The Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter has recently cooperated with Hanoi Investment, Trade and Tourism Centre, and Hanoitourist Travel Co.Ltd to hold a field trip to relics and heritage sites around the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi’s Old Quarter area.

The trip aims to research Hanoi tourism’s potentials, thereby, building up new tourism products to adapt to the ‘new normal’ as the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic improves.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter Area is remembered as the best place to reflect the capital’s ancient architecture.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter Area is remembered as the best place to reflect the capital’s ancient architecture. The corner of Phung Hung and Hang Ma Street. Photo: Quang Hung/ Yeu Hanoi

Unique tourist destinations

During the one-day research, the survey team toured several renowned Hanoi Old Quarter’s relic sites such as Dong Lac Communal House at No 38 Hang Dao Street, the Quan De Temple (No 28 Hang Buom Street), Kim Ngan Communal House (42 Hang Bac Street), the Heritage House (87 Ma May Street), The ancient house at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street and Quan Chuong Gate.

In addition, the delegation also surveyed some of Hanoi’s old streets that help create connections with cultural relics such as Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Thiec, Hang Dong, Lan Ong, Hang Ma, among others.

According to the organizers, visitors who join the future tours will explore the charming Hanoi’s Old Quarter area in the electronic sightseer tramcars that help to protect the environment.

Assessing the potential for tourism development of the capital, Head of Tourism Promotion Department (Hanoi Center for Promotion, Investment, Trade and Tourism) Nguyen Huu Viet said that Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a tourist magnet, not only for boasting a wealth of heritages, monuments and relic sites but also for the unique features of the daily life of its residents.

“Travel agencies should not only rely on available places of tourist interest, but they need to create more experience activities to help visitors learn about the life of the inhabitants of the old town,” he said.

The space inside Dong Lac Communal House at No 38 Hang Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Hanoia

Being of the same mind, Representative of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Tran Thi Thuy Lan said that, before Covid-19, the unit regularly organized various cultural activities such as thematic displays and exhibitions about Hanoi, held folk-art performances as well as contemporary music at these cultural relics to for domestic and international tourists who visited the Hanoi Old Quarter area. However, all of these activities and relic sites were forced to temporarily close until now due to the pandemic.

Tourism adapts to the new situation

In the new context of “safe adaptation to the pandemic”, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter pledged that they will coordinate with tour operators to increase connectivity for the available tours as well as create new itineraries to diversify options for visitors.

“In the coming time, we not only try to include heritage sites, monuments, and craft streets in the Old Quarter Area in a single tour but also wish to build other special offers, connecting the Old Quarter Area with other attractions in Hoan Kiem district as well as other famous relic sites such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel or Duong Lam Ancient Village in Hanoi’s outskirts,” Lan stated.

Hang Dao Street in late autumn. Photo: Tuan Ngo

Chairman of the Hanoi Travel Association, Director of Hanoitourist Travel Co.Ltd Phung Quang Thang assessed that with its rich culture and diverse heritage, Hanoi’s Old Quarter would be an inspiring source for travel agencies to develop diverse tourism products which attract tourists to come here again and again.

“However, building sustainable attractive cultural tourism products requires the cooperation and participation of the resident community,” he said.

“Travel companies must also consider training more guides with historical and cultural knowledge about Hanoi to inspire the love for Hanoi among tourists,” he added.

Earlier, many interesting domestic tours have also been devised by Hanoi-based travel agencies to promote the capital’s tourism such as the walking tour to explore “French architecture in the heart of Hanoi”, the cycling tours of “A different day in the familiar Hanoi” and “Discover the sacred land in the heart of Hanoi”, among others.

In addition, Hanoitourist’s upcoming inter-provincial tour called “Journey to West Yen Tu - Following in the footsteps of the Buddha” connecting Hanoi and Bac Giang Province will become the first inter-provincial tour ever that depart from Hanoi after a long time of blockade due to the pandemic.

Red lanterns are adorning Hang Ma Street. Photo: Nguyen Trong Nam

In the new safety-model one-day tour, each group with more than 20 tourists will visit famous tourist attractions in Bac Giang Province such as Tay Yen Tu Scenic Spot, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, and Truc Lam Phuong Hoang Zen Monastery. A Covid-19 insurance package will also be provided to travelers.

Besides, from November 5, Caravan Vietnam Tourism Service & Communication Co.Ltd will launch a caravan tour to Ha Giang Province called “Hanoi - Ha Giang in buckwheat flower season”.

According to Phung Gia Tuan, Representative of Caravan Vietnam, thanks to the sponsor of Ha Giang Tourism Association, the tour will feature many interesting activities with very affordable  price.

Caravan   will tour through famous roads and destinations of Ha Giang Province such as Vi Xuyen Historical Site, Tham Ma Slope, Lung Cu Flagpole, the old town of Dong Van and Nho Que River.