Hanoi highlights culinary, cultural, and nighttime events to promote tourism
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In recent years, Hanoi's tourism has continuously received high praise from international organizations and media outlets and is frequently ranked as one of the most attractive destinations in the world. The city has garnered numerous international awards, including Asia’s Leading City Destination, Asia's Leading City Break Destination, Asia's Leading City Tourist Board, and the World's Best Golf City Destination 2023 (World Golf Awards).
A foreign tourist explores Hanoi. (Source: Vietnamplus) |
Hanoi’s unique cuisine reflects a thousand years of civilization in Thang Long. In 2023, Hanoi had 48 out of 103 restaurants selected by the Michelin Guide, including three rated one star. This recognition has once again elevated the cuisine of Hanoi and Vietnam on the global culinary tourism map.
At the beginning of 2024, Hanoi secured the top position in the "Culinary Destination" category on Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best—an annual award based on community reviews and opinions over the past year. Hanoi even outperformed other heavyweight destinations, including Rome and Florence (Italy), Crete (Greece), and Cusco (Peru).
To capitalize on this advantage, the Hanoi Department of Tourism said in its development strategy until 2030, the sector will focus on persifying culinary service products, with unique offerings such as night food streets and traditional food craft villages.
To become the "Kitchen of the World," the department plans to create a Food Tour map to help visitors discover and experience the delicious dishes of the capital and gain an overview of the local "culinary ecosystem."
To promote the values of culinary culture to domestic and international tourists, the city organizes annual activities such as a space introducing Hanoi's cuisine themed “The Quintessence of Vietnamese Cuisine” and the Hanoi Tourism Festival with the theme “Thang Long – Hanoi, The Charming Capital”.
“Hanoi will promote cultural tourism products based on its outstanding heritage and the authentic aspects of traditional culture. These images will be broadcast on major global and regional media channels. Annually, Hanoi organizes large events such as the Ao Dai Festival and the Tourism Gift Festival to make the capital a cultural experience destination for Vietnamese people and international friends,” said Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism.
Additionally, Hanoi's tourism sector focuses on enhancing the value of the architectural landscape linked to culture by developing distinctive tourism products and promoting tourism services associated with the preservation and restoration of historical and cultural relics and sites related to the resistance wars. It has strengthened the development and promotion of new products, enhancing cultural tourism linked to rural culture, traditional crafts, and cuisine.
The capital has developed its night economy through unique tourism products and boosting visitor attractions, which has increased spending and length of stay. At the end of 2023, the Hanoi Department of Tourism launched a series of tourism products titled “Hanoi Night - A Touch of Emotions.”
Hanoi also recognized Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter as city-level tourist areas. As many as 16-night tourism products have been introduced to the public, notably the live show “The Quintessence of the North” in Quoc Oai district, the night tour of the Hoa Lo Prison historical site in Hoan Kiem district, and the “Decoding the Imperial Citadel” night tour in Ba Dinh district). The “Heart and Talent” night tour at the Vietnam Literary Museum, the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam night tour, and the Thang Long - Hanoi night bike tour complete the roster of events on the night tourism schedule.
Hanoi aims to attract approximately 25.5 million visitors in 2024, an increase of 13.3% compared to 2023, including 4.5 million foreigners and 21 million domestic visitors. Total revenue from tourism is expected to reach around 94.41 trillion VND (3.75 billion USD).