Hanoi's golden travel resurgence: a vibrant revival across all tourist sectors
Hanoi, the vibrant capital city of Vietnam, is stepping up its tourism game with a series of innovative products and initiatives aimed at attracting more visitors and enhancing service quality.
In 2022, the city launched several unique offerings, including immersive cultural experiences, updated heritage tours, creative tourism spaces, community-based tourism models, and the integration of advanced technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR).
One of the standout experiences is "The Bell of Tran Vu" at Quan Thanh Temple, a nighttime cultural and spiritual event that offers a deeper historical engagement. The updated "Southern Thang Long Heritage Road" tour now includes attractions like Ngau village, famous for its chrysanthemum wine, Phuc Am votive paper village, and Cuu village with its French-style heritage homes.
Creative tourism spaces such as the "Truc Bach Subsidy Street-Electric Train Car No. 6-Leng Keng Heritage Route" and a herbal village experience in the Dao ethnic community at Ban Mien in Ba Vi district are also attracting tourists seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Community-based tourism models are flourishing, reflecting a broader trend that began in late 2022. These models emphasize local culture preservation and socio-economic benefits, representing a shift from traditional tourism to more engaging, community-led experiences.
Hanoi is also investing in inter-provincial tourism corridors, including new river tours on the Red River and the Duong River. The city is collaborating with the Vietnam Tourism Information Centre to deploy an integrated e-ticketing system at key heritage sites.
The city's tourism calendar is filled with exciting events such as the Ha Noi Tourism Festival at Thaṅ Long Imperial Citadel, the Gastronomy and Handicraft Tourism Festival on Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street, and the Long Dress Tourism Festival in Soñ Tay.
Hanoi is not only attracting domestic tourists but also international visitors, with nearly 500,000 foreigners visiting in June alone, marking a 21.4% surge. The city welcomed around 15.6 million visitors in the first half of this year, marking an 11.8% year-on-year increase.
Hanoi's creative spaces are being reimagined as travel destinations, such as the Truc Bach Subsidy Street and Heritage Echoes 6. The city will showcase its tourism strengths at various international events, including ITE HCM City, Đa Lạt Golden Week, the Osaka Expo in Japan, ITB India in Mumbai, and IFTM Top Resa in France.
In addition to these initiatives, Hanoi is incorporating global tourism trends such as sustainable travel, film tourism, AI-powered personalisation, and rail-based travel into its ecosystem. The city's commitment to innovation and quality is solidifying its reputation as a top travel destination with diverse, high-quality offerings.
- The surge in international tourists, with 500,000 foreigners visiting Hanoi alone in June, highlights the success of its innovative tourism initiatives.
- In 2022, the city introduced AI-powered personalisation to enhance visitor experiences, marking a significant breakthrough in tourism technology.
- The integration of immersive cultural experiences, such as "The Bell of Tran Vu," is a testament to Hanoi's commitment to preserving its vibrant culture.
- With the deployment of an integrated e-ticketing system at key heritage sites, Hanoi is making its tourism offerings more accessible to both domestic and international visitors.
- The city's investment in rail-based travel, like the upcoming inter-provincial tourism corridors, bestows upon Hanoi a unique edge in aligning with global tourism trends.
- The integration of advanced technologies like VR, AR, and XR into its tourism offerings is positioning Hanoi as a front-runner in the global entertainment industry.
- The booming community-based tourism models, reflecting the broader trend that started in late 2022, underscores Hanoi's dedication to sustainable and socially responsible tourism practices.
