Hanoi: First foreign visitors of 2018 receive warm welcome
Lebreton Didier, a passenger on Vietnam Airlines’ flight VN18 which landed at Noi Bai International Airport on the morning of January 1, became the first foreigner setting foot in Hanoi in 2018.
Lebreton Didier, a passenger on Vietnam Airlines’ flight VN18, became the first foreign visitor setting foot in Hanoi in 2018. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Lebreton Didier, a passenger on Vietnam Airlines’flight VN18 which landed at Noi Bai International Airport on the morning of January1, became the first foreign visitor setting foot in Hanoi in 2018.
Didier and his group of 13 other visitors from France were treated to flowersand gifts and a music performance.
The French said that this is the third time he came to Vietnam and he plans tospend almost a month to discover the country’s beauty with his wife, addingthat he was surprised by the warm welcome on the first day of the year.
Present at the greeting ceremony, Tran Duc Hai, Director of the municipalDepartment of Tourism noted that the event aims to promote Hanoi as a safe,friendly, quality and attractive destination for visitors.
Last year, some 5 million foreigners came to the thousand-year-old city ofHanoi.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, home to the World Heritage site ofHa Long Bay, also held a ceremony to greet the year’s first internationaltourists at Tuan Chau International Port in Ha Long city on January 1.
In 2018, the locality expects to welcome 12 million visitors, including 5million foreigners. Last year, nearly 10 million holiday-makers, comprising 4.2million foreigners, chose Quang Ninh province to spend their holidays.
Meanwhile, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai also enjoyed a good startfor 2018, with renowned Sa Pa town drawing 42,000 visitors during the three-dayNew Year holiday from December 30-January 1.
The crowds of visitors caused traffic jams and overloaded local hotels. Thetown’s nearly 500 accommodation facilities with more than 6,000 rooms werefully booked, but homestays are available at village or tourism site like CatCat and Ta Van.
A slew of cultural and sports activities are being organised in the town on NewYear occasion, including a photo exhibition, a street festival, and traditionalgames like tug of war and stick pushing.-VNA
Hanoi’s Department of Tourism estimated that by the end of 2017, the capital city will have welcomed more than 23.8 million visitors for earnings of roughly 71 trillion VND (3.1 billion USD), an increase of 15 percent from the same period last year.
Ho Chi Minh City's Book Street on Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1 has attracted 2.4 million visitors this year, earning a turnover of 50 billion VND (2.2 million USD), according to the Vietnam Publishers Association (VNPA).
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Lebreton Didier, a passenger on Vietnam Airlines’ flight VN18, became the first foreign visitor setting foot in Hanoi in 2018. (Photo: VNA) 
