Among these, Resolution No. 10 issued by the Yen Bai Provincial People’s Council, which established several support policies for tourism development from 2021 to 2025, has played a pivotal role in empowering tourism growth. More recently, the adoption of Resolution No. 81 has extended these support policies through 2030.
Resolution No. 10 has significantly contributed to aiding collectives, individuals, and local communities in developing tourism activities, improving the quality of tourism services—particularly community-based tourism—and integrating the preservation of unique cultural values of ethnic communities with tourism growth.
After over three years, many beneficiaries have utilized this support effectively, contributing to the development of tourism products and services. The province has approved funding for 270 applications from various organizations and individuals, with a total budget exceeding 5.73 billion VND. This support includes 231 new projects, the maintenance of local art troupes, classes for intangible cultural heritage training, and aid for craft villages involved in tourism. Additionally, initiatives like waste collection and workforce training in tourism have been launched.
The province has focused on building the Yen Bai tourism brand with a vision of establishing a sustainable tourism ecosystem. It has also introduced appealing new tours, including luxury forest retreats in the Northwest, wellness programs, culinary experiences, "Riding the Dinosaur Spine" trail adventures, and exploring mystical moss forests. A new "1 Route, 5 Destinations” tour spanning Tram Tau (Yen Bai) to Bac Yen (Son La) has been created, along with a spiritual river route along the Red River through Hanoi, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai, as well as terrace field tours. Collectively, these initiatives aim to make Yen Bai an enduringly attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors.
Statistics show that from 2021 to 2023, Yen Bai welcomed 4,470,700 visitors, including 179,446 international tourists, with an average annual growth rate of 40.1% in tourist arrivals. Revenue from tourism exceeded the 2025 target by 14.7%, marking a 3.5-fold increase from 2021. Additionally, the percentage of standard lodging facilities with a three-star rating or higher reached 27.1% of the 2025 target, up by 23.2% from 2021.
In just the first 10 months of 2024, Yen Bai recorded 1.114 million tourist visits, a rise of over 51.58% compared to the same period last year. The number of tourists using tour services surged 4.6 times compared to the same period in 2023. By the end of 2024, the province is projected to host 1.7 million tourists, including 300,000 international visitors, generating 1,500 billion VND in tourism revenue. The growth in tourism has also created employment for 8,400 people, up by 12% from 2021, reaching 67.2% of the 2025 employment target.
Aiming for comprehensive, rapid, and sustainable tourism development, the Yen Bai Provincial People's Council recently enacted Resolution No. 81, outlining policies to support tourism development in the province for the 2024–2030 period. This resolution took effect on October 10, 2024.
The resolution includes 12 specific policies related to supporting the construction, renovation, and upgrading of business establishments and shopping facilities to meet standards for serving tourists; procuring equipment; and awarding villages and communities recognized by the province for community-based tourism.
The resolution is set to provide a strong "boost" for tourism development, generating employment and increasing incomes for local residents, thus contributing to the province's socio-economic development. Additionally, it aims to preserve, protect, and promote traditional cultural values and introduce Yen Bai’s unique tourism offerings to both domestic and international visitors.
Thanh Chi
