Hanoi makes most of SEA Games opportunity to boost tourism
Hanoi will bring into full play the opportunity of hosting the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in May to attract tourists to the city, according to the municipal Tourism Authority.
Visitors to Thang Long Royal Citadel (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi will bring into full play the opportunity ofhosting the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in May to attracttourists to the city, according to the municipal Tourism Authority.
To anticipate this event, Hanoi has prepared numerousactivities, with focus on its typical tourism product and promoting the image ofa friendly and attractive capital city.
Director of the municipal Tourism Authority Dang Huong Giangsaid that it has built and selected several typical tours and programmes tovisit famous landscapes and enjoy unique cuisine of the capital to introduce tointernational sport delegations, athletes and reporters. These tours are builtand adjusted to suit the needs of visitors.
A series of events are scheduled to take place in late Apriland May such as the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival (April 29 to May 1), HanoiTourism Festival (May 13-15), Hanoi Cuisine and Craft Village Tourism Festival(May 18-22).
A tour to Hoa Lo prison tourist relic site (Photo: VNA)
Through these events, the city will introduce SoutheastAsian athletes and their fans, as well as international reporters and visitors, to theculture, economic potential, tourism, and friendly relations of Hanoi.
To welcome SEA Games 31 guests, the municipal TourismAuthority has held three training courses targeting staffs of accommodationsand those involving community-based tourism.
To date, the Department of Culture and Sports has made eightshort films featuring the city’s culture, cuisine and craft villages, whichwill be screened at tourist accommodations.
Hanoi sets a target of welcoming around 3.2 million touristsin the second quarter of this year, including 150,000-200,000 foreigners./.
Hanoi has announced a plan to promote the image of the nation as well as Vietnam’s culture and people of Vietnam and the capital city to international friends during the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).
Hanoi is putting the banners and billboards up to welcome the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) which will take place in the capital city and 11 nearby provinces and centrally-run cities next month.
The upcoming Ha Long Carnival, a highlight of the Ha Long – Quang Ninh tourism week 2022, is expected to be a warm welcome to athletes competing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) hosted by the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh this May.
The flag raising ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) will take place at the My Dinh National Sports Complex in Hanoi on May 11 morning with the participation of about 400 delegates, according to the organising committee.
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.
Visitors to Thang Long Royal Citadel (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) 
A tour to Hoa Lo prison tourist relic site (Photo: VNA) 
