Hanoi tourism "takes off" from the special value of the City for Peace

Hanoi tourism is truly transforming to become more dynamic and vibrant with key products that are carefully crafted and created from the heritage values ​​and precious traditions passed down from generations of ancestors.
On its development path, the leaders of the capital's tourism industry are showing their awareness and sensitivity, not only knowing how to exploit the advantages that the thousand-year-old land of Thang Long has inherited but also creating from the "pedestals" products with strong local imprints.

So which products will be focused on to help Hanoi tourism "take off"? The story surrounding this content will be clarified by Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Nguyen Hong Minh in an interview with VietnamPlus E-newspaper reporter.

Special value from the capital's position

– Hanoi tourism is considered to have made positive breakthroughs in the past decade. In your opinion, what values ​​or advantages have helped us do that?

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: I think that first of all, with the name of the Capital, Hanoi has its own special value that shows its position, and is an indispensable destination for any tourist when coming to each country. Because the Capital is a place where many cultural and traditional values ​​​​converge... as well as historical values ​​of the country.

Cold snail noodles, one of the unique dishes of Hanoi people. (Photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)

Second, the capital's infrastructure is always focused on investment, such as Noi Bai International Airport, which is one of the international passenger transport centers to Hanoi, from there spreading to different provinces and cities.

Third, in recent times we have stepped up investment in the construction of expressways as well as belt roads 1, 2, 3, and 4 to connect localities in the Hanoi area with neighboring provinces.

Regarding infrastructure, we have been invested in such. In addition, the operation of the elevated railway is an advantage to help visitors reduce travel time after attending conferences and seminars if they want to visit and experience more neighboring areas or in the capital by public transport.

Regarding accommodation facilities, according to statistics, by September, Hanoi has about 3,700 different accommodation facilities, including hundreds of accommodation facilities recognized from 1 to 5 stars, with many famous 5-star hotel brands such as JW Marriott, Grand Plaza Hotel, Lotte Center Hotel, Silk Path Hotel, etc.

With prestigious 5-star hotel brands in Vietnam as well as the world, it is also a strength to attract conference and seminar programs nationwide as well as welcome international delegations to attend events in the capital Hanoi.

Exhibition on the history of Vietnamese ao dai at the Temple of Literature. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

In addition, the human resources in the tourism sector of the capital, from travel agencies to accommodation facilities, etc., are all of good quality and can use different languages, including English or other languages. This is also an advantage to attract tourists to Hanoi to attend conferences, seminars, and sightseeing experiences.

In recent times, we have also promoted the development of tour products and tourism routes to serve the changing needs of people after COVID-19, especially visitors attending conferences and seminars. Because after attending conferences, visitors also need time to relax, they can combine it with sightseeing and experiencing attractive tourism products of the capital Hanoi, such as cultural heritage products, culinary products, craft village products, etc.

In addition, we also promote the development of tours and product routes related to experiential agricultural tourism, eco-tourism or night service products. Thereby, increasing the experience time for tourists when staying in Hanoi, after attending conferences and seminars.

Safe and exciting experience in “City for Peace”

– Contributing a large proportion to the tourism economy, MICE tourism has been receiving special attention from industry leaders. So what about Hanoi tourism, how do local tourism leaders show their interest in this type?

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: We identify that MICE tourism contributes a large proportion to the development of the tourism economy as well as the revenue contributed to the general economy of the capital. With the advantage of being the capital of Hanoi, in the coming time we will have more specific policies for this type of tourism product. But first of all, we will accompany businesses operating in MICE tourism products so that accommodation establishments have their own preferential policies for guests. In addition, we also promote propaganda and promotion to tourists when visiting Hanoi.

Blackpink's concert attracted more than 60,000 audiences to Hanoi, opening up opportunities for music tourism in Vietnam. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Second, we will promote the connection in MICE tourism activities between accommodation facilities, conference and seminar organizations, travel agencies with destinations, restaurant and hotel services to create a closed service circle. Because conference attendees often have the need to spend time sightseeing and experiencing tourism.

More importantly, we plan to promote training and development as well as improve service quality and human resources for accommodation facilities, thereby contributing to improving product quality and affirming the brand of City for Peace.

– In your opinion, what is the significance of Hanoi being honored by UNESCO as a “City for Peace” since 1999 in attracting international tourists?

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: For the capital Hanoi, the tourism industry as well as businesses in the tourism sector throughout the post-COVID-19 period have made great efforts to overcome and quickly restore activities.

