Hanoi welcomes nearly 594,000 visitors during Tet holiday
Visitor numbers rose as festive activities and cultural attractions boosted Hanoi’s tourism appeal, reflecting strong travel demand during Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
THE HANOI TIMES — Some 593,700 visitors traveled to Hanoi during the 2026 Tet holiday from February 14 to 18, up 11.7% from a year earlier, the city’s Department of Tourism reported.
Children enjoys playing at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel during the flower street festival. Photo: hanoi.gov.vn
International arrivals jumped 51% year-on-year to 111,200, while domestic visitors rose 5.4% to about 482,500, marking the capital’s growing appeal as a spring destination.
Among major attractions over the five-day break, the Temple of Literature welcomed more than 34,700 visitors, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long drew around 18,000 and the Hoa Lo Prison relic site received about 7,000.
The surge in arrivals boosted accommodation demand, with average occupancy at hotels and serviced apartments reaching 65.3%. Four- and five-star properties recorded rates above 70%, reflecting strong high-end travel demand.
Tourism revenue during Tet reached VND2.23 trillion (US$85.9 million).
Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said heritage sites across the capital remained open, refreshed their decorations and curated cultural programs to welcome holiday visitors.
The city enriched the visitor experience with craft village showcases, presentations of intangible cultural heritage, traditional art performances and interactive activities that invited guests to engage directly with local culture.
Across Hanoi, historic landmarks rolled out Tet-themed events. The Heritage House at 87 Ma May recreated the atmosphere of old Hanoi’s Lunar New Year, while the Temple of Literature staged its Spring Calligraphy Festival, where visitors sought blessings written in flowing ink.
Tours to Ngoc Son Temple, the Four Sacred Temples of Thang Long and the Hanoi heritage train passing through the city’s five ancient gates, along with festive activities around Hoan Kiem Lake, drew steady crowds.
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long remained a centerpiece of the early-year celebrations.
Under the theme “Dawn of Aspiration”, the citadel is hosting its first spring flower street from February 10 to February 22, transforming the UNESCO-listed site into a vibrant cultural promenade.
The flower street is organized into four sections that guide visitors through layers of history and renewed ambition. Designers paired soft lighting with bamboo, wood and seasonal blooms to preserve the citadel’s solemn atmosphere while adding a festive touch.
Northern specialties such as Dien grapefruit trees, kumquat and peach blossoms stand beside ripening rice stalks and spring flowers, creating a landscape that evokes both rural memory and urban elegance.
