Tourists visit Thê Húc Bridge on Word Lake this Tết holiday. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

Many localities across the country have recorded a significant increase in the number of tourists this Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, marking strong growth in both domestic and international visitors. The highest increases could be seen in two major cities - Hà Nội and HCM City.

The capital city of Hà Nội welcomed about 653,000 visitors during the seven-day Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday from February 8-14, up 21.6 per cent year on year, including nearly 103,000 foreigners, a rise of 2.2 per cent over the same time last year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

The department said that total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at VNĐ2.35 trillion (US$96 million), a surge of 35 per cent over the same period last year.

Foreign visitors are mostly from the Republic of Korea, China, the US, India, France, the UK, Germany, and Japan.

The most crowded destinations included the Hương Sơn relic site, which served 80,600 visitors, Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám (Temple of Literature) with 106,000 travelers, and Thăng Long Imperial Citadel with 48,700 tourists.

Many vibrant and appealing cultural activities and events were organised by Hà Nội's authorities, offering opportunities for tourists to experience the traditional Tết atmosphere in the Hồng (Red) River Delta region, including a painting exhibition at the Temple of Literature - the first university in Việt Nam. Tết celebration and art performance programmes in the Old Quarter, the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, Đường Lâm Ancient Village, and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism round out the activities.

Erecting a nêu pole (a tall bamboo tree with red strips used to ward off evil spirits during Tết) at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. VNA/VNS Photo Nhật Anh

Notably, a drone light show setting a Southeast Asian record took place by the side of Hồ Tây (West Lake) in Hà Nội on the eve of February 9. The event featured the largest number of drones for such a performance in Southeast Asia, 2,024, accompanied with exclusively composed music and screens for live broadcasting installed around the lake, offering a spectacular show for locals and visitors on the threshold of the Year of the Dragon.

Tourists take pictures of the drone light show that set a Southeast Asian record next to Hồ Tây (West Lake) in Hà Nội on the eve of February 9

Localities in the capital also organised key festivals, including the Hương Pagoda festival in Mỹ Đức District, Sóc Temple in Sóc Sơn District, Cổ Loa festival in Đông Anh District, Đống Đa festival in Đống Đa District, Hai Bà Trưng (Trưng Sisters) festival in Mê Linh District, and Tản Viên Sơn Thánh (Tản Viên Mountain Saint) festival in Ba Vì District.

According to Giang, Hà Nội will strive to serve some 26.5 million tourists this year, up 10.4 per cent annually. This includes five million foreign and 21.5 million domestic tourists, showing respective year-on-year rises of 25 per cent and 7.5 per cent. The total revenue is projected to hike by 13.8 per cent annually to roughly VNĐ100 trillion.

In the first lunar month, the municipal Department of Tourism will collaborate with relevant units to hold tourism promotion activities.

To better serve visitors, the municipal Department of Tourism has required tourism units, businesses and organisations specialising in tourism in Hà Nội to review and improve the quality of tourism products and services and develop products that meet tourist demand. VNS