An open top double-decker bus carries tourists to famous destinations in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi Tourism Departmenthas reported an increase in the number of tourists visiting local destinations ascompared to the beginning of February.
It said the flow of visitors to tourist sites in the city has reached 50 – 70percent of that in normal time before the outbreak of the acute respiratorydisease caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). The recovery is attributable to drasticepidemic preventive measures taken by the Government and the municipalauthorities as well as the management of tourist destinations.
Popular sites in the city such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, VanMieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), Thang Long imperial citadel, andHanoi Old Quarter are attracting crowds of tourists.
Facing the great impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the city’s tourism sectorworked with competent authorities, tourism firms and the management of tourism destinationsin the city to discuss measures to prevent the epidemic, minimize losses incase of outbreaks and recover damage after that.
Currently, the sector continues to keep strict control and close watch on thedisease situation, while promoting communication work to raise public awarenessof the epidemic.
According to reports from travel companies, some 15,824 foreign visitorscancelled their trips to Hanoi as of February 12, most of whom are from China(13,587).
Besides, more than 15,000 Vietnamese decided to puttheir outbound tours on ice while nearly 7,890 others shelved their local festivaltours.
The companies also reported 37,745 cancellations of hotel rooms as of February12./.
The number of tourists paying a visit to Ho Chi Minh City during the Lunar New Year (Tet) has suffered a decline of approximately 12 per cent as a result of the ongoing novel coronavirus (nCoV) situation.
The launch of the National Tourism Year 2020, slated for February 22 in the northern province of Ninh Binh, will be postponed to an appropriate time due to concerns about the complicated development of the acute respiratory disease caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).
Under the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, foreign tourist arrivals in Vietnam may fall by 50 – 60 percent during the epidemic period, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
The central province of Quang Tri is striving to attract about 2.3 million visitors in 2020, up 13.6 percent year-on-year, including 188,000 foreigners.
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.
An open top double-decker bus carries tourists to famous destinations in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) 
