Hanoi undertakes communication training to enhance community tourism

The communication skills of residents are designed to be crucial for community-based tourism, especially in Hanoi’s outlying districts, which are rich in centuries-long relics and craft villages.

A 400-year house in Duong Lam Ancient Village with big jars used in the traditional making of the sauce. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Hanoi is home to numerous ancient relics and craft villages that are gaining popularity among visitors, such as Bat Trang Ceramics Village, Hong Van Village of ornamental trees, Duong Lam Ancient Village, and Son Tay ancient citadel, with rich cultural and historical values.

However, as some residents do not treat visitors properly, Hanoi authorities have taken steps to help them improve their communication skills in providing tourism services.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, enhancing communication skills will improve tourist satisfaction and raise residents' living standards.

For that reason, the Hanoi Department of Tourism, for the past four years has collaborated with several districts, such as Thach That and Quoc Oai, to organize training courses on communication skills for residents.

Nguyen Van Son, a resident of Thach Xa Commune of Thach District, said local households had benefited a lot from tourism activities. However, some care little about making visitors happy.

He added that training is necessary to improve their communication skills, keep a clean environment at visiting sites, and strengthen the quality of services.

Mai Van Ngan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hong Van Commune in Thuong Tin District, said that since being recognized as a tourist site in the city, the commune has built new roads and planted typical flowers to make them more attractive and different from those in other localities.

The local population is aware of environmental protection and avoids throwing garbage on the road and other public spaces. 

In addition, the commune plans to train residents and students to improve awareness of good behaviors in facilitating the locality's development.

Improving the quality of tourism products and services is key to the recovery of the tourism sector in Hanoi, said Bui Lan Huong, Deputy Head of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Office.

"Local people and other stakeholders will learn how to provide a wide range of services with higher quality thanks to such preparations," Huong said.

Typical model 

Duong Lam Ancient Village is an example of how improving communication and people's behaviors have led to prosperous tourism. In the village, tourists can visit old houses with traditional architecture and design and enjoy the culture and life of a typical northern rural village.

The village attracted an average of 120,000-130,000 tourists each year before the Covid-19 pandemic, including 6,000-7,000 international visitors. Now, the influx has increased since the country totally opened to international travel in March 2022.

According to Vu Huong Lan, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the measures taken will improve the quality of services and products, luring more tourists to the city.

“Tourists will be attracted to the areas where people behave well,” she said. 

"Visitors not only want to sightsee in the area but also hope to study the local culture and tradition," she told a communication and behavior training session in Thach Xa Commune in Thach District in early November, which brought together 150 residents.

Therefore, good behavior plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of community tourism, Lan added.

She highlighted that people must understand the feelings, thoughts, and various tastes of visitors, especially those from abroad, to develop different ways of behaving.