Hanoi promotes heritage tourism

Targeting over 22 million visitors

In recent years, Hanoi has paid great attention to preserving and enhancing the value of its cultural heritage in order to enhance residents’ pride and the socioeconomic development of the capital.

As soon as Vietnam fully reopened to international tourism on March 15, 2022, Hanoi took synchronous measures to attract visitors and to create favorable conditions for tourism companies to recover.

The capital’s efforts have resulted in positive recovery of its tourism sector. In 2022, Hanoi received 18.7 million tourists, 4.7 times higher compared with 2021, with revenue from tourism exceeding VND60 trillion. In the first two months of 2023, an estimated 3.73 million tourists visited the capital, 2.8 times higher year-on-year.

Visitors experience life in old Hanoi at the Hanoitourist booth

Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chair of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said that the capital targets more than 22 million visitors in 2023, a 17.6 percent increase compared with 2022, and VND77 trillion in revenue from tourism, up 28.2 percent.

A highlight of Hanoi’s tourism this year was the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 which took place on the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake from March 23-26 with 150 booths of 14 provinces and cities: Thanh Hoa, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Bac Giang.

Citadels and weddings

Nguyen Thi Mai Anh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, said the festival introduced attractive destinations in the capital, such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi Old Quarter, Ba Vi, Soc Son, and Duong Lam Ancient Village, among others. Notably, the festival also introduced tours to Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Tay Yen Tu Spiritual and Ecological Tourism Complex, and Co Loa Citadel. Tourism companies offered promotional products to enable customers to use quality services at attractive costs.

Traditional-style Hanoi weddings in the Old Quarter, a special experience for visitors to Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023

As part of the festival, a cyclo parade was held to re-enact the traditional weddings of Hanoians in the 1980s and 1990s, drawing thousands of visitors. Nguyen Thi Mai Anh said the festival’s organizers had consulted Hanoi researchers and older residents of the Old Quarter about wedding customs.

According to Phung Quang Thang, Vice President of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 exposed visitors to interesting stories about the culture and history of heritage sites, and introduced attractive tours to discover those sites.