Hanoi tightens tourism oversight ahead of Lunar New Year rush

THE HANOI TIMES — After a strong start to 2026, Hanoi is tightening tourism oversight ahead of the Lunar New Year, focusing on service quality, crowd control and visitor safety while preparing for the holiday surge.

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, told Hanoimoi Newspaper that inspections will be stepped up, coordination across districts strengthened and smarter visitor management applied to support longer stays and higher visitor spending.

Ready for the festive season

How can Hanoi sustain the momentum after welcoming about 560,000 visitors during the 2026 New Year holiday, double the number from a year earlier, as the Lunar New Year approaches?

The year 2026 is a milestone year for Hanoi’s tourism sector as the capital welcomes the New Year in a festive atmosphere shaped by the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the rollout of Party resolutions at all levels.

The two-tier local government model is adding momentum and flexibility to the organization of cultural and tourism activities. Under the close direction of the City Party Committee, the People’s Council and the People’s Committee, departments and localities have proactively launched coordinated celebrations, decorations and events for the Party, the Spring Festival and the Lunar New Year of the Horse.

With a nine-day Lunar New Year holiday and a well-prepared calendar of diverse and synchronized tourism products, Hanoi expects not only higher visitor numbers but also longer stays and higher spending.

After welcoming about one million visitors during the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025, the capital is confident it can further strengthen its position as one of Vietnam’s most attractive destinations during the Year of the Horse in 2026.

What specific preparations is Hanoi’s tourism industry making for the holiday period?

This year’s program places stronger emphasis on immersive experiences and cultural depth, with new tourism products linked to traditional crafts, intangible heritage and live art performances that invite visitors to engage rather than observe.

New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations are also being scaled up in both coverage and investment. On Lunar New Year’s Eve alone, Hanoi will host 32 fireworks displays at 31 locations, expanding public access across the city, while Tet-themed cultural activities will be held at major heritage sites.

These include the Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street, where traditional Hanoi family spaces will be recreated, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel with ceremonial rituals and the Hoan Kiem Lake-Ngoc Son Temple area.

Technology is playing a larger role as well, with new offerings such as the “Memories of the Flagpole” tour and 3D mapping performances at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Night-time tourism is being expanded through heritage and Old Quarter tours, the “Hanoi Beautiful Sound” night cycling experience and the “Hanoi - Touching the Realm of Memories” tour linking historical narratives with the Truc Bach Lake-Ba Dinh area.

Together, these products aim to raise the quality of Hanoi’s tourism offering while encouraging longer stays and higher visitor spending.

With a large influx of visitors expected during Tet, how is the city preparing to manage congestion at popular sites?

Overcrowding at peak times is hard to avoid and also reflects Hanoi’s growing appeal, but the priority is to maintain safety while preserving a positive visitor experience.

Tourism units and destination managers have been instructed to apply timely crowd control measures and provide clear on-site guidance. Travel companies, particularly those serving international visitors, are encouraged to update itineraries and promote new destinations, including suburban areas, to spread visitor flows more evenly.

Domestic travelers, especially families, are advised to plan early, book services in advance and consider attractions beyond the city center, where suburban destinations offer fresh experiences while easing pressure on traditional hotspots.

Building toward a full-year target

What steps does Hanoi take to realize the goal of welcoming nearly 36 million visitors in 2026, including more than 8.6 million international tourists?

From early 2026, Hanoi’s tourism sector has rolled out a comprehensive attraction plan that extends beyond the Lunar New Year.

The year opens with the “Green Journey” Hanoi Tourism Program at the Tay Ho Creative Cultural Space on Trinh Cong Son Street, followed by the “Happy Tet 2026” program from February 6 to 10 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, featuring diverse cultural activities.

At the same time, the city is investing in tourism infrastructure and seeking major investors for key areas such as Ba Vi, Huong Son, West Lake and its surroundings and the Lai Cach Lagoon eco-tourism and entertainment zone in Da Phuc Commune.

Strategic projects are also advancing, including reforms to the Huong Son complex management model, development of Red River waterway tourism, construction of the Hanoi Beer Museum and preservation and value enhancement of the West Lake area.

On promotion, Hanoi is boosting its presence on leading international media platforms and coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on targeted campaigns in key markets, including Northeast Asia, India and Europe, while expanding long-term joint promotions with domestic airlines.

These efforts are being supported by the development of a smart tourism ecosystem linked to digital transformation and a focus on training high-quality tourism personnel, underpinning Hanoi’s goal of sustainable growth and stronger competitiveness.

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