1. Why choose the Quang Ninh Tet 2026 travel itinerary?
Quang Ninh during Tet 2026 offers complete experiences thanks to the harmonious combination of favorable climate, impressive natural scenery, and diverse cultural and festival activities. This is an ideal time for you to enjoy a Quang Ninh Tet travel itinerary that is complete, reasonable in terms of cost and experience.
Quang Ninh during Tet is attractive thanks to its mild climate and vibrant festival atmosphere. (Source: Collected)
1.1. Climate and characteristic experiences during Tet
In winter, Quang Ninh has a mild subtropical climate with an average temperature of 14-22°C, offering a gentle cool feeling. Rainfall in the month is quite low, only about 15-16mm, which is very convenient for outdoor sightseeing such as exploring Ha Long Bay, trekking Yen Tu, or strolling on Bai Chay beach.
During the Lunar New Year 2026, the temperature is forecast to range from 11-18°C, with a cool and fresh atmosphere. In the early morning, a thin mist glides gently over Ha Long Bay, adding a mystical beauty, very suitable for those who love photography and enjoying natural scenery. This weather is also ideal for spiritual activities such as pilgrimages to Yen Tu pagoda, where the peaceful atmosphere helps calm the soul to start a peaceful new year.
1.2. Special New Year festivals and events
Quang Ninh organizes many special cultural programs and festivals to welcome 2026. The event series begins with a spectacular fireworks display at 30/10 Square (Ha Long City) at 9:30 PM on December 31, 2025, kicking off a festival atmosphere that lasts for many days.
At Tuan Chau Island, there will be a large-scale gala night, applying modern sound and light technology, combined with a unique water music performance. Sun World Ha Long also organizes special night art performances, a colorful Sun Wheel, and many attractive games suitable for groups of friends and families. Bai Chay Old Town hosts the VUI-Fest with lively music, sparkling light check-in spaces, and many entertainment activities attracting young people.
2. When to go and how to travel to Quang Ninh during Tet
2.1. When to go and what transportation to use?
The 4-day Lunar New Year holiday (January 1-4, 2026) is a convenient time to implement a Quang Ninh Tet travel itinerary while still ensuring enough time to experience the prominent destinations. Additionally, the expected Lunar New Year holiday from the 25th of the twelfth lunar month to the 5th of the first lunar month is also very suitable due to stable weather from 11-18°C, ideal for spiritual trips or relaxing getaways.
If departing from Hanoi, you can choose a high-quality bus or limousine, traveling for about 2-3 hours via the Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh expressway. If traveling by private car, the route is about 170 km long on National Highway 5, which is convenient, with beautiful scenery on both sides of the road. Many travel companies also offer group tours departing from Hanoi, including transportation, guides, and some meals during the itinerary.
From Ho Chi Minh City, the most convenient option is to fly directly to Van Don Airport, with a flight time of only about 2 hours, then continue by shuttle bus for another 45 minutes to reach Ha Long center. During the holiday season, airlines often have promotional programs, especially flight and accommodation combo packages that can significantly save costs.
Choosing the right time and means of transport to optimize the spring travel experience. (Source: Collected)
2.2. Notes on buying bus and flight tickets during the peak Tet season
Tet is a peak travel season, so booking tickets 2-3 weeks in advance helps you be more proactive and get preferential prices. Reputable booking platforms like Vietjet, Vietnam Airlines, or high-quality limousine bus companies often have flexible cancellation policies, making it convenient to change plans.
Choosing all-inclusive tour packages that include transportation, accommodation, and meals not only saves costs but also saves you planning time. Prioritize choosing a limousine bus if departing from Hanoi to enjoy comfort and scenic views along the way, or choose to fly from Ho Chi Minh City for a time-saving journey and more experiences at your destination.
3. Suggested detailed itinerary for Quang Ninh Tet 2026 travel
A reasonable Quang Ninh travel itinerary for Tet lasting 3 days and 2 nights departing from Hanoi will help you fully appreciate the unique values of this land. This itinerary balances nature sightseeing, spiritual experiences, and enjoying the festive atmosphere at the beginning of the year.
