Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don – now the largest internationally branded hotel officially opened in Van Don.

On a winter morning, the sea breeze from Bai Tu Long Bay swept across the glass-clad sail-shaped towers reaching toward the ocean. Towers A and B of the Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don project were officially inaugurated. For Van Don, this wasn’t merely a ribbon-cutting ceremony - it marked a turning point: a long-interrupted development dream is now being revived through deliberate, long-term decisions.

Van Don was once expected to become a special economic zone, a high-quality marine and island tourism center, a new gateway connecting Vietnam to the region and the world. For a time, expectations leaned heavily on preferential policies and fast capital inflows. But when the special zone law failed to pass, that momentum was lost. Investment slowed, many projects stalled or were adjusted. This vast island region of Quang Ninh entered a long period of silence - its great potential still intact but lacking the necessary force to transform it into reality.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the vulnerability of destinations that had yet to establish core competencies. International tourism froze, and resort real estate markets retreated. Most investors adopted a wait-and-see approach. In that context, Van Don stood on the verge of becoming an “unfinished destination”: with an airport and a masterplan, but lacking world-class products to anchor and attract international tourists when the market revived.

Everland’s Strategic Choice

While many investors hesitated, Everland Group “poured in all resources and commitment” to continue developing Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don, with the goal of “transforming Van Don into an attractive new destination on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region,” said Mr. Le Dinh Vinh, Chairman of Everland Group, at the inauguration ceremony last weekend. This was not merely a contrarian move - it reflected a fundamentally different approach to destination development.

Rather than betting on policy incentives or market cycles, Everland focused on a core question: What does Van Don need to truly become an international destination? The answer doesn’t lie in quantity, but in creating foundational “pillars”: large-scale, internationally standardized accommodations, a regional-scale convention center, and the presence of global hotel operators.

Mr. Vinh emphasized that completing Phase I amid global uncertainty underscores confidence in the long-term outlook of Vietnam’s tourism and Van Don’s role in it. According to him, the toughest periods are the best time to lay foundations, when the market rebounds, only destinations that are truly ready will be able to attract international visitors in a substantial way.

“This project is not just a new tourism symbol for Van Don - it is a testament to the vision, determination, and strong commitment of the developer toward the region’s future,” Mr. Vinh stated.

Mr. Le Dinh Vinh, Chairman of Everland Group, affirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Van Don.

After more than 1,000 days of continuous construction, the two towers with nearly 1,000 accommodation units were completed, making Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don the largest integrated resort, MICE and entertainment complex in the area. Remaining towers are being fast-tracked, and once finished, the project will become one of the largest hotel complexes in Vietnam, offering nearly 2,300 rooms and resort apartments. Yet, the project’s real value lies not in size, but in its role as a “destination anchor.”

In tourism development, a location is only truly recognized when it has “anchor” infrastructure: facilities large and high-standard enough for international travel agencies and hotel brands to treat it as a serious stop, not just a short sightseeing detour.

Everland’s partnership with Centara Hotels & Resorts - a global hotel brand with over 40 years of experience goes beyond day-to-day hotel operations. It signifies that Van Don has reached a threshold of destination potential.

From an operator’s perspective, Mr. Maurizio Susan, General Manager of Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don, shared that what convinced Centara to stay long-term was not just the scale of the project but the vision and discipline of the developer. According to him, a destination can only go far if the investor commits from the beginning to building strong operations, local workforce development, and harmonious community relations.

“The success of this project will be measured not only by returns to investors, but also by guest satisfaction, team cohesion, and the long-term reputation we build together for Van Don,” said Mr. Susan.

Prior to Crystal Holidays, Wyndham Garden Van Don (200 rooms) had already entered service. However, the arrival of a large-scale, multifunctional complex like Crystal Holidays marks a shift: from “potential destination” to “destination with receiving capacity.” Two international-branded hotels emerging amid market caution is a rare signal - showing that some investors are willing to think beyond short-term cycles.

Van Don in a New Development Trajectory

Discussions about Van Don today inevitably invite comparisons - with Phu Quoc or Bali.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, has seen over a decade of rapid growth. An international airport, numerous resorts, amusement parks, casinos, and tourism townships have sprung up along its coastline. But along with this speed came infrastructure pressure, high density, and a tourism real estate market now undergoing correction after overheating.

Bali, on a different scale, is a global icon of experiential travel. Culture, spirituality, nature, and services have fused into a powerful brand, so recognizable that the name alone evokes vivid imagery. Yet, success has brought its own challenges, with mounting debate over the island’s carrying capacity. Bali today is a case study in the cost of fame.

Van Don is different. It’s not yet a familiar name on the international tourism map and has only two international hotels. Recreational infrastructure is nearly nonexistent. But that “lack of fame” opens up rare room for growth.

Compared to Phu Quoc, Van Don still has abundant land, low construction density, and a sheltered bay dotted with hundreds of unspoiled limestone islets. Compared to Bali, Van Don lacks a globally embedded cultural experience but it offers quietness, serenity, and unspoiled nature assets increasingly rare in post-pandemic travel.

If Phu Quoc is a story of rapid growth, and Bali of success and saturation then Van Don stands at the beginning of a different path: selective growth.

This distinction is why Van Don doesn’t need and perhaps shouldn’t try to become “the next Phu Quoc” or “a new Bali.” Its role, at least for now, is as a complementary destination: a place travelers turn to when Ha Long is too crowded, Bali too noisy, and the demand for privacy and sustainability still unmet.

Emerging infrastructure pieces are proving this isn’t just a blueprint. Sun Group recently broke ground on an integrated resort with a casino, investing up to USD 2 billion. It also built Van Don International Airport - one of Vietnam’s few privately developed airports. The launch of Sun Air, its airline, shows its ambition to create tourist demand rather than wait for it.

In this picture, Everland is more than a project developer. It is one of the first movers reshaping Van Don - from a place with potential but few offerings into a recognized destination on the global tourism map.

Realizing the Dream through Strategy, Not Speculation

The rise of Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don has coincided with major infrastructure milestones such as Van Don International Airport, integrated tourism projects, and plans to attract international visitors. As these pieces come together, Van Don is gradually taking shape as a new tourism growth pole of Quang Ninh, helping to ease the overtourism burden on Ha Long Bay.

The inauguration of Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don is not merely a project milestone - it reflects a strategic choice: to build a destination based on intrinsic capacity, not regulatory expectations or market waves.

On the land that was once among Southeast Asia’s busiest ports, Van Don now has a chance to resume its development dream. And in that dream, Everland’s role is not just about how many buildings it constructs, but about fostering the one thing a new destination needs most: belief that Van Don can step onto the world stage by its own merit.

Van Don’s Largest 5-Star Integrated Resort Complex

Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don spans 2.6 hectares, with total investment exceeding VND 5,600 billion. The project features five 28–34-storey towers and a 4-storey international convention center. Its neoclassical architecture symbolizes prosperous “sails” reaching out to the sea.

Upon completion, the project will offer 2,274 five-star hotel rooms and resort apartments, along with a full suite of amenities from shopping malls, dining, entertainment zones, wellness and healthcare areas, and conference spaces to themed clubs. The standout feature is a 1,500-seat international convention center equipped with premium sound and lighting systems ready to host domestic and global MICE events.

- The Leader -