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| Touring Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi by a rickshaw. (Photo: VNA) |
The total number included 1.5 million foreign holidaymakers and 17.2 million domestic visitors, the department said.
Total revenue from tourism reached more than 60 trillion VND (2.54 billion USD), up 5.3% year-on-year and equal to 57.8% of the amount in 2019.
The city, as a major tourism hub and a "gateway" to welcome international visitors, has been listed in many rankings by prestigious travel magazines and sites.
It was named among the 25 best tourist destinations for food lovers in the world as voted by Tripadvisor readers, while German news site travelbook.de rated the city as one of the most favorite destinations in Southeast Asia. Hanoi also ranked among the most-searched-for destinations by international tourists, according to data from the travel tracking tool Google Destination Insights.
Especially, Hanoi was named the World’s Leading City Break Destination 2022 by the World Travel Awards (WTA).
Throughout the year, it has stepped up tourism promotion activities at home and abroad, with new tours and destinations launched to serve tourists’ demand. The tourism sector is focusing on tapping the potential of agro, rural and ethnic tourism.
Next year, Hanoi aims to attract some 22 million visitors and earn about 77 trillion VND in revenue, annual increases of 17.6% and 28.2%, respectively.
Vietnam aims to welcome eight million foreign arrivals by 2023
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) plans to set a target of welcoming eight million foreign visitors and 102 million domestic tourists next year, earning an estimated revenue of VND650,000 billion in the process, reported VOV.
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| Vietnam aims to welcome eight million foreign arrivals by 2023 (Photo for illustration/ Source: VOV) |
This information was unveiled as part of the draft report made to summarise operations of the tourism industry this year, as well as implementing tasks ahead for 2023.
The VNAT has set out plans for the tourism sector to improve infrastructure, develop smart tourism based on Industry 4.0 technology, and to boost rural tourism to achieve its goals.
Furthermore, the nation will also participate in major tourism events in countries such as Indonesia, Germany and the UK, thereby promoting the image of the country via major international media channels, as well as introducing local tourism in key markets, including ASEAN, Northeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, director general of the VNAT, assessed that the Vietnamese tourism sector is likely to face numerous difficulties next year due to key markets such as China and Russia not being fully opened, as well as inadequacies in terms of Vietnamese visa policies compared to other countries throughout the region.
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| Visitors to Hoi An ancient city (Source: vtv.vn) |
Sharing this perspective, Nguyen Asia, director of Oxalis Adventure, the tour organiser of trips to Son Doong cave, underlined the need to classify their market, adding that if Northeast Asian markets such as China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea fully open, then Vietnam can welcome about 12 million international visitors ahead in 2023.
Accordingly, the group of tourists from the Northeast Asian region can reach eight million, while tourists from Europe, America, and Australia are likely to hit four million.
Vietnam is therefore anticipated to welcome 3.5 million international visitors this year, equivalent to about 70% of the set plan of five million and 101.3 million domestic arrivals, up 68.8% compared to the target.Indeed, total revenue from tourism looks set to reach VND495,000 billion, 23% higher than the set plan.
One more foreign airline opens Taipei - Da Nang direct air route
A flight of Tigerair Taiwan, carrying 170 passengers from Taipei (China), landed at Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang on December 24 evening, marking the launch of the carrier’s first route to Vietnam, reported VNA.
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| A greeting ceremony for passengers on the flight of Tigerair Taiwan to Da Nang on December 24 (Photo: VNA) |
The Taipei - Da Nang air route is operated with a frequency of 2 return flights per week. Flights from Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport depart at 4:40pm (local time) on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while return flights take off in Da Nang International Airport at 7:40pm (local time) the same days.
According to Chen Han Ming, President of Tigerair Taiwan, Vietnam is one of the key regions for Tigerair Taiwan's future activities.
The Taiwanese airline plans to open Taipei - Nha Trang and Taipei - Phu Quoc routes in the first quarter of 2023, he said.
Chen Tung Chieh, one of the passengers on the first flight to Da Nang said she knew Da Nang through promotion programmes on TV and Internet. During her stay in Da Nang, she wanted to visit some of the city’s famous destinations such as Ba Na Hills tourism complex.
Deputy Director of the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre Mai Thi Thanh Hai said the launch of more direct international flights from Taipei to Da Nang will help attract more foreign visitors to Da Nang and Vietnam in general, contributing to promoting the recovery of international tourism in the coming time.
Hanoi opens food, pedestrian zone on Truc Bach Lake
A night-time food and pedestrian zone has officially opened on Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa, an islet on Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district.
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| The night-time food and pedestrian zone on Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa has attracted many visitors. (Photo: VNA) |
The zone covers two streets, Ngu Xa and Nguyen Khac Hieu, traversing the centre of Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa, the folk name for a 4.5ha islet on Truc Bach Lake in Truc Bach ward, reported VNA.
It focuses on developing existing restaurant and market activities, selling goods recognised under the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, introducing the traditional Ngu Xa bronze casting at the bronze casting museum, and holding street cultural events on the weekend.
In spring festivals, local authorities will also organise traditional activities at historical and cultural relic sites such as Than Quang Pagoda and Ngu Xa Communal House.
The food zone is open all days and closed to vehicles from 6pm on Fridays to midnight on Sundays to serve pedestrians.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Ba Dinh People’s Committee Ta Nam Chien expressed his hope that the Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa food and pedestrian zone will become a new culinary destination in the district while helping introduce local OCOP products and tourism gifts and honour the traditional bronze casting to contribute to Hanoi’s tourism development./.