3N2Đ itinerary fully combining bay sightseeing and spiritual tourism. (Source: Collected)
Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay Cruise
Start the journey from Hanoi at 8 AM, arriving at Tuan Chau harbor around 11 AM. Board the Paradise Delight cruise or equivalent to explore the beauty of the World Natural Heritage. In the afternoon, visit Ti Top Island, which has a beautiful beach and a trail to the summit for panoramic views of the bay. Continue to explore Sung Sot Cave with its unique stalactite system. Overnight on the cruise, participate in entertainment activities such as night squid fishing and stargazing on the deck. Estimated cost is around 2.5-3.2 million VND/person, including cruise, meals, and activities.
Day 2: Kayaking Ha Long Bay - Tuan Chau Island - Night Market
Early in the morning, try kayaking to explore caves and floating fishing villages on the bay, then return to the harbor and transfer to visit Tuan Chau Island. In the afternoon, enjoy a high-tech water music show and modern entertainment areas. Don't forget to visit the Quang Ninh Museum with its unique coal-shaped architecture, which houses many artifacts about the history and culture of Quang Ninh. In the evening, you can stroll through Ha Long night market, enjoy fresh seafood, and buy souvenirs for loved ones. Additional cost: 800,000-1.2 million VND, including entrance fees and meals.
Day 3: Yen Tu - Buy Specialties
In the morning, travel to Yen Tu, considered the ancestral land of Vietnamese Truc Lam Buddhism. The cable car journey takes you to Hoa Yen Pagoda and Dong Pagoda on the mountain peak at 1,068m, praying for peace and luck for the new year. Enjoy vegetarian meals at restaurants around the pagoda area for lunch. The afternoon is for buying specialties such as dried seafood, banh cuon cha muc (rice rolls with grilled squid), and Ha Long cha ca (grilled fish) as gifts. The trip concludes and returns to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
4. Notable Destinations in the Quang Ninh Tet Travel Itinerary
4.1. Ha Long Bay - A Typical Destination in the Quang Ninh Tet Travel Itinerary
Ha Long Bay, with an area of 1,553 km² and over 1,600 limestone islands of various sizes, is an indispensable destination in every Quang Ninh travel itinerary for Tet . In winter, the bay takes on a serene beauty, with thin veils of mist covering the rocky mountains, creating a feeling of stepping into a fairy tale world. Experience a 7-hour cruise on luxury boats like Paradise Delight or Bhaya Cruise to admire the entirety of Ha Long Bay and explore its attractions.
Ti Top Island is notable for its fine white sandy beach, and especially a 50m high trail to the summit, where you can gaze at the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay. Sung Sot Cave is the largest cave in the area with an area of 10,000 m², famous for its colorful and strangely shaped stalactite system. Luon Cave offers a kayaking experience through the cave, admiring the wild natural landscape. The cost for a cruise tour ranges from 2-4 million VND, varying depending on the type of boat and accompanying services.
Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu and Sun World are unmissable destinations. (Source: Collected)
4.2. Yen Tu - Pilgrimage, spiritual experience at the beginning of the year
The Yen Tu relic complex is located on a mountain peak 1,068m high, considered the origin of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhism founded by King Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century. A 2.5 km cable car system allows visitors to easily travel from the foot of the mountain to Hoa Yen Pagoda, while admiring the natural scenery of the Dong Bac mountain region along the way.
Hoa Yen Pagoda, at an altitude of 516m, is a relaxing stop to admire ancient architecture. Climbing to the summit, you will reach Dong Pagoda - a small but very sacred pagoda, where King Tran Nhan Tong once practiced and passed away. The peaceful atmosphere, fresh climate, and profound spiritual value make Yen Tu an ideal destination to wish for a new year of peace and happiness. Cable car and entrance ticket prices range from 250,000-350,000 VND/person.
