On the evening of March 29 at Phu Yen Square (Tuy Hoa ward), the opening ceremony for Dak Lak’s 2026 tourism programme, themed “Dak Lak - Journey to the Land of Heritage”, officially took place, launching a series of tourism stimulus events.

More than a promotional event, the programme was staged as a “symphony” celebrating heritage, where culture, people, alongside nature converge, conveying a message of sustainable development within a newly expanded tourism space following administrative merger.

Provincial leaders and local residents attending the opening ceremony.

At the ceremony, PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Dao My officially announced the 2026 tourism programme series. He affirmed that post-merger, Dak Lak now holds a rare advantage by combining both forest and marine ecosystems, creating a diverse, highly promising tourism development space. The province’s tourism landscape is showing positive momentum. In the first quarter of 2026, Dak Lak welcomed approximately 2.3 million visitors, with tourism revenue exceeding 4.1 trillion VND, marking a strong increase compared with the same period.

This year’s theme, “Journey to the Land of Heritage”, serves not only as an invitation for exploration but also reflects provincial determination to preserve and promote cultural, historical, alongside natural values for sustainable growth. The 2026 tourism activities go beyond short-term stimulus, aiming to position tourism as a key economic sector based on sustainable exploitation of heritage values.

Dak Lak tourism today is defined not only by its green forests but also by its blue seas. It represents a new destination where distinctive values of the highlands and the coast converge and radiate. Within a single journey, visitors can experience rhythm of mountain towns while enjoying a variety of unique seafood specialties.

Elaborately staged and spectacular performances.

Beyond ceremonial elements, the art programme emerged as a highlight, structured as a continuous narrative of heritage. From resonant gong sounds of Central Highlands to traditional bai choi folk singing in central Vietnam, from majestic forests landscapes to vast seascapes, all elements blended seamlessly, portraying a land undergoing dynamic transformation.

Mr. Tran Van Nam, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “I have attended many tourism opening ceremonies, yet this programme feels truly different. Rather than separate performances, it presents a coherent story. The ao dai segment alongside the beauty queen’s presentation helped me better understand the "heritage" message Dak Lak aims to convey.”

At the event, the province also introduced its digital tourism map along with Dak Lak Culinary Passport. These digital tools are expected to help visitors access services more easily, contributing to further growth of the local tourism sector.

Translated by HAI LOAN