HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội is entering a golden period for tourism growth, marked by increasing visitor numbers and improved travel experiences.

The city's new tourism products are not only drawing more visitors but also playing a key role in enhancing Hà Nội’s global image as a premier destination.

At a recent conference on boosting the city’s tourism in 2025, Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism Trần Trung Hiếu highlighted the vast potential for expanding the city’s tourism products.

In the first half of 2025 alone, Hà Nội welcomed over 15.55 million visitors, up nearly 12 per cent year-on-year. Of these, 3.66 million were international arrivals, marking a strong increase of 21.8 per cent. 

Total tourism revenue was estimated to surpass VNĐ62 trillion (US$2.37 billion), a nearly 15 per cent rise.

Hà Nội has also received international accolades, including being named among TripAdvisor’s top three most popular destinations globally, one of Time Out’s top 100 cities, and in the top 25 emerging destinations.

However, Hiếu noted that impressive statistics are not enough without rich, innovative tourism products.

“Hà Nội cannot rely on familiar, traditional sites alone. We must innovate and diversify to provide deeper emotional experiences for travelers,” he stressed.

From now until the end of the year, Hà Nội will launch a range of new tourism experiences focusing on three key themes - night tourism, creative spaces, and heritage immersion.

Highlights include the artistic performance Echoes of the Tran Vu Bell at Quan Thánh Temple, which blends spirituality with modern light art. Two new themed tours – “Southern Thăng Long Heritage Trail” and “The Path of Learning” – will take visitors through ancient villages, pagodas, and landmarks tied to Hà Nội’s educational and cultural history.

Other creative additions include the “Trúc Bạch Subsidy Street” and the “Trạm Line No6,” nostalgic experiences designed in a youthful style, catering to the growing demand for meaningful “check-in” moments.

In Hà Nội’s outskirts, ethnic and wellness tourism is also flourishing. A Dao herbal medicine village tour in Ba Vì, designed by the Captour Club, blends local heritage with health-focused travel.

“We’re not rewriting history, but finding new ways to tell it,” said club director Thái Thị Thanh Lan.

Expanding experiences

Hà Nội’s 2025 tourism stimulus strategy stands out for expanding experiential spaces and strengthening regional linkages. The city is connecting with river-based routes along the Red and Đuống rivers, linking to nearby provinces - ideal for travelers seeking traditional culture, craft villages, and folk arts.

Meanwhile, the Việt Nam Railways Corporation is preparing to launch the “Five City Gates” train on August 19. It will combine folk performances, local cuisine, and sightseeing aboard a moving “living museum,” offering an immersive journey through past and present.

A strategic digital communication campaign is also underway.

Hoàng Quốc Hòa, Director of the city’s Tourism Information Centre, said Việt Nam’s official tourism website vietnam.travel now ranks second in Southeast Asia for digital performance. E-ticket systems are being rolled out at key sites like the Temple of Literature and the Việt Nam National Museum of History, alongside new promotional videos.

Dozens of cultural events will take place through the end of 2025, including a tourism festival at the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, a beverage festival (August 29–September 2), the Hà Nội Autumn Festival (October 3–5), an áo dài festival in Sơn Tây, and a food and craft village fair on Trịnh Công Sơn Pedestrian Street.

Hà Nội is also stepping up its international presence with plans to attend global events such as Osaka Expo (Japan), IFTM Top Resa (France), and ITB India (Mumbai), aiming to expand outreach and affirm its place as a world-class destination.

Private tourism businesses are joining the momentum. Hotels like Metropole, MGallery, and Thăng Long Opera are offering heritage and culinary packages. Hồ Tây Water Park has launched family-friendly combos, while Hà Nội Tourist is promoting night tours, cycling routes, and city excursions.

The upcoming National Day holiday is expected to be a major tourism peak. According to Hiếu, visitor numbers could rise by 30–40 per cent, with online search volume increasing more than 44 times over the same period last year.

“Hà Nội is not just a stopover - it should be a place worth lingering in, where every traveler can write their own emotional journey,” he said. — VNA/VNS