New opportunities for tourism.

The project aims to leverage the advantages of nighttime services to develop diverse, unique, sustainable, high-quality, and high-value-added night tourism products in Vietnam; affirm the brand and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam as a tourist destination; increase visitor attraction, boost spending, and extend the length of stay for domestic and international tourists; and contribute to making night tourism a key product in Vietnam's nighttime economic development. The project proposes models for developing night tourism products, such as: cultural and artistic performances; sports, health and beauty activities; nighttime shopping and entertainment; nighttime sightseeing; and the introduction of culinary culture and nighttime food and beverage services.

At the same time, the project aims to achieve the following goals by 2025: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thua Thien Hue, Khanh Hoa, Hoi An, Da Lat, etc., will have at least one model for developing night-time tourism products; a separate night-time entertainment complex will be formed in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City; and the average length of stay for tourists (in the project areas) will increase by at least one night.

By 2030, the plan aims to expand the formation of separate night-time entertainment complexes in major tourist centers such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thua Thien Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho, Phu Quoc, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau; and to establish a brand for Vietnam's night-time tourism products... The project is considered to "awaken the creative spirit and dedication of Vietnamese people and tourism businesses."

Although Vietnam's tourism industry has continuously developed over the past 15 years, the "night tourism" segment remains a weakness due to the lack of effective models and suitable products to fully exploit its potential and advantages. In reality, night tourism helps increase consumption, shopping, and services at night; contributes to increased revenue and tax revenue for the budget, as well as promotes investment in tourism development and creates many jobs.

Service activities, restaurants, hotels, and attractions that open at night create many new and diverse jobs, generating significant income for the local community. Night tourism also opens up a unique new cultural space, allowing tourists to interact with local culture; helping to promote and preserve local traditional culture, art, and cuisine.

Some destinations and localities also come alive at night thanks to lights, music, and special activities and events, enhancing the tourism experience. In addition, night tourism offers a very novel experience for visitors...

Due to the aforementioned benefits, countries with strong tourism industries are increasing investment in nighttime tourism. For example, in Japan, in 2018, nighttime tourism generated approximately 2.3 trillion yen (equivalent to 21 billion USD) and accounted for 1.1% of the country's GDP. In France, nighttime tourism is an important part of the country's tourism industry.

In 2019, night tourism generated over €133 billion (equivalent to US$157 billion), accounting for 20% of the total tourism industry value and approximately 9.7% of France's GDP. Even in other ASEAN countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, night tourism plays a significant role in their economies.

In 2019, night tourism accounted for 11% of the total tourism value, reaching 1.9 trillion baht (US$63 billion) and contributing approximately 2% to Thailand's GDP; while night tourism generated approximately 82.2 billion ringgit (US$20 billion), accounting for 20% of the total tourism value and contributing over 5% to Malaysia's GDP... These statistics further motivate and inspire Vietnam in its development of night tourism, with the "Scheme for Developing Night Tourism Products" being a concrete step towards realizing that roadmap.

Of course, we must also anticipate that the project, when implemented, will face difficulties, challenges, and obstacles related to current legal regulations and long-standing business practices in the tourism sector.

Expanding tourism into nighttime activities requires ensuring security, safety, and public order, while minimizing negative impacts on the lives of local residents. Successful nighttime tourism development necessitates increased funding for investment in street lighting infrastructure, public amenities, and public transportation to ensure convenience and safety for tourists. Nighttime tourism also increases the risk of pollution, impacting the environment and the lives of local residents.

Controlling noise and light pollution presents a new challenge for stakeholders. The development of nighttime tourism will also attract a large influx of tourists to destinations in the evening, causing traffic congestion, overloading tourist sites, negatively impacting the quality of the tourist experience, and creating tension with local communities.

Creating and diversifying night-time tourism products not only offers new and attractive experiences for tourists but also enhances the beauty of Vietnam's nature, culture, and people. It is hoped that in the near future, phrases like "Hanoi by night," "Ho Chi Minh City by night," "Da Nang by night," and many other Vietnamese destinations associated with "by night" will become appealing, inviting, and gradually familiar to international tourists.

We believe that night tourism, or the nighttime light show, presents a new opportunity for Vietnam to build a superior tourism brand, inspire, and create new appeal on the world tourism map.