Thien Cam: From fishing village to tourism stroke of luck in Ha Tinh!

Thien Cam: From fishing village to tourism stroke of luck in Ha Tinh!

Thien Cam, a picturesque beach in central Vietnam's Ha Tinh province, has transformed in recent years from a place that relied heavily on fishing to a popular tourist destination. This is not only a change in the economic structure, but also a remarkable step towards sustainable tourism. Loud VOV World Over 3.7 million visitors visited Ha Tinh in the first six months of 2025, an increase of 8.1 percent compared to the previous year.

The locals in Thien Cam have actively contributed to the development of tourism offerings by creating high quality and sustainable services. This process meant not only a diversification of income sources, but also an improvement in the quality of life for many families. The opening of numerous hotels and restaurants, most recently on April 30, 2025, is an indicator of the booming tourism sector. Lai Van Huong, owner of the Sunrise Hotel, reports high occupancy, especially in high season, and describes the experiences of tourists who praise the beauty of the beach and the hospitality of the people.

Economic development and new opportunities

Further developments in Thien Cam show a remarkable economic revival. Former fishermen and farmers, like Nguyen Van Phu, have invested in new business models, including homestay, which have resulted in significantly higher incomes. For example, in the summer of 2023, six new accommodations with over 200 rooms were built, significantly increasing the site's capacity. Additionally, there are nearly 50 restaurants and 41 existing accommodations, generating hundreds of billions of VND in revenue annually.

The local economy also benefits significantly from the increase in tourist numbers. Ms. Hoang Thi Lich, director of Cua Nhuong Seafood Cooperative, reports her annual turnover of tens of billions of VND by supplying dozens of tons of seafood to the market. This illustrates the positive impact of tourism on agriculture, fishing and other service sectors.

Sustainable tourism as a development engine

Ha Tinh Province is actively working to position tourism as one of its four key economic sectors. The Department of Tourism Management emphasizes that the sustainable development of tourism should promote maritime tourism as well as ecotourism, community tourism and rural tourism. The Da Bac ecotourism area in Thach Xuan Municipality was opened in 2022, which also attracts numerous visitors.

Through these initiatives, tourism in Ha Tinh is forecast to grow significantly, with an estimate of 3.36 million visitors for 2023, 5.6 million for 2024 and 6.5 million for 2025, as Vietnam.vn reported. These impressive figures reflect not only the trend but also the gradual revitalization of villages in the region.

The success of Thien Cam clearly shows that the combination of traditional maritime economy and modern tourism offerings can serve as a model for sustainable development in many coastal villages in Vietnam. It remains to be seen how this positive trend will develop and what further opportunities will arise for the local population.