Hanoi weekend stroll: Exploring cuisine and traditional craft villages along pedestrian street

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi’s weekend pedestrian street is becoming a favored stop for leisurely exploration, where visitors can sample local cuisine and discover the capital’s traditional craft villages in a relaxed, cultural setting with the 2025 Hanoi Traditional Craft Village, Street Food and Tourism Festival.

Launched on the evening of December 12 by the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the event at the Tay Ho Creative Cultural Space on Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street affirms the city's position on the regional and global tourism map.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Tran Quang, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said Hanoi is expected to welcome more than 33.7 million visitors in 2025, up over 20% on year, including approximately 7.8 million international arrivals.

Total tourism revenue is projected to exceed VND134 trillion (US$5 billion), marking a year-on-year growth of more than 21%.

In addition, Hanoi has earned recognition from leading international tourism organizations and prestigious travel publications, with accolades such as Top 25 Cultural Destinations in the World, Favorite Destinations, and Sustainable Tourism Destinations.

These honors reflect the city’s efforts to develop tourism in a safe, friendly and creative manner, in which craft village and culinary tourism play a pivotal role.

Building on these strengths, the 2025 Hanoi Culinary and Craft Village Tourism Festival is a flagship promotional event celebrating the capital’s traditional craft villages, craft streets and culinary heritage.

Apart from showcasing distinctive tourism products tied to crafts and local cuisine, the festival serves as a platform linking management agencies, tourism businesses, artisans and local communities across the tourism value chain, enabling Hanoi to reinforce its image as a safe, friendly and attractive destination.

Covering nearly 5,000 square meters, the festival features almost 80 booths arranged into three thematic zones, offering an immersive journey through Hanoi’s craft villages and food culture.

A highlight is the space titled “Traditional craft villages – stories of the past and present,” presenting renowned villages such as Bat Trang pottery, Van Phuc silk, Chuong conical hats, Chang Son fans, Ha Thai lacquerware, Phu Vinh rattan weaving, Quang Phu Cau incense making, Phung Xa weaving, and Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay.

Bat Trang pottery and Van Phuc silk, both members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, take center stage with artifacts, models and Tet-themed displays.

Running from December 11 to 14, the festival also offers hands-on craft activities with artisans, culinary experiences with local chefs and a range of cultural and artistic performances.

Together, these elements turn the festival into an appealing weekend destination, where heritage, flavor and creativity meet, inviting visitors to rediscover the enduring charm of Hanoi.