HÀ NỘI — The number of international tourists to the capital city of Hà Nội are estimated to rise by 30 per cent to 125,000 people during the week-long Tết (Vietnamese New Year) festival, according to the municipal Department of Tourism. 
Most of the foreign visitors came from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand. 
The figure brought the total number of visitors to the city during the Tết holidays from February 14-20 to nearly 375,000, an increase of 13 per cent from the same period last year. The figure included 250,000 domestic travellers, up 6 per cent year on year. 
The local tourism industry estimated to earn more than VNĐ1.28 trillion (US$56.5 million) during the biggest holiday of the year, up 19 per cent year on year. 
Most visitors flocked to the city’s popular attractions, like Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, Hương Sơn landscape complex (also known as the Hương Pagoda), Ngọc Sơn Temple in the heart of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Văn Miếu (the Temple of Literature) and Quốc Tử Giám (the first university in Việt Nam) and the Vietnam National Villages for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, which host a series of art performances and cultural activities to celebrate the traditional New Year. 
Most notable is the annual Spring Calligraphy Festival which is underway at Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám from February 9-25. About 63 calligraphers sit in bamboo tents, wearing áo dài (long robes), and perform the writing, following the traditions of the past. 
Most of four- and five-star hotels in Hà Nội have cheered the Lunar New Year festival with a number of special celebration events held for their guests. For example, the Sofitel Legend Metropole’s Tết Market, also known as “Tết Hà Thành”, which recreated a bustling Hanoian market where visitors can enjoy a range of Tết holiday foods. Other hotels, like Pan Pacific and Apricot, hosted count-down and New Year’s Eve parties for their stayers. — VNS