Two to three hours by car from Hanoi, a seaside town in northern Vietnam has been reborn, name and all. On the night of July 10, 2026, Ninh Binh Province officially unveiled the beach formerly called "Quất Lâm" as a new tourism brand, "Giao Ninh." The slogan is "Giao Ninh—a land of calm the sea calls to." Beyond famous beaches like Ha Long Bay,Ha Long Bay's bid to revive fishing-village wooden sailboats and sell the whole sea storyJust like ___, the northern coast is now reinventing itself into “a destination with experiences to talk about.” At the forefront is Giao Ninh. Here we lay out the background to the name change and what travelers can actually enjoy.
The “renaming” that began on the seaside square on the night of July 10
The setting for the announcement was the central plaza of the Giao Ninh tourist area. That evening, the province unveiled both the brand's identity design (logo and colors) and a set of community-based tourism products created by the coastal villages. The logo takes waves, sails, and the horizon as motifs, unified in blue and sand tones drawn from the sea, the sand, and the coastal ecosystem.
The formal decision on the renaming itself was made earlier, on June 17, by the provincial People's Committee. The July 10 ceremony was the occasion to give the decision "visible form" and present it. Related events were arranged around the ceremony through about July 13, and the seaside plaza was wrapped in a festive mood for several days.
Why they dropped "Quat Lam"
There are two reasons. One is the reorganization of administrative divisions. Provincial mergers advanced in Vietnam in 2025, and Quat Lam, once a seaside part of the former Nam Dinh Province, is now part of Giao Ninh commune in Ninh Binh Province. The place name had to be brought in line with the new administrative unit.
Another thing locals took more seriously was the “image refresh.” In its Nam Dinh days, Quat Lam came to be known for lax public morals, and that reputation had overshadowed the appeal of the sea itself. Switching the place name and rebuilding it into a safe, wholesome beach under unified management after the merger—this renaming is not merely swapping a name, but a declaration of a fresh start that resets the negative memory.
Ninh Binh tourism's momentum in numbers
The foundation Giao Ninh is trying to build on is by no means weak. In the first half of 2026 alone, Ninh Binh Province grew both visitor numbers and revenue substantially. The figures are all for the province as a whole (including inland attractions like Trang An and Tam Coc), so note they aren't Giao Ninh alone, but they give a sense of the momentum.
| Metrics (first half of 2026, Ninh Binh Province overall) | Actual figures | Year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Number of visitors (cumulative) | About 17.6 million people | About 23% growth |
| Tourism revenue | About 18 trillion dong (roughly 108 billion yen at 10,000 dong ≒ 60 yen) | About 22% up |
| Giao Ninh’s coastline | About 90km (after the province's expansion) | — |
| Distance from Hanoi | About 100–120 km / 2–3 hours by car | — |
A province that has earned its keep from inland World Heritage sites has begun playing another card in earnest: the sea. Giao Ninh is positioned as its seaside banner.
What's inside the "experience" being unveiled
What lined up at the ceremony wasn’t renderings of a luxury resort but content that turned local life itself into tourism. Picking out the highlights from a traveler’s perspective brings the area’s character into focus.
- Community-based tours run by each coastal village, and demonstration sales of local OCOP-certified products (regional specialty brands)
- Coastal-culture performances such as kite-flying, the cà kheo (stilt) dance, and brass playing. The sight of kites dancing in the seaside skyA Kite Festival at Tam Thanh Beach near Da Nang, Where Giant Fish and Octopus Kites Swim the Skyjust like this, it's becoming a photogenic staple on Vietnam's coast
- Just-caught seafood, and the seasonings that underpin the local flavor—Sa Chau fish sauce (nuoc mam) and Bach Long sun-dried salt. The “salty specialties” nurtured by salt fields and mangroves are this town’s real strength
The establishment of the “Giao Ninh Tourism Association” by local businesses was also announced. That a system has formed in which not just the administration's directive but the receiving side's shops and inns move together as a bloc is an encouraging sign for travelers, pointing to future service improvements.
How travelers can make use of this 'rebirth'
When you add Giao Ninh to your travel shortlist, there are three points worth keeping in mind.
First,"A quiet northern sea for those tired of the famous beaches' crowds"It’s different in character from big resorts like Da Nang or Phu Quoc; a shallow, gently lapping shore and the feel of a simple fishing-village swimming beach remain. It’s within day-trip distance of Hanoi, so it suits residents looking for “a close, quiet weekend sea” rather than the hectic southern islands.
Second,The point that it's a beach where you can get your money's worth through food. As the marquee items—condiments like fish sauce and sun-dried salt—suggest, here the stars are the freshness of the seafood and the local seasoning. Rather than bracing for tourist-priced seafood, plan the trip around enjoying the local ingredients themselves, and you'll come away more satisfied.
Third,The Timing Where "Going Now Lets You Witness the Change in Progress"That's it. Right now, with the brand just launched, is a rare period where the simplicity before big development moves in coexists with the heat of the government and locals starting to polish it in earnest. Including the fun of comparing it against a more developed form years from now, the early days — now — are exactly when it's worth making the trip.
Giao Ninh basics and nearby detours
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Giao Ninh tourist area (formerly Quat Lam) |
| Location | Giao Ninh commune, Ninh Binh Province (formerly Giao Thuy, Nam Dinh Province) |
| Access | About 100 to 120 km from Hanoi, two to three hours by car. Going via the Hanoi–Ninh Binh expressway is convenient |
| Type of sea | A shallow, gently lapping swimming beach. Good for swimming, beach walks, and watching sunrise/sunset |
| Specialty | Seafood, Sa Chau fish sauce, Bach Long sun-dried salt, and OCOP specialties |
| Nearby detours | Xuan Thuy National Park, a treasure trove of migratory birds (a Ramsar-registered wetland), and clusters of old churches |
Rather than making it all about the sea, combine it with the mangroves and birdwatching of adjacent Xuan Thuy National Park and the solemn old churches dotting the Nam Dinh region, and you can build a substantial itinerary, whether for half a day or a full day.
Summary: the best time for the sea that changed its name
From Quat Lam to Giao Ninh. The name change may look like a superficial makeover, but behind it two serious efforts are moving—administrative reorganization and image revival. The conclusion for travelers is simple: within day-trip range of Hanoi, one more destination now lets you savor the quiet northern sea and seafood, plus the local culture of salt and kites, all at once. If you're unsure which seaside eatery to pick,If most customers are locals, it's a winner: the golden rule for picking good shops in VietnamRecalling that helps you go wrong less often. To start, try working it into a weekend plan from Hanoi during the July-to-summer beach season.
