The National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 will organize 244 tourism, cultural, and sports events and activities.

Quy Nhon - The seaside paradise of Gia Lai. Photo: Gia Lai Newspaper

On the afternoon of March 5th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee of Gia Lai province jointly organized an international press conference to provide information about the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.

The National Tourism Year is a significant national-level tourism and cultural event, held annually under the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The event is of great importance in introducing and promoting the image of destinations and unique tourism products; honoring the tangible and intangible cultural values ​​of Vietnam; promoting tourism development linkages between localities; attracting domestic and international tourists, contributing to socio-economic development.

Based on applications from localities and the criteria and standards for selecting a national tourism year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has chosen Gia Lai – a locality that fully meets the conditions in terms of development space, natural resources, cultural identity, and political determination – to host the 2026 National Tourism Year.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van speaks at the press conference.

With an area of ​​over 21,500 km² (the second largest in the country) and a population of approximately 3.5 million people, Gia Lai province has a strategic geographical location, serving as a bridge between the South Central region and the Central Highlands. Its expansive development potential and diverse transportation system, including roads, air routes, seaports, and international border crossings, create favorable conditions for trade, regional connectivity, and tourism development. Gia Lai possesses rich and diverse tourism resources, harmoniously combining natural landscapes, islands, plateaus, and unique cultural values.

Gia Lai is also home to many outstanding cultural values ​​with national and international influence, such as: the Bài Chòi folk art of Central Vietnam – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity; the Gong Culture Space of the Central Highlands – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity; the traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh, and Hát Bội (Vietnamese classical opera) – national intangible cultural heritages. The Roc Tung - Go Da historical site (a special national monument); Kon Ka Kinh National Park - an ASEAN Heritage Park; typical volcanic mountain systems such as Chu Dang Ya, Bien Ho, and Ham Rong mountain; the Cham tower system; Phuong Mai peninsula - Ky Co - Eo Gió; the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education, along with the largest astronomical observatory in Vietnam. Notably, Quy Nhon was selected by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 25 destinations in the world in 2026; Tripadvisor - a global travel platform - recently announced Quy Nhon as ranked 4th in the ranking of the 25 trending destinations worldwide in 2026 of the annual Travellers' Choice Awards 2026; and Quy Nhon was awarded the title of ASEAN Clean Tourism City 2026, further affirming the attractiveness and prominent position of this region on the regional and global tourism map.

The National Tourism Year, themed "Gia Lai - Mountains Embrace the Sea," is not only symbolic of the expanded geographical space after the merger, but also contains a strategic message about the harmonious connection between the highlands and the islands, between majestic nature and unique ethnic cultural identity, rich in gong culture and epics, and between preservation and development.

Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich shared this at the press conference.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, said: "We very much hope to transform these 'assets' into a driving force and resource for truly sustainable economic development through cultural stories, agricultural product stories, local specialties, and stories about the simple people from the mountains to the coast… The National Tourism Year 2026 is both an opportunity and a challenge for us, as there are still many difficulties regarding tourism infrastructure and tourism services."

The National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 is expected to organize 244 tourism, cultural, and sports events and activities, including 18 activities chaired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; 109 activities chaired by Gia Lai province; and 117 activities in response organized by 22 provinces and centrally-governed cities. The scale and nature of the activities indicate that the 2026 National Tourism Year is not a single event, but a year-long series of meticulously prepared programs, fostering synergy and widespread connection among central ministries and agencies, local authorities, and the business community nationwide.

The National Tourism Year activities include festivals, cultural events, sports, promotion, media coverage, market and product networking, investment, community activities, creativity, and experiences, implemented according to quarterly themes, ensuring continuity, diversity, and attractiveness.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2026 National Tourism Year - Gia Lai, themed "The Great Forest Touches the Blue Sea," will be held in Quy Nhon ward, Gia Lai province in March 2026. The Closing Ceremony will be held in Pleiku ward, Gia Lai province at the end of December 2026.

The highlight of the 2026 National Tourism Year lies not only in the number of activities, but also in affirming the Gia Lai tourism brand associated with unique ethnic identity, a seamless, in-depth, and sustainable journey based on cultural values ​​and genuine emotions about a pristine forest landscape connected to the blue sea.

Activities during the National Tourism Year include festivals, cultural events, etc. (Photo: Gia Lai Newspaper)

In March, a series of events will take place, including the Opening Week of the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 (from March 23rd to March 30th, 2026) in communes and wards throughout Gia Lai province. The main focus will be on the following key events:

The Opening Ceremony of the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026, themed "The Great Forests Touch the Blue Sea," will be held in Quy Nhon ward, Gia Lai province on March 28th, 2026, and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV) and Gia Lai Newspaper, Radio and Television (GTV). In addition to the ceremony, there will be an elaborately staged artistic program themed "Gia Lai - The Great Forests Touch the Blue Sea" and a fireworks display (low or high altitude).

The Gia Lai Province Investment Promotion Conference 2026 will take place at 7:30 AM on March 28, 2026 (Saturday) at the Provincial Conference Center, No. 1 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Quy Nhon Ward, Gia Lai Province. According to preliminary statistics as of now, Gia Lai Province anticipates:

Granting Investment Policy/Investment Registration Certificates for: 40 projects in the Industrial sector; 16 projects in the Energy sector; 13 projects in the Real Estate and Urban Economy sector; 17 projects in the Infrastructure Construction sector; 14 projects in the Trade, Service and Tourism sector; 22 projects in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector.

Granting MOUs at the Conference for: 30 projects in the Industrial sector; 7 projects in the Energy sector; 17 projects in the Trade, Service and Tourism sector. 16 projects are in the Real Estate and Urban Economy sector; 29 projects are in the Infrastructure Construction sector; 4 projects are in the Science and Technology sector; and 12 projects are in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries sector.

The opening ceremony will include programs for visitors such as: Gia Lai Coffee Tour to promote and introduce the coffee production chain/integrated agricultural tourism and green experiences; and the Gia Lai Culinary Excellence Program 2026 showcasing the cuisine with characteristic dishes of Gia Lai province. Sports activities include: the 2026 Gia Lai Province Open Cycling Club Championship, the Binh Dinh Boxing Night Program, the 2026 Gia Lai Province Pickleball Club Championship, the 2026 National Muay Thai Club Championship, the 2026 Gia Lai Province Traditional Boat Race, the Launch Ceremony of the Olympic Run Day and the 2026 Gia Lai Province Cross-Country Race, and other cultural, tourism, and sports activities in response to the National Tourism Year program.

2026 marks the beginning of a new term in Gia Lai Province, implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 1st Congress of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, which identifies tourism as one of the five pillars of the province's economic development, simultaneously promoting growth, spreading cultural and social values, and preserving resources. Therefore, organizing the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 is of particular importance, serving both as an activity to promote and advertise the image of the destination and as a strategic starting point, creating momentum for achieving tourism development goals at the beginning of the term. It affirms Gia Lai's political determination to make tourism a key economic sector, contributing practically to the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.

The National Tourism Year is not only significant for the host locality but also plays a crucial role in concretizing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on developing tourism into a leading economic sector. Through organizing the National Tourism Year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will lead, coordinate, and connect ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses to unify directions and actions in tourism development, promote regional linkages, and leverage the comparative advantages of each locality within the overall national tourism brand.