cultures about 18,000 to 3,500 years ago
 Soi Nhụ culture (about 18,000 to 7,000 years ago)
 Cái Bèo culture (from 7,000 to 5,000 years ago)
 Hạ Long culture (from 4,500 to 3,500 years ago)
 In the history of the nation foundation and protection of Vietnam,
it is also the place of three glorious victories for the Vietnamese
people from the 10th to the 20th centuries
64
 HA LONG BAY
Tourism types:
 Sight-seeing
 Cultural tourism
 Sport tourism
 Ecotourism
 Overnight on the bay
Tourism sites:
 Famous grottos and caves (Dau Go, Thien Cung, Sung Sot, Lau Dai,
etc)
 Titov island, Tuan Chau island, Quan Lan island …
 Ba Ham lake
 Ba Trai Dao beach ….
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CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK

66
 CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
Founded in 7 Jul, 1962
1st national park and national reserve

Location: nestled between the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa

Binh and Thanh Hoa

Area: 22,000 ha
Mostly are primeval forest

Rich ecosystem
67
 Cuc Phuong National park
Home to 4 main conservation centers:
Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) – Trung tâm cứu
hộ Linh trưởng nguy cấp

Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program (CPCP) –

Chương trình bảo tồn thú ăn thịt và Tê Tê

Turtle conservation Center (TCC) – Trung tâm bảo tồn Rùa

Botanical Garden – Vườn thực vật

68
 CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
Home to an amazing diversity of floral and fauna
Fauna
117 species of mammals
300 species of birds
110 reptilian and amphibians species
65 species of fish
2,000 species of insects
Floral:
Typical tropical rain forest with multi-layered canopy
2,000 species of vascular plants 69
 CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
An enchanting scenery of verdant Karst mountains and lush
valleys

A cultural landscape of Muong minority people

A valuable archeological site dated at 200 - 230 million

years old and evidence of prehistoric people, who lived in
the forest some 7500 years ago.

70
 CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
Tourism activities in Cuc Phuong
Community-based ecotourism and home-stays
Trekking
Night spotting
Bird watching
Cycling
Amphibians, insects, reptiles spotting
Tour to biodiversity hotspots
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 MAIN TOURISM ROUTES
National tourism routes:
Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh: most important
route with main attractions of the region.
Hanoi – Ha Nam – Ninh Binh: famous for sight
seeing, religious tourism, natural tourism and cultural
tourism.
Hanoi – Huong pagoda – Tam Chuc pagoda – Ba
Sao – Tam Coc – Bich Dong – Trang An – Bai Dinh:
religious tourism
Other routes from Hanoi to other regions and
provinces
 MAIN TOURISM ROUTES
Theme routes:
-Cultural –historical routes: visit cultural and historical
relics of different dynasties
-Handicraft villages route: visit famous handicraft
villages along the Red river
-Countryside route: visit and experience life in rural
area near Hanoi
-Ecotourism and exploration routes: to islands and
beaches, national parks, etc.