Visitors queue up to go sightseeing around Hà Nội on free-of-charge double-decker bus tours. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Thị Thuận

HÀ NỘI — Provinces and cities across Việt Nam received a great number of visitors during the five-day holiday of the National Reunification Day on April 30 and Labour Day on May 1.

The capital city of Hà Nội welcomed 719,000 tourists, of whom 69,500 were foreigners, said the municipal Department of Tourism.

Total income from the tourists was estimated at VNĐ2.4 trillion (US$102.9 million).

During the holiday, following the direction of the Hà Nội People's Committee, the Department of Tourism coordinated with the Department of Transport to organise free-of-charge trips by double-decker bus around the city, with 127 trips carrying more than 6,681 passengers.

Destinations that attracted many tourists include Văn Miếu-Quốc Tử Giám welcoming about 30,000 visitors, Thăng Long Imperial Citadel welcoming 31,400, and Ba Vì National Park welcoming 17,000.

On this occasion, the Hà Nội Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum Management Board, gave more than 40,000 sets of gifts to visitors.

In HCM City, Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, director of the municipal Department of Tourism, said that the city received about 950,000 tourists during the holiday, an increase of 126.2 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Takings from tourists were VNĐ3.1 trillion ($132.9 million), up by 94.4 per cent compared to last year.

Đà Nẵng received 321,623 visitors, an increase of 26.6 per cent compared with last year.

Around 34,800 were foreigners, and 636 flights landed at Đà Nẵng during the five-day holiday.

Some tourist attractions received a large number of visitors, including Sun World Bà Nà Hills with nearly 65,000 visitors, the Núi Thần Tài Hot Springs Park with more than 17,300, and the Ngũ Hành Sơn scenic relic with about 28,000.

Also on this occasion, the city welcomed the Azamara Quest Ship to the Tiên Sa Port with 300 international guests.

Cao Bằng northern mountainous province had more than 60,000 visitors.

The Pác Bó Special National Monument Management Board said that the relic received 25,000 visitors, a record number of visitors to the relic site in recent years.

The Bản Giốc Waterfall Tourist Area welcomed about 30,000 visitors, an increase of nearly 50 per cent compared to last year.

Revenue at the Bản Giốc Waterfall and Ngườm Ngao Cave tourist area was estimated at nearly VNĐ1.5 billion ($64,300).

The central province of Thanh Hóa had 1.2 million tourists, an increase of 33 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Income from tourists was about VNĐ2.8 trillion ($120 million), up by 48.3 per cent.

With this number of visitors, Thanh Hóa is considered one of the country's localities with the highest number of visitors.

Vương Thị Hải Yến, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "A great number of visitors went to Thanh Hóa, but with careful preparation, the province did not seem overcrowded. Tourists highly appreciated the quality of tourism services in the province.”

In the future, the Thanh Hóa tourism industry expects to continue its development in both quantity and quality, she said.

Violation

The Long An Police said that during the five-day holiday, they checked 853 drivers and discovered 273 with an illegal blood alcohol content.

They gave violators total fines of VNĐ1.5 billion ($64,300), temporarily seized all 273 vehicles and withdrew 93 driving licences. — VNS