Hanoi (VNA) – Cities and provinces nationwide were bustling during theLunar New Year, the most important festival of Vietnam, running from January 26to February 2.

Duringthe period, the flow of tourists to the capital city of Hanoi topped 230,600,up 7.5 percent year-on-year. Of which 62,670 were foreigners, up 15 percent.

Hanoi’stourist attractions include the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam Museum ofEthnology, Ngoc Son and Quan Thanh temples, Tran Quoc pagoda, and former Hoa Loprison.

Inthe northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from January 29 – February 10,cultural and sport events are also taking place as part of National TourismYear 2017 Lao Cai - Northwest.

Visitorsand locals joined folk games, singing competitions, festivals and enjoyed localcuisine.

GauTao festival of the Mong ethnic minorities in the east of Muong Khuong districtfrom January 31- February 2 also attracted tourists.

DoTrong Nguyen, deputy head of the culture-information office of Lao Cai’s Sa Padistrict, said nearly 40,000 people visited Sa Pa, including about 5,000foreigners.

FromJanuary 31-February 1, spiritual tourist areas such as Bao Ha and Phuc Khanhtemples in Bao Yen district, Tan Bao pagoda and Doi Co temple drew tens ofthousands of holidaymakers.

Inthe northern province of Tuyen Quang on January 31, the annual boat racing conteston the Lo river lured tens of thousands of local residents and visitors.

Meanwhile,the northeastern province of Quang Ninh served more than 800,000 vacationersfrom January 26 – February 1, up about 45 percent from last year, earning inexcess of 900 billion VND in revenue.

Touristnumbers to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay surpassed 70,000. On thefirst day of the Lunar New Year, about 300 vessels carrying 5,000 passengerstoured the bay, a 20 percent increase from normal days.

Thenumber of visitors to local relic sites was estimated at 630,000, predominantlyin Yen Tu and Ba Vang pagodas in Uong Bi city, Cua Ong temple, Long Tien andCai Bau pagodas, Sun Wheel, and Dragon Park.

Duringthe festival, more than 32,000 travelled through Mong Cai international bordergate.

Similaractivities also took place in the Mekong Delta, attracting tens of thousands ofvisitors.-VNA