Ha Long - a Destination on the Clipper Race 2023-2024

DNHN - As an international sailing race, Clipper Race 2023-2024 promises to bring positive impressions of the country and people of Quang Ninh, exciting experiences for domestic and foreign tourists, and opportunities for cultural and tourism connections.

According to the plan of the organising unit of the Clipper Round The World Race (Clipper Race), Ha Long will be a destination on the 2023-2024 race route.

The Clipper Race sailing competition began in October 1996 in the city of Plymouth (UK). To date, more than 50 cities around the world have been stopovers for the Clipper Race. According to statistics from the Clipper Race Organising Committee, on average, each race, racing boat and port of call receives 6,000 press releases, 500 news flashes, more than 100 printed publications, more than 2,000 posts on social networks and information transmitted to 165 countries around the world.

The 2023-2024 season is divided into 8 legs with 16 individual races and 6 ocean crossings. Participating in the season are 11 racing boats that will come to Ha Long Bay, including the Quang Ninh team’s racing boat called: “Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam”; participating in the race are about 400 sailors who are fans of the sport of sailing, including many scientists, businessmen, investors, doctors, journalists, famous people on social networks, etc. In addition, there are hundreds of relatives of the sailors participating in the race and foreign press reporters who come to the destinations of the race.

The race is not only an international sporting event but also a great opportunity to promote the tourism image of destinations to tourists around the world, especially tourists from the European, North American and Australian markets. In addition to promoting the image of the destination, this is an opportunity to attract investors to Quang Ninh.

Before arriving in Ha Long, the racing boats will depart from Coral Sea Marina Resort, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia. From 21/2 - 26/2/2024, the racing boats will arrive in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh, from 28/2 - 29/2/2024, the crew members will participate in some activities in Quang Ninh, on 02/3 the boats will leave Ha Long to continue their journey to Jiu Zhou Port, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China.

To promote the image of the destination, and attract investors to Quang Ninh, on the occasion of the racing boats arriving in Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province will organise several activities:

(1) Organising a welcoming ceremony to welcome the racing teams to Quang Ninh, time: 05 days (expected from 21-26/02/2024, the actual implementation time will be adjusted according to the actual arrival schedule of the racing boats);

1. (2) Organising a programme to introduce local products (OCOP) and promote Quang Ninh tourism; time: From 10:00 - 18:00 (expected from 26/2 - 02/3/2024, location: Ha Long International Passenger Port Area, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province;

2. (3) Organising a programme for the Clipper Race crew to visit and survey the destination;

3. (4) Conference to promote, advertise and attract investment in Quang Ninh tourism, in conjunction with the award ceremony of the race; time: Expected from 16:00 - 21:00 on 28/02/2024; location: 5-star hotel in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh; content: Advertising, introducing tourism, discussing investment attraction opportunities in Quang Ninh; discussing and connecting investment between Vietnamese businesses and foreign partners, meeting between sailors and businesses, investors in and outside the province;

4. (5) Visiting the boat (static event); time: Expected from 10:00 - 17:00 on 29/02/2024; location: Ha Long International Passenger Port, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province; content: Organising for visitors to visit the boat;

5. (6) Organising art performances; time: 20:00 - 21:30 on 29/02/2024; location: Sun World Ha Long Park, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province; content: Organising an art performance programme;

6. (7) Organising tours and excursions for crew members, the Organising Committee and other guests;

7. (8) Restarting the race with a racing boat parade; time: Expected from 11:00 on 02/3/2024; location: Ha Long International Port Area, Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.

Nam Khanh Duc