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| A sailing demonstration on Lang Co Bay. Photo: Hue City People’s Committee Portal |
Building on this initial milestone, Hue is now looking to host large-scale sailing regattas as part of Hue Festival and its broader strategy for coastal tourism development.
New Experiences
During the program “Lang Co - World’s Beautiful Bay 2026”, held from July 5 to 7, residents and visitors witnessed sailboats gliding across the waters of Lang Co Bay for the first time, as athletes staged a series of on-water demonstrations. Beyond being a marine sporting activity, the showcase also offered a fresh new image of Hue’s coastal tourism.
Ms. Chu Thuy Hoa, a visitor from Hanoi, shared: “Sitting in a restaurant in Lang Co, we had a clear view of the sailing demonstrations, which were both beautiful and captivating. Lang Co Beach is already breathtaking, and the sailboats made the scenery even more spectacular.”
According to Mr. Dinh Ngoc Hung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chan May - Lang Co Commune, the idea of incorporating sailing demonstrations into the “Lang Co - World’s Beautiful Bay” program marks a new step toward making better use of the area’s coastal and natural landscape advantages. The initiative is expected to diversify local tourism products while making the destination more attractive to visitors.
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| The sailing event organizer offers visitors the opportunity to board the sailboats and experience sailing firsthand |
Although Lang Co Bay has long been recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful bays, its coastal tourism products have remained relatively limited, lacking in recreational services and distinctive marine sports activities. Against this backdrop, the sight of sailboats gliding across the bay’s crystal-clear waters for the first time created a striking scene, symbolizing Lang Co’s aspiration for development while introducing fresh experiences that align with today’s travel trends and visitor expectations.
Initial experience from the inaugural event suggests that the waters off Lang Co offer stable wind speed and calm water surface while remaining outside busy shipping routes. These favorable conditions provide a strong foundation for developing sailing activities and related experiences for visitors.
Heading to a typical annual activity
At the sailing demonstration held on June 6 as part of the “Lang Co - World’s Beautiful Bay 2026” program, Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee, said that Hue Festival 2026 continues to reinforce the city’s vision of becoming Vietnam’s signature Festival City, a destination where cultural heritage, natural landscapes and distinctive tourism products converge and are promoted.
According to Mr. Giang, hosting events at renowned destinations such as Lang Co Bay, including the sailing demonstration, not only promotes the city’s image but also creates momentum for developing a greener and more sustainable tourism economy. Looking ahead, Hue plans to develop sailing into an annual regatta held in conjunction with the “Lang Co - World’s Beautiful Bay” program from next year onward. This event is expected to enrich the lineup of activities within Hue Festival.
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| The sailing demonstration has become a new highlight of tourism in Lang Co |
Many coastal and riverfront destinations across Vietnam have successfully turned sailing into a tourism highlight. In Quang Ninh, for example, traditional three-masted sailing boats have been restored and incorporated into tourism services, together with holding sailing demonstration competitions, which have drawn a great number of visitors. Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai) have hosted national and international sailing regattas, and Can Tho has developed a distinctive river tourism product through its annual open sailing regatta on the Hau River. These successful models offer valuable insights for Hue in exploring a new direction for diversifying tourism activities.
According to a representative of Lang Co Tourism Co. Ltd., travelers, particularly international visitors, are increasingly seeking tourism experiences and marine sports related to sailing. Effective collaboration between the city authorities, the local government, and businesses will create a wider range of engaging water-based activities in Lang Co, including sailing activities. With supportive policies and close cooperation from local authorities, the businesses are willing to invest in developing new experiences and activities related to sailing.
Mr. Dinh Ngoc Hung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chan May - Lang Co Commune, said that the locality aims to develop further and turn sailing into an annual event. The long-term goal is to create a signature coastal tourism product carrying the unique brand name of Chan May - Lang Co, enhancing the area’s appeal as a key destination in Hue and central Vietnam.