Visitors to Hanoi double on year in September
A surge of visitors in September turned Hanoi into a tourism hotspot, as National Day festivities and new attractions fueled record-breaking growth.
THE HANOI TIMES — Visitors to Hanoi hit a record number of 4.17 million in September, doubling the figure from a year earlier, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism.
The surge boosted tourism revenue by 46.1% to VND12 trillion (US$489.8 million).
International visitors to Hang Ma Street. Photo: Duy Khanh/ The Hanoi Times
Of the total visitors, 666,700 were international tourists, marking a 46.8% year-on-year increase, while domestic arrivals reached 3.5 million, more than twice the figure in September 2024.
In the first nine months of 2025, Hanoi is estimated to have welcomed 26.07 million tourists, up 23.8% on year, with international arrivals rose by 26% to 5.54 million.
Total tourism revenue reached VND98.36 trillion ($4.01 billion), up 20.7% year-on-year.
Hotel occupancy also reflected the sector’s robust recovery. September’s room occupancy rate stood at 68.6%, bringing the nine-month average to 62.6%.
Hanoi currently has 3,761 accommodation establishments offering 71,256 rooms. Among them, 85 establishments are rated from one to five stars, providing 11,965 rooms.
There are also 3,676 unclassified establishments with 59,291 rooms.
International tourists delight in strolling along the vibrant Hang Ma Street. Photo: Duy Khanh/ The Hanoi Times
Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, Dang Huong Giang, attributed September's impressive performance to the range of celebratory events marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2).
“The highlight was the grand celebration and parade at Ba Dinh Square on September 2. Alongside this were major events such as the national achievements exhibition ‘80-Year Journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness’ in Dong Anh, fireworks displays, music festivals, and various cultural activities, which drew visitors from across the country,” she stated.
In addition, the launch of The Hanoi Train, in collaboration with the Vietnam Railways Corporation and BHL Tourism Service Trading JSC provided a unique experience for both locals and tourists.
For the coming time, the Department of Tourism plans to submit a new management and preservation project of the Huong Son Complex, a special national historical and scenic site.
The city also aims to diversify its tourism offerings by developing high-quality products tailored to market demand. These include agricultural and rural tourism, night tours, ethnic community-based tourism, adventure and experiential travel, and virtual reality tourism.
Furthermore, Hanoi is promoting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and golf tourism at resort destinations, while continuing to organize large-scale cultural, political, and international festival events.
