Get on Hà Nội is organised to kick off the tourism programme of the capital cirty in 2024. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Thousands of people gathered at West Lake's Trịnh Công Sơn walking street and surrounding area to admire a brilliant night of laser mapping performance on March 9 in Hà Nội.

The spectacular light show was held during the opening ceremony of the Get on Hà Nội 2024 tourism plan.

As many as 300 drones told stories of the capital city's quintessence and development in the night sky through a semi-realistic art show along with exciting music and performance of about 50 artists and 150 local residents of Nhật Tân area.

An image of the Temple of Literature, the first university of Việt Nam, is performed by drones. VNA/VNS Photo

In addition to the city's symbols and historic landmarks, audiences admired iconic images of Tây Hồ District such as: Nhật Tân Bridge, lotus flowers and peach blossoms.

"The Get on Hà Nội 2024 is the starting activity in a series of festival events and tourism promotion programmes in 2024, aiming to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the capital's liberation," said Đặng Hương Giang, director of the municipal Department of Tourism.

"On this occasion, the city's tourism industry continues to promote the image of Hà Nội as a safe, friendly, quality and attractive destination to draw more and more tourists, actively contributing to Hà Nội's and Việt Nam's tourism industry development."

Nhật Tân cable-stayed bridge is one of the famed landmarks of Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo

Many people came to the West Lake Cultural and Creative Space very early and were willing to wait 3-4 hours to admire the performance.

The huge number of people, especially youth, resulted in a massive 3km traffic jam around West Lake's streets such as Lạc Long Quân and Trích Sài.

"I've been stuck here for more than 30 minutes, now I just want to go back," said Nguyễn Anh Tú while waiting for traffic to move on Lạc Long Quân Street.

Many young people come to the West Lake area for the drone light show. Photo facebook CCHN

"But I can't because there are too many people. When I open Google Maps, I'm still 2.8km away from the drone viewing point."

Nguyễn Duy Khánh was also stuck: "I travelled nearly 10km to come here with the hope of watching the light show. But close to the viewing place, it is impossible to move, all vehicles stand still in one place for 20 minutes. Nobody can go forward and even though I want to go back, I can't move."

Many roads remained stuck until nearly midnight because of the large traffic volume, lining up for kilometers.

Huge numbers of people gathering for the light show resulted in traffic jams all around West Lake. Photo facebook CCHN

The strong attraction of the event came after the success of the Rực Rỡ Thăng Long (Resplendent Thăng Long) show with 11 performances, telling the history of Hà Nội through light and music, by 2024 drones at the Eve of the Tết (Lunar New Year).

During the event, organisers announced a decision of the City People's Committee recognising Tây Hồ District's Nhật Tân Tourist Area as an urban-level tourist destination.

It is home to main attractions include Nhật Tân Communal House, Tảo Sách Pagoda, Nhật Tân traditional peach blossom craft village, West Lake flower valley and a water park.

An image of a lotus flower, part of what makes Nhật Tân area famous. VNA/VNS Photo

According to the Department of Tourism, there are currently over 140 destinations in the city. Nhật Tân has attractive venues and welcomes a large number of domestic and foreign tourists since 1999.

Chairman of Tây Hồ District People's Committee Nguyễn Đình Khuyến said that in the upcoming time, projects would be implemented, focusing on investing in craft villages and creative spaces to promote tourism development, making the district a more attractive tourist destination.

Nhật Tân has been recognised as an urban-level tourist area of Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo

In addition to the light show, at the Get on Hà Nội 2024 on March 9-10 organisers also introduced local tourism products with many attractive tours, and handicraft products such as horn combs of Thụy Ứng Village in Thường Tín District and conical hats of Chuông Village in Thanh Oai District.

Beautiful Hà Nội is depicted through an exhibition of award-winning photos of the recent Welcome Hanoi City contest. VNS