"Hà Nội – From the Historic Autumn of 1945," will be held on the evening of August 15 at August Revolution Square in Cửa Nam Ward. — Photo hanoicapital.chinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — The capital city's tourism sector is offering a series of new tourism stimulus products and programmes to boost demand and attract domestic and international visitors on the eve of the upcoming national celebrations.

A set of 80 typical tourism products have been developed by the Hà Nội Department of Tourism (HNDT), focusing on key areas like culture, history, nature, cuisine, shopping, urban experiences, art, night tours, travel, agriculture and craft villages, with support from provincial/city, regional and international connectivity.

The tourism initiative is part of a plan implemented by the Hà Nội People's Committee to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution on August 19 and National Day on September 2.

It has attracted the participation and coordination of several organisations, businesses and individuals in the city's tourism services sector.

The tourism product set is not only a friendly welcome from Hà Nội, the capital city, but also a vivid demonstration of the city's spirit of innovation, creativity and responsibility in building a sustainable, professional and modern tourism industry, according to the organisers. 

Programmes and products have been selected and developed not only to promote the cultural and historical values of the thousand-year-old capital but also to enhance and diversify unique experiences for visitors, they said.

They will be widely introduced to tourism businesses for implementation, and for people and tourists to experience from August 13.

At a recent conference, the HNDT also announced a diverse lineup of new tourism products to be launched starting now until the end of the year.

Among these, a major highlight is a collection of 20 night-time tourism experiences, most notably the Trấn Vũu Bell tour at Quán Thánh Temple. The programme transforms the temple – a revered spiritual and cultural landmark – into an enchanting space under evening lights, promising to become a unique attraction for both Vietnamese and international tourists.

A performance is included in the new Trấn Vũ Bell tour at Quán Thánh Temple. — Photo hanoicapital.chinhphu.vn

Railway and air promotion

In particular, the HNDT has coordinated with the Hà Nội Railway One Member Limited Liability Company (Metro Hà Nội) and travel businesses in the city to survey and develop products related to the connections between urban railway Line 2A (Cát Linh-Hà Đông) with typical tourist destinations in the city. This route has a total length of 13km, with 12 stations and an average distance of 1.1km between them.

Metro Line 2A not only helps reduce traffic congestion, but also provides a unique experience for visitors to explore the capital in a convenient, time-saving, low-cost and environmentally friendly way.

According to Deputy Director of HNDT Trần Trung Hiếu, in the first six months of the year, the capital welcomed more than 15.5 million visitors, an increase of nearly 12 per cent over the same period last year. Nearly 3.7 million foreign visitors made up part of this figure, representing a sharp increase of 21.8 per cent.  

A tourist admires items on display at the Việt Nam Military History Museum. — VNA/VNS Photo Vương Công Nam

"This is an impressive growth rate, confirming the increasing attractiveness of Hà Nội on the international tourism map. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at over VNĐ62 trillion (roughly US$2.3 billion), an increase of nearly 15 per cent," Hiếu said.

The official revealed this year's tourism stimulus programmes will fully leverage local transportation infrastructure to create connected tourism corridors. A series of river tours along the Red River and Đuống River are being planned, linking Hà Nội with neighbouring provinces like Hưng Yên and Bắc Ninh.

In terms of railway tourism, the city has introduced a selection of luxury night trains, including the Sjourney Train, the Red Poinciana culinary train on the Hà Nội–Hải Phòng route and the Five City Gates train, which will officially begin operations on August 19.

For air travel, the department has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Vietnam Airlines for the 2025-2030 period to jointly promote tourism. This partnership includes the launch of new international flight routes and coordinated in-flight media campaigns.

Extending beyond the inner city

The HNDT deputy director emphasised that tourism is no longer confined to the inner city. The department is actively expanding experiential travel routes to suburban areas like Ba Vì, Mỹ Đức and Sóc Sơn, aiming to create a cohesive tourism network across the greater capital region. These efforts are designed to encourage longer visitor stays and increase spending.

Additionally, the recent implementation of the revised Capital Law is opening up new opportunities for the development of distinctive cultural and tourism spaces. Two signature routes – 'The Heritage Road of Southern Thăng Long' and 'The Path of Learning' – are scheduled for launch this August. These routes will take visitors on immersive journeys through historical sites, temples, pagodas and ancient villages, showcasing the rich educational and cultural legacy of Thăng Long–Hà Nội.

Creative cultural spaces are also in the works, including the 'Subsidy-Era Street Trúc Bạch – Tram Car 6 – Leng Keng Heritage' project and the experiential tour of the Dao ethnic group in Miền Village in the Ba Vì mountain area. These initiatives aim to create social check-in spots that reflect the identity of Hà Nội.

Major tourism projects

Looking ahead, several large tourism projects are scheduled for completion in the next year. These include the National Exhibition Centre, Kim Quy Park (Đông Anh), Sóc Sơn Horse Racing Track and renovation projects around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, as well as the opening of multiple luxury hotels. Together, these developments are poised to transform Hà Nộis tourism landscape.

Also at the conference, Nguyễn Hữu Việt, Deputy Director of the city's Tourism Information and Promotion Centre, outlined the capital's intensified efforts to promote its new tourism products through a variety of festivals and experience-focused activities, aimed at enhancing its appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

One of the key events will be the Hà Nội Tourism Festival 2025, themed 'Experiencing Hà Nội 2025', to be held at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. The festival will showcase various tourism products, traditional craft villages and local cuisine, with surveys of new tour routes. The event will include a seminar on developing halal tourism, a market segment Ha Noi is actively seeking to tap into.

From August 29 to September 2, a beverage festival will take place at Thống Nhất Park, coinciding with the National Day celebrations. The festival will highlight iconic Hà Nội beverages like egg coffee, lotus tea and traditional sweet soups, complemented by professional bartending demonstrations that celebrate the capital's culinary heritage.

The third Hà Nội Autumn Festival is also slated to be held from October 3 to 5 along Trần Nhân Tông pedestrian street, Thống Nhât Park and other key locations. This event will showcase the charm of Hà Nội in autumn with street performances, seasonal cuisine, photo tours and heritage exhibitions.

In November, Hà Nội will continue its promotional efforts with the Áo Dài Tourism Festival at Sơn Tây Ancient Citadel and the Culinary and Craft Village Festival at Trịnh Công Sơn pedestrian street. These events will feature parades, exhibitions, performances and tours introducing visitors to traditional craft, agricultural and ecological villages – key components of the city's sustainable tourism strategy.

On the international front, the city will participate in major events, including the Osaka Expo in Japan, ITB India in Mumbai and IFTM Top Resa in Paris, with the aim of expanding its presence in global markets, fostering business connections and positioning Hà Nội as a must-visit destination for international travellers. — VNS