Centara Van Don, formally Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don, opened on 1 October 2026 with 481 rooms and suites on Bai Tu Long Bay in Quang Ninh. It is a big bet on overnight stays in a market where most visitors still come for the day: for hoteliers in Van Don and Ha Long, the question is whether 481 new rooms grow the overnight market or split it.
Thailand’s Centara manages the hotel for Everland Group JSC, which developed it as part of its Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don complex next to Ao Tien International Port, VietNamNet reported on the opening day. Centara says it is its second property in Vietnam. The hotel is 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport, according to its factsheet.
Key facts
- Hotel: Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don, 481 rooms and suites in 12 types (4 room and 8 suite categories)
- Opened: 1 October 2026, grand opening
- Every room: has a kitchenette. The Chairman and President suites have private pools
- Owner and developer: Everland Group JSC. Managed by Centara Hotels & Resorts
- Address: Lot M1, Ao Tien High-Class Harbour and Tourism Urban Area, Van Don Special Zone, Quang Ninh
- Access: 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport, per the factsheet. Linked to the Ha Long–Van Don–Mong Cai expressway
- Facilities: two ballrooms and meeting rooms, infinity and indoor pools, a kids’ club, SPA Cenvaree, Timo (Mediterranean and Italian), Pearl (Asian and Chinese), Crystal Bar and a pool bar
- Market: about 1.5 million visitors to Van Don in the first half of 2026, of whom just over 272,000 stayed overnight, according to the local estimate
The hotel at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rooms and suites | 481, in 12 categories |
| In-room | Kitchenette in every room |
| Pool suites | Chairman Suite and President Suite |
| Events | Two ballrooms and multiple meeting rooms, per Centara |
| Restaurants and bars | Timo, Pearl, Crystal Bar, Pool Bar |
| Wellness and family | SPA Cenvaree, fitness centre, indoor pool with kids’ pool, Kids’ Club |
| Owner | Everland Group JSC |
| Operator | Centara Hotels & Resorts |
Dan Tri reported that the hotel occupies towers A and B of the complex and is sold with Crystal Holidays Cruise trips on the bay from VND 1.95 million per person.
Van Don is still a day-trip market
| Indicator, first half of 2026 | Figure | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors | about 1.5 million | +40.2% |
| of which international | 56,500 | +8% |
| Overnight-stay guests | more than 272,000 | +64.5% |
| Tourism revenue | VND 2,719bn | +86% |
These are the local estimate published by Báo Quảng Ninh on 18 June. A July update put first-half visitors at 1.52 million, 44.7% of the year’s plan, with the same revenue figure.
Takeaway: about 18% of Van Don’s visitors stayed overnight, so most of the market Centara is entering does not yet buy a room.
Takeaway: overnight stays and revenue are growing faster than visitor numbers, which is the trend a 481-room hotel needs to continue.
Quang Ninh’s other September opening
| Hotel | Location | Rooms | Opened | Owner | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don | Van Don | 481 | 1 Oct 2026 | Everland Group JSC | Centara |
| Tra Co Long Beach Hotel & Resort | Mong Cai | 170 | 19 Sep 2026, after a soft opening in August | Trung Chinh JSC | Not stated |
Tra Co Long Beach has 11 floors, a 500-seat conference centre and a private beach, according to Dan Tri. Together the two add 651 upscale keys to Quang Ninh’s coast, all opened within a fortnight. Our October openings roundup lists every opening and signing in Vietnam since mid-September.
What it means for Quang Ninh owners and operators
1. The overnight market has to grow for Centara to fill
At about 272,000 overnight-stay guests in six months, Van Don’s whole first-half overnight market averaged about 1,500 new guests a day. Our view: a 481-room hotel will need to create demand, not just take share, so expect heavy packaging with cruises, flights and island trips.
2. Kitchenettes target families and longer stays
A kitchenette in every room points to multi-night family and extended stays rather than one-night tour groups. Centara says the hotel is built for couples, families, groups and extended stays. Our view: competing resorts in Ha Long and Van Don will meet it on length of stay as well as rate.
3. Owners are selling the bay as a package
Everland Group sells the hotel with its own cruises from VND 1.95 million per person, according to Dan Tri. For independent hotels in Van Don, that bundled offer is the main competitor, not the room alone.
4. Infrastructure is the demand story
Van Don has an international airport, named Asia’s Leading Regional Airport at the World Travel Awards 2026, and an expressway to Ha Long and Mong Cai. Vietnam has also named Van Don one of three special economic zones, with Van Phong and Phu Quoc, according to VietNamNet. Owners should track flight routes into Van Don more closely than visitor totals.
FAQ
When did Centara Van Don open?
Centara Hotel & Residences Van Don held its grand opening on 1 October 2026, according to VietNamNet.
How many rooms does Centara Van Don have?
481 rooms and suites in 12 categories, all with a kitchenette, according to Centara’s factsheet.
Who owns Centara Van Don?
Everland Group JSC developed it as part of the Crystal Holidays Harbour Van Don complex. Centara manages it.
How far is Centara Van Don from the airport?
About 15 minutes from Van Don International Airport, according to the factsheet.
Is this Centara’s first hotel in Vietnam?
No. Centara says it is its second property in Vietnam. The first is Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne, with 603 rooms, according to Centara’s Vietnam listing and our database.
