Despite being a cradle of Vietnamese civilization, the Red River Delta has yet to shine on the national tourism map. Home to rich cultural heritage and scenic landscapes, the region's immense potential remains largely dormant due to fragmented coordination, a lack of distinctive tourism products, and sluggish adoption of green tourism practices.

A treasure trove waiting to be awakened

Nowhere in northern Vietnam holds as many cultural layers as the Red River Delta. Its network of historical relics, ancient architecture, and traditional festivals - including renowned landmarks like Huong Pagoda, Keo Pagoda, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and Do Temple - collectively form a rich cultural sediment.

This cultural depth is complemented by natural wonders such as Cuc Phuong National Park, Tam Dao, Bai Tu Long Bay, Cat Ba Island, and Ba Vi Mountain, all of which offer compelling ingredients for a diverse and immersive tourism ecosystem.

With well-developed transportation infrastructure, including roads, railways, and waterways, the Red River Delta should have become a northern tourism powerhouse.

Yet, tourists often come and go without lingering. This paradox stems from the lack of unique tourism products, repetitive experiences, limited services, unprofessional hospitality teams, and a shortage of high-quality human resources.

Many localities still treat tourism as a secondary industry, lacking long-term planning and serious investment.

Notably, river tourism - once a historical lifeline of Vietnamese culture - remains overlooked, despite its potential to become a signature attraction of the region.

Collaboration must go deeper

Sustainable development is unachievable without strong, cohesive partnerships. While inter-provincial collaboration exists, it mostly remains at the governmental level.

Businesses - the key players in driving tourism and attracting visitors - often operate independently without a unifying coordination mechanism.

As the regional center, Hanoi must play the role of conductor, not just a promoter. It needs to actively facilitate inter-regional tourism product development, create a compelling destination map, and lead joint efforts in marketing, training, and route integration through measurable action plans.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, former Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, notes that the Red River Delta is one of Vietnam’s six key tourism regions, rich in cultural and natural potential. Its geographic proximity and growing road network offer ideal conditions for regional cooperation - if stakeholders truly commit to joining forces.

Encouragingly, a new mindset is emerging: one focused on green development. Rather than chasing visitor numbers, the region is shifting toward sustainability - where people, the environment, and culture are equally preserved and enhanced.

Vũ Thế Bình, President of the Vietnam Tourism Association, affirms that green transition is no longer optional but essential. To create compelling tourism experiences that resonate with society, destinations must embrace green products, green services, and green routes. The outdated approach of “use what we have,” reliance on single-use plastics, and unchecked environmental damage must be replaced with firm commitments - from eliminating plastic cups in hotels to developing low-emission, energy-efficient travel products.

No time to waste

The action plan to implement Resolution 30-NQ/TW of the Politburo outlines a vision for professional, modern, sustainable, and globally integrated development of Red River Delta tourism. This roadmap is clear, but new momentum is urgently needed to bring it to life.

This includes capable businesses to lead the way, local governments that prioritize tourism as a key economic driver, and genuine regional cooperation - not just on paper, but reflected in real products, well-connected itineraries, and especially a shared commitment to green transformation.

The Vietnam Tourism Association is planning further activities to promote green tourism, including contributing to green policy frameworks, developing eco-friendly destinations, green marketing campaigns, green workforce training, and digital and technological green solutions.

On a practical level, Dr. Pham Ha, Chairman of LuxGroup, emphasizes that for sustainable tourism to thrive, its four pillars - culture, people, nature, and cuisine - must be developed based on green tourism principles: protection, respect, and renewal of local resources.

The Red River Delta holds ample material to tell its story - a story of culture, nature, and people that embodies the soul of northern Vietnam. The challenge lies in how to tell it in today’s language: creatively, sustainably, and compellingly.

Only then will its rivers truly flow into the hearts of travelers, and the region’s long-sleeping tourism potential be fully awakened.

The Red River, stretching approximately 1,149 km, flows through many northern provinces and cities. With its rich ecosystem and dense cultural heritage, the river has favorable conditions for river tourism. However, in recent years, this potential has remained largely untapped.

PV