Visitors experience tours and information of destinations in Hà Nội at the pedestrian zone. —VNS Photo Minh Thu

HÀ NỘI — A programme to promote cultural and tourism destinations in the capital began yesterday at Lý Thái Tổ Garden area near Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

The three-day event is being held by the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports, Hà Nội Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre, Vietnam Airlines and other tourism enterprises.

Historical and cultural relic sites such as Temple of Literature, Hỏa Lò Prison relics, Hương (Perfume) Pagoda and Thầy Pagoda will be reproduced on Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street.

A tourism promotion festival, featuring 80 travel companies, hotels, airlines, tourism associations and clubs, will take place at Lê Thạch Street.

Special drinks of Hà Nội such as lotus tea and Giảng egg coffee and Tràng Tiền ice cream will be introduced at Lê Lai Street.

In addition, Vietnam Airlines will work with Hanoitourist and Flamingo Redtour to introduce and sell Hà Nội tourism promotion products at Lý Thái Tổ Garden area and the pedestrian zone near Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Marketing officer Đỗ Lê Quyên of Hanoitourist said the company will release special tours for guests aged over 60, including tours to discover Thăng Long Royal Citadel and 'Sacred Night at Hỏa Lò Prison' relic.  

Đặng Văn Biểu, vice director of Hỏa Lò Prison relic management board, said the new tour promises to bring an extraordinarily emotional experience for tourists.

“Hỏa Lò Prison is one among the remarkable destinations of the tourists to Hà Nội, it attracts many foreigners, however, it has also received the worthy attention of domestic visitors,” he said.

“We have built a replica of the prison at the festival and designed a mini-tour with film screenings to lure more tourists to the site.”

A boy tries to print patterns on stone steles at the booth of Temple of Literature. Photo courtesy of director Lê Xuân Kiêu

Lê Xuân Kiêu, director of the Temple of Literature centre, said some experimental activities to dig out history, heritage and culture will be introduced at the vent, such as printing patterns on stone steles at the Temple of Literature, painting and writing calligraphy.

A street culture festival entitled 'Hà Nội - Green Destination' today will introduce the city’s culture and arts through a traditional costume fashion show, street parade and art performance with nearly 4,000 artists and cultural heritage practitioners.

“Local enterprises need to boost promotional activities and refresh the image of Việt Nam as a safe and friendly destination where visitors’ health is secured,” said deputy director of Hà Nội Department of Tourism Trần Trung Hiếu.

In June alone, the department and the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club signed agreements with local authorities of provinces such as Ninh Bình, Nghệ An, Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh and Lai Châu to promote tourism. Some field trips have been launched to northwestern provinces and neighbouring cities of Hà Nội with the participation of media and travel agents. VNS