Hanoi’s tourism industry has thrived again thanks to the second domestic tourism demand stimulus program, launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in September together with the participation of local travel companies, that offers attractive products at affordable prices in the last months of the year.

A tourism fair in Hanoi. Photo: Lai Tan - Ngoc Tu (Kinh te & Do thi)

VietSense Tourism Company has introduced a series of Autumn - Winter tours with a discount of 30%. Specifically, the Hanoi - Con Dao tour costs VND5.6 million (US$241) per person and Mekong River Delta tour VND5.7 million (US$245.8) per person for 3 days 2 nights.

Similarly, Vietravel Travel Company has offered discounts of up to 40% for booking from October 26 to November 1 including package tours and hotel booking services. Deputy Director of Vietravel Tourism Company - Hanoi Branch Pham Van Bay told Kinh the & Do thi that the prices of the tours keep unchanged but the standard tour service is upgraded to 4 to 5 stars. 

Meanwhile, Hanoitourist Travel Company, in addition to reducing tour prices by 10-30%, is also preparing to introduce many new tourism products. The company is surveying a tour to discover Vietnamese heritages including Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province), the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Hanoi) and Ha Long (Quang Ninh province). In addition, the company is working with the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long to launch a night-time tour, expected to be released later this year.

Upgrading service quality but reducing tour price is one of the measures to stimulate tourism demand in the last months of 2020 and post Covid-19, Mr. Le Hong Thai, deputy director of Hanoitourist told Kinh the & Do thi.

Until the end of the year, the travel companies will focus on exploiting in the East - Northwest, North, South, Con Dao, Phu Quoc islands, etc. because these are tourist areas that meet the criteria "safe, attractive”, UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club Chairman Truong Quoc Hung said.

Meanwhile, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that domestic tourists always have travel needs with the trend of short-term relaxation. At this point, in addition to the reasonable price, improving service quality and introducing new products will be the decisive factor in attracting customers, said Mr. Binh.

Promote links between Hanoi and provinces

Photo: Hoa Thang/Kinh te & Do thi

According to tourism experts, to prepare for the tourism season at the end of 2020 and the upcoming Lunar New Year, Hanoi’s tourism industry needs to enhance links between Hanoi and other provinces, cities to exploit local strengths, in addition to launching promos.

Mr. Binh from the Vietnam Tourism Association stated that culture is the characteristic of Hanoi’s tourism. That Hanoi’s tourism industry strengthens links with businesses and localities across the country not only helps promote the advantages of each locality, but also expands the domestic tourist market and soon revives after Covid-19, Mr. Binh analyzed.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Trung Hieu said that during November, through the VITM Hanoi International Tourism Fair, the city will organize many promotion activities which help businesses attract customers to choose Hanoi as a destination. In particular, in the fourth quarter of 2020, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have coordinated with five provinces and cities in the central economic region (Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Thua Thien - Hue and Binh Dinh) to open a linking forum for tourism development in the region. 

Previously, in order to build a journey from Tam Chuc tourist area (Ha Nam province) to the capital, a number of businesses coordinated to offer a tour connecting Ha Nam - Hanoi with the theme “Sparkling Hanoi." Notably, among the tours, Hanoitourist has cooperated with tourism businesses in Ninh Binh province to build a tour "The night before the capital’s move“ of which visitors can experience the process of King Ly Cong Uan moving the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province) to Dai La (Hanoi).

The cooperation programs between businesses in Hanoi and other provinces have gained positive results. According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in October 2020, Hanoi welcomed 554,000 tourists, an increase of 30% compared to September. Total revenue from tourists is estimated at VND1.21 trillion (US$52.2 million), up 25% compared to September.

With the plan to stimulate demand and promote tourism well organized, Hanoi’s tourism industry has flourished significantly and expects that the positive momentum will continue. The industry strives to welcome the number of domestic tourists by 2020 from 50% to 60% compared to the previous year, creating momentum for 2021.