Hanoi is taking the lead in launching services to tap the potential of the night-time economy and attract more visitors to the capital.
Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa in Ba Dinh District, recently designated by the Hanoi government as a city-level tourist destination, is one of the new unique landmarks in the city's night tourism.
For both domestic and foreign visitors, Truc Bach Night offers exciting, fascinating, and distinctive experiences. One of its unique features is that Hanoi's subsidy period was incorporated into the design of the space. For the first time in the capital, the event area has been set up like a movie theater, with department stores and trams as backdrops. They help visitors to remember one of the country's special periods.
In addition to the specially designed theme shops, the soul of "Truc Bach Night" is Tram Line No. 6 - "Hanoi Street Museum" in four trams. Each of them carries a typical culinary theme of Hanoi and Vietnam, such as rice paddy, vermicelli noodles, and kitchen cupboard trays. The trams seem to be "mini-museums" of Hanoi's culture and cuisine, a notable highlight for tourists who want to find old memories and learn about the history and culture of the capital.
Leaders, officials, and people of Ba Dinh District join experiential activities at "Truc Bach Night". Photo: VGP |
Nguyen Dan Huy, Chairman of the Truc Bach Ward People's Committee, said: "When we began the project, we envisioned the trams as a little museum showcasing stories about Hanoi’s culinary culture. After the first tram went into trial operation and drew a large number of locals and tourists, we decided to expand it. Each tram not only offers culinary stories, but also depicts the culture, occupation, lifestyle, and behavior of the people of Trang An-Hanoi."
Tram Line No. 6 - "Hanoi Street Museum" is an open museum that will always move and change, so that visitors who come here can observe and directly participate in experiential activities, thereby gaining a deep understanding of the culture and people of Hanoi, Huy stressed.
Ba Dinh Chairman Ta Nam Chien said that among the 74 historical, cultural, and revolutionary relics it houses, the district is proud to preserve national and international works such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage Site, the Presidential Palace Special Relics Site, the Hanoi Flag Tower and the One Pillar Pagoda. The strong link between spirituality and tourism is further demonstrated by the two famous temples, Voi Phuc and Quan Thanh, which were recently designated as city-level tourist sites.
"We inherit distinctive urban architecture, natural landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage. Ba Dinh District has made significant efforts to boost tourism in recent years, including creating a dedicated website, visitbadinh.com, and establishing a number of digital marketing channels on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. To preserve traditional cultural identity, we have also focused on upgrading urban infrastructure such as flower beds and trees," the official said.
"Truc Bach Night" in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District is chosen as a venue for its layers of historical and cultural sediments. Photo: VGP |
Boosting night-time economic development
The government has asked the city to allocate suitable spaces for the development of cultural and entertainment industries, making tourism the spearhead of the economy, giving priority to the preservation and promotion of cultural spaces such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Old Quarter, Co Loa Relic Complex, Duong Lam Ancient Village, and traditional craft villages. It is also necessary to build new, modern, unique, and typical cultural works that symbolize the city in the new era.
A series of activities will be carried out to develop Hanoi's night tourism by expanding night services, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism.
"Successful festivals and cultural events in the city not only provide opportunities to expand the night economy and promote the city's cultural industry, but also strengthen Hanoi's reputation as a friendly tourist destination," said Dang Huong Giang, Director of the city's tourism department.
The Temple of Literature Tour provides a distinctive experience for tourists by using advanced 3D mapping technology to display vivid images and tell stories about the country's educational tradition. Photo: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times |
She highlighted Hanoi's achievements in introducing some night tourism services, such as night activities in pedestrian streets, night tours of Hoa Lo Prison, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Temple of Literature.
To develop night tourism in Hanoi and stimulate the night economy, the city needs more comprehensive strategies, the director said, adding that Hanoi would create night tours for foreign visitors interested in exploring the ancient streets of the Old Quarter. She also suggested staging water puppet performances with adaptations of stories that appeal to foreign visitors, rather than traditional folk tales.
Giang said the department plans to organize a workshop on developing Hanoi's night tourism services and launch an online review on "Hanoi Night Welcomes You," adding that more night tour products will be launched in the coming time.
Nguyen Thi Mai Anh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency, told The Hanoi Times that it is important to develop and network the nighttime economy in various areas beyond the Old Quarter. She said that focusing on night-time culinary tourism could provide opportunities for households to expand their businesses.
As part of a project initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hanoi and 11 other localities aim to establish at least one model for developing night tourism by 2025. This model aims to attract more tourists, increase their spending, and extend their stay.
"To achieve this goal, Hanoi will continue to cooperate with tourism enterprises and create night and experience tourism services grounded in traditional values at relics and heritage sites," Mai Anh said.
