Thousands join Summer Tourism Festival opening in Vietnam’s Gia Lai

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, vice-chairwoman of the provincial administration, said the newly expanded Gia Lai is uniquely positioned with both mountainous landscapes and a long coastline.

“Some places are blessed with majestic forests, while others are renowned for their seas. Gia Lai today is fortunate to possess both,” she said.

The festival theme ‘Gia Lai - Great Forest Meets Blue Sea’ reflects the province’s blend of majestic highlands and coastal beauty.

“From Pleiku’s vast forests to Quy Nhon’s endless sea, Gia Lai is opening a new tourism space where nature, culture, and people harmonize in a unique journey,” she said.

The opening program featured two parts, including ‘Gia Lai - Summer Is Calling’ with artistic performances combining modern music and traditional culture, and ‘Chill with Idols,' a lively music party with popular artists that energized the crowd.

In related news, statistics from the provincial tourism authority show that Gia Lai welcomed nearly seven million visitors in the first five months of this year, up 16.5 percent year on year, generating VND15.2 trillion (US$576 million) in tourism revenue, a 19-percent increase.

Quy Nhon, a famed beach destination in the province, was honored for the third time as an ASEAN Clean Tourism City, reinforcing Gia Lai’s growing reputation on the regional tourism map.