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Sep 26, 2014 / 13:57

Hanoi moves to establish better image for foreign friends

In 2014 when Hanoi is bustlingly celebrating its 60th anniversary of liberation (October 10, 1954 -2014), the capital city’s hospitality is making every effort to reach its target of welcoming 17 million visitors, including three million foreigners.

Developing a wide range of tourism products
 
 
Possessing 5,000 historical sites, 2,000 of them having received State recognition, and a wide range of intangible cultural art forms and numerous ecological tourist sites, Hanoi has rich potential in developing tourism.
There are many must-see places for visitors to the city, such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thang Long Royal Citadel, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem (Sword) lake, Hanoi's Old Quarter, Duong Lam ancient village, Bat Trang pottery village and Van Phuc silk village.
The city’s cuisine also attracts tourists’ tastes with many delicious dishes including 'pho' (noodles), 'nem' (spring roll) and 'bun cha' (noodles served with grilled pork).
In addition to the popular places, the city’s tourism managers are striving to reform and diversify tourist products to lure more visitors to the capital.
According to Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mai Tien Dung, the city is planning to turn the Ba Vi-Suoi Hai site into a national tourist site. This area’s natural landscape, fresh atmosphere and favourable terrain have huge advantage in developing resort tourism.
Measures have also been taken to uphold traditional features of the Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc Son temples in Gia Lam and Soc Son districts, respectively, a UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival is set to join other historical vestiges to create tours for visitors to enjoy the city’s festivals and discover Vietnamese spiritual life.
Mountainous communes in Hanoi’s outskirt district of Ba Vi, which are distinguished by their customs, cultivation and religion of Dao and Muong ethnic groups, are designated to develop community-based tourism.
A tour to Dong Ngac ancient village, Bac Tu Liem district has recently been set up to introduce visitors a rural space in northern delta region with longstanding history. Visitors also have a chance to enjoy Hanoi’s ancient art forms, such as 'ca tru' (ceremonial singing), 'cheo' (traditional opera) and 'cai luong' (reformed theatre).
With a bunch of choices while visiting the city, Hanoi has become an indispensable destination for most of tourists in their schedule to discover Vietnam.
Creating a friendly and safe tourism environment
Hanoi is celebrating the 15th anniversary since it was honoured as a City for Peace by UNESCO (1999 -2014). As the city’s tourism sector is trying its best to advertise Hanoi’s image to domestic and international visitors, the establishment of a friendly and safe environment is one of top priorities in realising the task.
According to Deputy Secretary General of Hanoi Tourism Association, Vu Chinh Dong, tourism environment is key to the sector’s development. With rich tourism potential, plus a good environment and satisfying services, the city is sure to attract more visitors.
In recent years, the city has endeavoured to suppress tourist traps, robbery and unregistered taxis, contributing to improve the environment for visitors.
Environmentally friendly electric cars have been put into operation to help domestic and foreign visitors discover Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Relevant agencies are working hard to clamp down on wily cyclo drivers whose violations are parking in the wrong places, running traffic lights and travelling in a long queue. Regular training courses have been offered for taxi and cyclo drivers by the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is so that they obey traffic regulations and perform with good behaviour for visitors.
A tourists’ support agent and a tourist hotline were established in 2013, receiving much applause from both locals and holidaymakers as they have effectively and promptly addressed many problems relating to visitors’ rights, while providing needy information for the visitors.
Hanoi, the City for Peace, has been voted as a Top 10 tourist destination in the world and one of six most attractive cities in Asia by millions of international holidaymakers.
With its available potential and the measures taken by the city’s tourism sector, Hanoi is expected to become a more beautiful, friendly and safer tourist destination in the eyes of international friends, establishing itself as a major tourist centre of the country and the region in general.