Hanoi tourism gains momentum in February, aims for 36 million visitors in 2026
Vietnam’s capital has reported a 28.5% jump in monthly arrivals and rising tourism revenue, bolstering its ambition to make travel a key economic pillar this year.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi is riding a fresh tourism wave, extending its strong rebound in February with an estimated 3.18 million visitors, up 28.5% year on year, reinforcing its goal of attracting nearly 36 million arrivals this year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
International visitors to Hanoi Book Street during Tet Holiday 2026. Photo courtesy of Hanoi Book Street
Among them, international arrivals rose 16.2% to 680,800, while domestic travelers climbed 32.3% to 2.5 million, as the Vietnamese capital continued to draw crowds with its mix of heritage, street life and seasonal festivities.
Tourism revenue totaled about VND12.39 trillion (US$480 million), a 24.8% increase from the same period in 2025, reflecting stronger spending alongside higher footfall as visitors explored everything from ancient temples to buzzing night markets.
Accommodation supply remained stable at 3,761 lodging facilities with 71,256 rooms, including 65 one- to five-star hotels offering nearly 10,000 rooms. At the same time, average occupancy rose 1.3 percentage points year on year to 63.6%, underscoring resilient demand despite intensifying regional competition from other Southeast Asian hotspots.
Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said the February growth affirms the capital’s enduring appeal to both domestic and international travelers, adding that the city will sharpen its focus on distinctive products, higher service standards and stronger destination marketing to encourage longer stays and greater spending.
The Hang Luoc Flower Market springs to life just once a year in the lead-up to Vietnam’s Lunar New Year. Photo: Cho Hoa Xuan Pho Co
For 2026, Hanoi targets 35.8 million visitors, including more than 8.6 million international arrivals, and total tourism revenue of over VND160 trillion (US$6.2 billion), building on last year’s momentum as part of a broader strategy to establish tourism as a spearhead sector of the capital’s economy.
To sustain momentum, the city is rolling out more than 80 new offerings under its “Get on Hanoi 2026 - Green Journey” campaign. The initiatives range from community-based and suburban eco-tourism to craft village and cultural heritage tours, inviting travelers to venture beyond the Old Quarter and discover quieter corners of the capital.
New experiential products include the “Hanoi - Touching Memories” historical program, the “Hanoi Beautiful Sound” night cycling tour around the Old Quarter, and expanded itineraries to sites such as the Hanoi Botanical Garden and Thiet Ung Craft Village, among others, blending storytelling, slow travel and hands-on cultural immersion.
The move aims to reinforce Hanoi’s image as a safe, culturally rich destination while deepening tourism’s contribution to growth, positioning the city not just as a stopover, but as a destination worth lingering in.
