Hanoi (VNA) 🀅- Hanoi's tourism sector recorded strong growth in the first quarter of 2025, welcoming approximately 7.3 million visitors and generating nearly 30 trillion VND (nearly 1.2 billion USD) in revenue, marking an 11.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Among the visitors, international arrivals reached an estimated 1.85 million, up 17.4% year-on-year, while domestic tourists numbered around 5.45 million, an increase of 6% from the previous year.

Introduction of new tourism products

The Hanoi Department of Tourism plans to introduce several new tourism offerings in the second quarter of 2025. These include tours to heritage and historical relic sites at Ha Mo in Dan Phuong district, the "Southern Thang Long Heritage Route" tour covering Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin, and Phu Xuyen districts, as well as community-based tours highlighting traditional cultural values in An Phu commune, My Duc district. Additionally, an agricultural and rural tourism model will be launched in Tich Giang commune, Phuc Tho district. The municipal Tourism Department will step up promotional efforts across domestic and international media to highlight the city's attractions and new tourism offerings. Campaigns will centre on the messages “Hanoi – Come to Love” and “Hanoi – A Safe and Attractive Destination.” Additionally, a series of engaging events and programmes will be organised to showcase the capital’s tourism in a more professional and dynamic manner.

Strengthening promotion and workforce training

The department hased proactively implemented strategic tourism promotion plans since the beginning of the year to position the city as a high-quality destination. It is also continuing efforts to edit and translate standardised tour commentaries into five languages: English, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Additionally, the department is strengthening workforce training for government officials, business managers, and tourism professionals, focusing on expertise, language skills, and service quality. It is implementing national tourism standards in training, with plans to align them with international benchmarks. Efforts are also underway to equip local communities with tourism and soft skills, promote responsible tourism practices, and expand digital tools such as smart maps and online tourism databases to enhance Hanoi’s visitor experience.

Tourism infrastructure and business landscape

Hanoi is home to 3,761 accommodation establishments with a total of 71,256 rooms. Among them, 85 hotels and serviced apartment complexes have been rated from one to five stars, offering a combined total of 11,965 rooms. In March 2025, the average occupancy rate for hotels was estimated at 62.25%, a slight decrease of 2.1% compared to the same period last year. For the first quarter, the average occupancy rate stood at 61.6%, down 0.5% year-on-year.

The capital is also home to 97 tourism-certified businesses, including 45 food and beverage service providers, 43 shopping venues, seven entertainment facilities, and two wellness service providers. As of March 18, Hanoi had over 2,000 international travel agencies, 500 domestic tour companies, and 9,000 licensed tour guides. To enhance its tourism offerings, the city has developed plans for new tourism products and market expansion initiatives aimed at both domestic and global travelers./.