4.3. Sun World Ha Long and modern entertainment complex
Sun World Ha Long Complex offers a vibrant entertainment space at the beginning of spring, highlighted by the 2.2 km Queen Cable Car system, connecting Bai Chay beach to Ba Deo peak. From the glass cabins at an altitude of about 200m, visitors can admire the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay and the city by the heritage coast, capturing memorable moments during Tet holidays.
In addition, the 215m high Sun Wheel with 42 air-conditioned cabins and modern sound system, each rotation lasting about 18 minutes, offers a panoramic view of Ha Long city and the bay from above in a festive spring atmosphere.
Especially, during the Lunar New Year, Sun World Ha Long Complex organizes a series of "Vui hoi - Thuong hoi - Choi hoi" (Festival Fun - Festival Enjoyment - Festival Play) with many activities from the 1st to the 5th day of Tet. The space is decorated with spring colors, offering lucky money, font changes, painting workshops, banh chung corners, along with mini-shows, magic performances, Tet xam singing, and dragon-lion performances at the Sun Stage area and Japanese Garden. Young visitors and families can also participate in Tet horse racing games, lucky spins, immersing themselves in the colorful start-of-year festival atmosphere.
With combo tickets for games and experiences priced from 500,000 - 700,000 VND/person, Sun World Ha Long Complex is a suitable destination for families to enjoy a complete Tet holiday, combining entertainment, sightseeing, and experiencing the spring atmosphere by Ha Long Bay.
4.4. Tuan Chau Island, Bai Chay Old Town, Quang Ninh Museum
Tuan Chau Island attracts visitors with its spectacular water music shows every weekend evening and on holidays, combining modern sound and light technology with artistic water performances. The Gala night during Tet offers an impressive visual and auditory experience for visitors. This area also features beautiful beaches and various water sports activities.
Bai Chay Old Town is a hub for many hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops. During Tet, the VUI-Fest brings a lively atmosphere with music, a dazzling light check-in space, and attractive traditional games. The Quang Ninh Museum, with its 8-story coal-shaped architecture, displays over 2,500 artifacts about the geology, history, and culture of the mining region. The ideal visiting time is in the late afternoon or evening, when the festival atmosphere here is bustling and vibrant.
5. Suggested Quang Ninh Travel Itinerary
Sun Group's entertainment ecosystem in Quang Ninh is an ideal choice for combining entertainment, sightseeing, and relaxation in a modern, comfortable space. The Tet 2026 promotional ticket combo includes many services such as cable car, Sun Wheel, water park, and dining facilities, helping you save both time and cost for your trip.
Enjoy a comfortable all-inclusive vacation at the Sun Group ecosystem in Quang Ninh. (Source: Collected)
Morning: Cable Car - Ferris Wheel - Water Park
Start the day with a Queen Cable Car ride, admiring Ha Long Bay under the gentle morning sun. Continue to experience the Sun Wheel, enjoying the high, airy space and the widest panoramic view of the day. Typhoon Water Park with thrilling activities and a warm water pool is very suitable for the cool winter weather.
Noon: In-house Cuisine
You can enjoy a fresh seafood buffet at the restaurants within the premises, experience specialties such as Ha Long grilled fish, squid spring rolls, or choose from a variety of international dishes. The dining areas are designed to overlook the bay, providing a relaxing and romantic atmosphere for lunch.
Afternoon: Bai Chay Beach Check-in - Tet Gift Shopping
The afternoon is the ideal time to stroll and capture moments by Bai Chay beach with its vibrant sunset scenery. Afterwards, spend time selecting local specialties such as dried seafood, coconut candy, green bean cake, or handicrafts as meaningful Tet gifts.
The Quang Ninh Travel Itinerary for Tet 2026 offers a complete combination of gentle cool weather, the beauty of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay, the special spiritual space at Yen Tu, and a series of vibrant early-year festivals. Plan and book your tour early to enjoy special offers and memorable experiences to welcome the new year!