Hanoi moves to develop tourism as spearhead sector
Hanoi will focus on fully tapping its resources to further promote local tourism with a view to making it a spearhead sector, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao.
French holiday-makers travel around Hanoi's ancient quarter by cycloes. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi will focus on fully tapping its resources to further promote local tourism with a view to making it a spearhead sector, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao.
Addressing a meeting with enterprises and organisations operating in tourism on October 23, Thao reported that the city is implementing a tourism development plan to 2020 with a vision towards 2030, aiming to turn tourism into a key economic sector with high professionalism, synchronous and modern infrastructure, and high-quality, diverse and competitive products.
Efforts will be doubled to make Hanoi - a city boasting its more than 1000-year history - a safe, friendly and attractive destination to visitors, he stressed.
Hanoi receives tourists from 160 countries and territories worldwide, especially those from markets with high affordability such as Western Europe, Northeast Asia, Australia and North America, among others.
The city now has nearly 3,100 accommodation establishments with around 38,000 rooms.
In the first nine months of this year, it greeted over 15 million arrivals, up 8 percent against the same period last year, raking in 39 trillion VND (1.75 billion USD). Of the figure, nearly 2.3 million were foreign holiday-makers, representing a year-on-year increase of 14 percent.
However, the city has yet to make the most of its potential and advantages to develop its tourism industry, the chairman noted.
Luu Duc Ke, Director of Hanoitourist, suggested setting up a municipal-level agency in charge of the field, which will operate as a Steering Committee for the city’s tourism development.
The committee will work with travel agencies and tourism experts to design policies and priorities for tourism development, he said.
Businesses also hoped the municipal authorities to re-define the Hanoi tourism’s key markets, thus outlining appropriate orientations for the sector.-VNA
The capital city’s tourism sector has launched a number of promotion programmes to attract tourists from Belarus and five Western European countries – Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain.
Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee signed a decision on July 29 to establish a Tourism Department separate from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The New York-based news website Business Insider has singled out the most iconic food to eat in 50 countries worldwide in an article, in which “pho” was declared a must-try.
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.
French holiday-makers travel around Hanoi's ancient quarter by cycloes. (Source: VNA) 
