HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội is on track to beat last year’s visitor numbers with a record-breaking surge, as the capital is expected to welcome over 28.2 million tourists in the first ten months of 2025, reaching 91 per cent of its annual target and surpassing total arrivals for all of 2024, the Hà Nội Department of Tourism announced.

Statistics released on Monday indicate the city has hosted a total of 2.27 million tourists in October alone. This includes an estimated 695,000 international visitors, of which 490,000 registered for accommodation, and nearly 1.6 million domestic tourists, marking increases of 18 per cent and five per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2024. Total tourism revenue for October is estimated at VNĐ9.93 trillion, reflecting a 12 per cent rise from last year, while the average hotel room occupancy rate stands at 60 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points from October 2024.

As October concludes, Hà Nội's total visitor count is projected to exceed 28.2 million, surpassing both its annual target and the 27.8 million visitors recorded in 2024. This includes nearly 6.2 million international visitors, with total tourism revenue expected to reach nearly VNĐ110 trillion, up about 20 per cent from the same period last year.

For 2025, Hà Nội aims to attract 31 million visitors, including 7.5 million international tourists, representing over 30 per cent of the national target of 25 million international visitors to Việt Nam, with anticipated revenue of VNĐ130 trillion.

Vũ Văn Tuyên, CEO of Travelogy Việt Nam Tourism Company, said that if Hà Nội maintains its October visitor numbers through the final two months, it is likely to meet its full-year target.

Tourism experts highlight that events such as the A80, celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, along with strategies to diversify tourism offerings, have significantly boosted Hà Nội's appeal to both international and domestic visitors.

Tuyên noted that in the past, international tourists mainly saw Hà Nội as a transit point to destinations like Hạ Long or Sa Pa, or as a stopover before flying to Đà Nẵng. However, Hà Nội has expanded its offerings to include suburban experiences and night tourism attractions, such as the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel and Hoả Lò Prison, helping to retain tourists and establish the city as a primary destination.

Currently, Hà Nội has nearly 3,800 accommodation establishments with over 71,000 rooms, including 85 rated between one and five stars. Additionally, nearly 3,700 unstarred accommodations provide around 60,000 rooms. In terms of standard tourism services, Hà Nội has 58 businesses recognised for meeting customer service standards.

In October, Hà Nội hosted numerous events to promote tourism, including the World Culture Festival, which attracted one million visitors, alongside a series of autumn tourism products.

According to Đặng Hương Giang, Director of the Department of Tourism, November marks a crucial period for the city as it enters peak tourist season. To stimulate demand and attract more visitors, the Department plans to organise various activities, including the Hà Nội Autumn Festival and the 2025 Áo Dài (traditional long dress) Festival, as well as programmes connecting businesses with local destinations.

New offerings, such as the Sóc Temple night experience tour, agricultural tourism in Bát Tràng, and community tourism in Yên Xuân, are nearing completion for an early launch, with expectations of drawing more visitors to the capital. — VNS