This event holds profound significance in introducing and promoting Vietnam’sunique tourism products. It honors Vietnam’s tangible and intangible cultural values, fosters regional tourism linkages, and attracts domestic and international visitors, thereby driving socio-economic development. Beyond promotion, the National Tourism Year serves as a catalyst for the market - activating regional connectivity, innovating products and service quality, and elevating the national tourism brand on a global scale.

The theme for the year, “Gia Lai: Mountains Embracing the Sea” not only symbolizes the expanded geographical space after the recent administrative restructuring but also conveys a strategic message of harmonious connection. It bridges the highlands and the islands, majestic natural landscapes and unique ethnic identities steeped in gong culture and epics stories, and reflects the need for balance between conservation and development.

A year of diverse activities

National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 will feature 244 events and activities. These include 18 activities chaired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, 109 by Gia Lai Province, and 117 related activities organized by 22 other provinces and cities. This scale of happenings demonstrates that the event lies not in a singular occurrence but rather a meticulously prepared, year-long series of programs resonating across ministries, localities, and the business communities.

Activities take on quarterly themes to ensure continuity and diversity:

Quarter I: Opening week (March 2026): Gia Lai officially becomes the epicenter of national tourism. On March 28, 2026, the Opening Ceremony will take place in the Quy Nhơn ward center. This grand spectacle of sound and light will conclude with a brilliant fireworks display, symbolizing the powerful intersection of mountain identity and the ambition to reach the vast ocean.

Investment promotion conference 2026: Over 120 projects will receive investment decisions alongside nearly 115 memoranda of understanding across sectors from industry and renewable energy to ecotourism.

Opening Highlights: The Gia Lai Coffee Tour (promoting agricultural and green tourism), the Gia Lai Culinary Essence 2026 program, and various sporting events including the Gia Lai Cycling Club Open, Bình Định Martial Arts Night, Pickleball and Muay championships, and traditional boat racing.

Quarter III: Gia Lai - Experiencing the land of martial arts: Featuring the “Gia Lai - Exotic Destination” Summer Tourism Festival, the VnExpress Marathon 2026, and the Golden Kite Film Awards.

Quarter IV: Gia Lai - Touching the Gong Rhythm, Touching the soul of the Tây Nguyên: Focusing on cultural identity with the International Festival of Tây Nguyên Gongs, the Wild Sunflower - Chư Đăng Ya Volcano Week, and the Closing Ceremony.

Where nature meets heritage

Gia Lai allows the convergence of raw beauty and cultural depth. A land of expansive spaces, ancient pine forests, and endless green tea hills, Its pure identity comes from the  echo of gongs resonating through millennia.

Natural wonders: T’Nung Lake (Biển Hồ), famously known as the “Eyes of Pleiku”; the million-year-old Chu Dang Ya Volcano blooming with vibrant wild sunflowers; and the Kon Ka Kinh National Park and Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve, the green lungs of the region with majestic waterfalls. Now, Gia Lai’s emerald bays also whisper with the sound of waves. Visitors can experience “One Journey, Two Destinations”: immersing themselves in the mystery of gong culture at dawn and enjoying the vibrant, radiant sunset over the Quy Nhơn coast on the same day. If the forest represents the depth of the soul and traditional values, the sea represents vision and the aspiration to reach further. Eo Gió, dubbed the best place to watch the sunrise in Vietnam, offers a spectacular combination of soaring rocky ridges and fascinating caves. Kỳ Cò Island, with its two-toned turquoise water and fine white sand, makes an ideal spot for diving, coral viewing, and enjoying fresh seafood.

Gia Lai 2026 presents more than  a destination; it offers a vivid experience of rustic sincerity. For the best experience, travelers should fly to Quy Nhơn, then travel by road up to Pleiku via the An Khê Pass. This route unfolds as a magical transition from the saltiness of the sea to the crisp, cool air of the great highlands.

HONG VAN

Vietnam Destination Review - Special Issue No. 1 (May 2026)