Gia Lai tourism businesses explore opportunities to link coastal and Highland destinations

Young entrepreneurs in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province are developing tourism businesses around family farms, local cuisine and forest landscapes, creating new livelihood opportunities in their home communities.

Gia Lai is using the National Tourism Year 2026 as a catalyst to reshape its tourism sector, moving beyond event-based promotion toward an integrated ecosystem linking tourism with investment, trade, culture, sports, agriculture, aviation and infrastructure.

Every late summer, as the rainy season begins to give way to autumn, former residents of western Gia Lai now living in Ho Chi Minh City start looking forward to returning to their mountain hometown to see the wild sunflowers bloom and experience its gong culture.

Gia Lai province has inspected two community-based tourism sites as it considers selecting a destination to represent the province in Vietnam’s 2026 “Best Rural Tourism Destination” competition.

Gia Lai is exploring the use of existing fishing port infrastructure for passenger transport and marine tourism, with Nhơn Lý Fishing Port among the first locations under consideration as the province seeks to expand the value chain of its marine economy.

Gia Lai province is promoting its tourism, cultural heritage and local products at the 10th Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa, Japan, as part of efforts to attract Japanese visitors and strengthen tourism cooperation.

Ia Mơ Nông Lake in Gia Lai province’s Ia Ly commune is drawing attention for its emerald-green waters, expansive grasslands and close ties to the daily life and culture of the local Jrai community.

Gia Lai is stepping up efforts to attract international visitors by moving beyond conventional destination promotion and focusing on partnerships, market research and tourism products tailored to the needs of specific visitor groups.

Homestays and farmstays in western Gia Lai are upgrading facilities and expanding nature-based, culinary and cultural experiences as they prepare for the five-day National Day holiday beginning September 2.

The 2nd Vietnam Travel Day 2026 opened in Gia Lai on August 15, bringing together tourism authorities, associations and businesses from Vietnam and overseas to strengthen market connections, develop new products and showcase the province’s evolving tourism landscape.

Hundreds of domestic and international tourism businesses surveyed attractions, cultural experiences and facilities in Gia Lai on August 14, exploring opportunities to develop new travel programs and partnerships in the province.

Mui Vi Rong, a dramatic rocky promontory jutting into the East Sea, is attracting a growing number of visitors to Phu My Dong, bringing new tourism opportunities to the centuries-old fishing community of Tan Phung.

Three whales were spotted simultaneously hunting for food off the coast of Vũng Bồi in An Lương commune at around midday on August 5, marking a rare wildlife sighting that has attracted widespread public attention.

A 1.2-hectare organic vineyard in Gia Lai province has evolved into a leading agritourism destination, attracting between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors annually while demonstrating how organic farming and experiential tourism can generate sustainable rural livelihoods.

Cù Lao Xanh is leveraging its abundant marine resources and distinctive seafood cuisine to strengthen island tourism, while promoting sustainable fishing practices and protecting its coastal ecosystem.

Gia Lai's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with Hanatour Vietnam Co., Ltd., conducted a familiarization (famtrip) tour on July 26 to assess cultural and natural attractions in the province's western region to develop a new tourism route for South Korean travelers.

As the only Xê Đăng village on the Gia Lai plateau, Ea Lũh village (Bien Ho commune) boasts a unique beauty amid the Bien Ho tea region, with ancient rock formations of various shapes scattered from the lakeshore deep into the village at the foot of the mountain.

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has outlined its priorities for the second half of 2026, focusing on institutional reform, cultural development, tourism growth, digital transformation after reporting broad progress across the sector during the first six months of the year.

Deep inside the Kon Ka Kinh forest, students are leaving behind mobile phones and internet access to learn practical outdoor skills through immersive experiences as Kon Ka Kinh National Park develops a new school tourism program focused on life skills and nature conservation.

The People's Committee of Gia Lai Province has approved a 12-month pilot program for jet skiing and motorized paragliding in Quy Nhon Ward as part of efforts to promote marine tourism development. The pilot will begin once the activities receive official authorization to operate.

Hundreds of colorful kites, including giant whale, crocodile and stingray designs, filled the skies above Xuan Dieu Beach during the 2026 Quy Nhon-Gia Lai Artistic Kite Festival, drawing thousands of residents and tourists and adding to the city's summer tourism appeal.

Quy Nhon, located in Gia Lai province, has been recognized as Vietnam's sole representative among the ideal destinations for beach exploration journeys, according to a recent announcement by Lonely Planet.

Authorities in Gia Lai Province have reviewed proposals to develop ecotourism, resort and entertainment projects at Kon Ka Kinh National Park and Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve through 2030, with a long-term vision extending to 2045.

Tourism is steadily reshaping life on Cu Lao Xanh, a small island commune about 20 kilometers off Vietnam’s coast, as fishermen and their families diversify their livelihoods while local authorities seek to build a sustainable tourism industry around the island’s natural attractions.