Some 2.2 million tourists visited Hanoi in February, up 7.1% year-on-year, according to the Hanoi Tourism Department.

People visiting a pagoda on the outskirts of Hanoi.  Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

This included around 383,000 international visitors, up 15% year-on-year, and nearly 1.8 million Vietnamese travellers, up 5.6% year-on-year.

Of the foreign arrivals, around 270,000 visitors chose to stay in the city in February to enjoy the  Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Foreign travelers visit Hanoi's Temple of Literature. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

Tourism receipts in February were estimated at VND8.06 trillion (US$327 million), up 9% year-on-year.

Hanoi now has nearly 3,800 accommodation service providers offering a total of 71,050 rooms, including 606 hotels and apartment buildings rated 1-5 stars with more than 26,400 rooms.

Visitors to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ba Dinh District.  Photo:  Hai Linh/The Hanoi Times

It is estimated that more than 61% of all hotels and quality apartments in Hanoi were occupied in February, up 5% from the same period in 2023.

In the first two months of 2024, Hanoi welcomed more than 4.2 million visitors, up 12% year-on-year.

The opening ceremony of the Huong Pagoda Festival in My Duc District on February 15. Photo: Ha Trinh/The Hanoi Times

Of the total, the number of foreign visitors rose 52.4% on year to 890,000, while the number of domestic travellers rose 4.5% to more than 3.3 million in the same period.

In January-February, Hanoi is expected to earn around VND16.4 trillion ($665.5 million) from the tourism sector, up by a fifth year-on-year.

The Saint Giong Festival opens on February 15 in the suburban district of Soc Son. Photo: Trong Tung/The Hanoi Times

According to the Department of Tourism, there will be more activities in March to promote  tourism in spring, such as "Get on Hanoi 2024" and tours that take visitors to different places in the city and neighboring provinces.

The department will draw up a plan to develop community-based tourism, where visitors can experience the culture and production of handicrafts in villages and ethnic minority areas in My Duc and Chuong My districts.

Double-decker bus tour, an outstanding product of Hanoi's tourism sector. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

The department will also prioritize the facilitation and development of agritourism in Thuong Tin, Ba Vi and Soc Son districts, as well as Son Tay town.

In addition, Hanoi will work with neighboring provinces to develop new tours for visitors to explore popular spiritual and experimental tourism in Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Son La, Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces.