HÀ NỘI – The capital city will lift its midnight curfew to let tourists have more fun, Municipal Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung said at a recent meeting on tourism promotion.

The move also aimed to attract more tourists, Chung said.

The decision was a step towards concretising the resolution on tourism promotion in the 2016-2020 period by the city’s party commitee.

Chung said many foreigners regarded Hà Nội’s nightlife as a “specialty” and so the city was going to give them more of it.

Places of entertainment will soon be allowed to remain open overnight.

However, many officials said the new plan needed better management, such as the setting of an age limit, or it could backfire.

Hà Nội Tourism Department Director Đỗ Đình Hồng said, “The decision to lift the midnight curfew will attract more tourists, especially younger people.”

“This will be an effective measure to make tourists stay longer and spend more on entertainment and services,” Hồng said.

“However, it needs close management to avoid negative effects,” he said.

The lifting of the curfew is also good news for restaurants and bar owners, as it will be an opportunity for them to expand their businesses.

Currently, all restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and karaoke parlours in the city have to close by midnight. Only bars and clubs in top hotels and resorts are allowed to remain open till 2am.

Tourists in Hà Nội and HCM City have complained about the lack of night entertainment facilities.

The curfew has disappointed foreign tourists, especially younger ones, as the nightlife is not as diverse and sufficient as in other regional cities such as Bangkok, Singapore or Manila.

The capital city is expected to record an annual growth rate of 10 per cent in tourist arrivals. The tourism sector is expected to generate VND120 trillion ($5.4 billion) for the city by 2020, when Hà Nội plans to welcome 30 million tourists, including 19 per cent foreigners. – VNS