Delegates took a commemorative photo in front of the acrylic tank at the Lotte World Hà Nội Aquarium on Tuesday. — Photo courtesy of Lotte World

HÀ NỘI — Lotte World Hà Nội Aquarium, the largest indoor aquarium in the capital city, opened on Tuesday at Lotte Mall West Lake Hà Nội shopping centre.

The opening ceremony was attended by Director General of the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, CEO of Lotte World Choi Hong Hoon, Vietnamese Ambassador of Tourism to South Korea Lý Xương Căn, Director of the Institute of Tropical Biology Hoàng Nghĩa Sơn, Director of the Lotte World Hà Nội Aquarium Park Jae Sung , and representatives from domestic and international organisations and agencies.

The aquarium welcomed nearly 4,000 visitors on its first day of opening, with various activities it has to offer, such as feeding the fish in the main tank and interactive touch tanks.

On the opening day, visitors also enjoyed other impressive performances, particularly an underwater art diving show with a meaningful message of "Living Together, Dreaming Together," underling harmonious coexistence and protection of the ocean environment.

With a total area of over 9,000sq.m and a capacity of up to 3,400 tonnes of water, the Lotte World Hanoi Aquarium boasts the largest curved acrylic tank in Southeast Asia (18 x 5.8m) and the largest touch tank in Việt Nam (with a capacity of 90 tonnes of water), making it the largest indoor aquarium in the capital city.

The aquarium houses approximately 400 species and 31,000 marine creatures from around the world, especially rare and endangered species such as sand tiger sharks, Humboldt penguins, sea lions, etc.

Making use of unique cultural characteristics of many regions across Việt Nam, the Lotte World Hà Nội Aquarium offers visitors a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Based on the legend of Cá Ông, the god who protects fishermen on their voyages, visitors to the aquarium are taken on a sea journey to explore the beauty of nature and tradition in the coastal regions of Việt Nam. Along the 650m-long route, visitors are guided through four main areas: the peaceful countryside village, a walk on the sea, an adventure in the blue sea, and finally, the Ocean Square.

In April 2023, the aquarium has signed a cooperation agreement with the Institute of Tropical Biology under the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology to work towards the conservation of marine biodiversity and collaborate in research activities.

Inside the aquarium.

Lotte World Việt Nam and the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism are also actively discussing the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainable tourism cooperation between the two sides.

Choi Hong Hoon, CEO of Lotte World, said: "The Lotte World Hà Nội Aquarium is Lotte World's first overseas project, marking the development of Lotte World in Việt Nam and around the world. This project is designed to provide authentic experiences of the ocean world, helping visitors understand more about life under sea and changing their perceptions and behaviour towards environmental protection. We hope that this place will become a leading tourist destination in the capital city in the future." — VNS