With the joint efforts of the entire tourism industry of the capital as well as businesses, in recent times Hanoi has received many honorary awards from prestigious tourism organizations in the world as well as being highly appreciated by international media.

International tourists come to Bat Trang to enjoy traditional Tet dishes of the villagers. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

For example, for 3 consecutive years, Hanoi was honored as the Best Tourist Destination in Asia; The World's Best Golf Tourist Destination was honored in 2023. In addition, Hanoi was also honored with the World's Best Tourism Award as well as the Best in Asia for Short Breaks...

In addition, Hanoi has been honored by UNESCO as a "City for Peace" for the past 25 years, which is a proud and well-deserved honor for the capital Hanoi, thereby contributing to promoting the capital Hanoi in particular and Vietnam tourism in general, to a large number of international and domestic tourists to experience.

While the world today has many unstable places, with wars, social evils, and robberies causing insecurity and disorder, Hanoi is extremely peaceful with the hospitality of the people of the capital. That helps international friends have a safe, attractive, friendly, and quality experience.

“Support” for heritage and craft villages

– Towards the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital on October 10, what attractive programs or activities does Hanoi have to celebrate this special and meaningful event, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: This year's Hanoi Autumn is very special, because it marks the 70th anniversary of October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024. In the spirit of looking forward to the great anniversary, from the Central to the local level, Hanoi city has prepared all the conditions to welcome the jubilant festival of the Capital in particular and the whole country in general.

International tourists experience making banh chung in Duong Lam ancient village. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Regarding the tourism industry, we have reviewed existing tourism products, especially building new tours as well as new programs and policies. For example, the tour program "Hanoi people and tourists experience 4-5 star hotels" is a response of hotels in association with businesses operating in the tourism sector, from travel agencies, airlines, and destinations to bring incentives, helping people to experience Hanoi's high-class services at the most reasonable prices.

In addition, we have built a series of activities and events that will take place from now until the end of the year. Because Hanoi has determined that this is an opportunity to demonstrate its strengths with outstanding activities to celebrate the October 10 event.

We have directed and sent the event program to travel agencies as well as hotels so that these units can directly inform tourists, helping them not only visit the relics as well as existing tourism products but also experience the jubilant activities of the special occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital.

In particular, we have also collaborated with businesses and destinations to build a package of 16 attractive night tourism products. In addition, there are experiential tourism products, MICE tourism, rural agricultural tourism in different localities with potential and strengths in experience and relaxation such as Son Tay, Ba Vi, Thach That, Quoc Oai, Soc Son, My Duc, Ung Hoa.

Recently, we have also built some new tours, such as experiencing Chuong conical hat village (Thanh Oai district) or experiencing Quang Phu Cau incense village (Ung Hoa district)...

Chuong village conical hats are preserved and restored to serve tourists. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

– Hanoi possesses many traditional cultural values, but to be able to build a unique product, which product will Hanoi focus on, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: Hanoi currently has many products of historical and cultural relics as well as relics recognized and ranked by the country. In addition, there are many cultural values ​​that have been built into tourism products from intangible culture, such as ca tru, chau van singing and different craft villages; or from traditional cuisine.

Therefore, we identify cultural heritage tourism as well as craft village tourism as one of our strengths. I take the example of Duong Lam ancient village, the impression from the natural landscape to the houses still basically retain the ancient beauty of the North. The characteristic of international tourists is that they often like to explore and experience the most profound indigenous culture, not just go to "check-in."

Meanwhile, Hanoi has more than a thousand craft villages and villages with crafts, attracting a large number of tourists to visit, experience directly and learn about the products of the craft villages. They make the products themselves and bring them home as souvenirs. I believe that every time they see those products, they will remember Vietnam, remember Hanoi.

– A highlight of Vietnam’s 2024 tourism promotion activities is the recent tourism-film promotion program in the US, in which the Hanoi Department of Tourism participated. Could you please tell us what the capital’s tourism industry expects in attracting visitors through tourism promotion through film?

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Nguyen Hong Minh. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh: Promotion is very important for the tourism industry in general, in which the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as the National Tourism Administration also determined the direction in the coming time is tourism through movies.

In the past, many world famous movies were filmed in Vietnam. Through these classic movies, the audience watching those movies will be surprised and wonder why there is such an attractive, interesting and beautiful destination.

Or for example, the same goes for movies produced in Vietnam. The movie I always remember is “I see yellow flowers on green grass” which contributed to promoting Phu Yen to become a destination phenomenon for a long time after that.