Attractions

The Captivating Capital: Unveiling Hanoi’s Allure for Extended Explorations

Hanoi is a city brimming with potential to captivate tourists and extend their stay. The city boasts a unique allure, a blend of rich cultural heritage and a vibrant, modern vibe that is bound to enchant visitors and boost tourism revenue. With its captivating charm, Hanoi promises an unforgettable experience, leaving travelers yearning for more.

Administrator

27 June, 2024

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Hanoi is pulling out all the stops to entice visitors to extend their stay in the city during the summer months. According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, this includes enhancing accommodation options with the addition of four- and five-star hotels.

The prestigious Capella Hanoi Hotel, which recently clinched the “#1 City Hotel” title at the Travel + Leisure Asia Pacific Awards 2023, is a testament to the city’s efforts to elevate its hospitality game.

Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, shared insightful statistics about the city’s lodging landscape. Currently, Hanoi boasts 3,760 accommodation establishments, offering over 71,200 rooms to weary travelers. Notably, only 16% of these are ranked hotels and apartments, indicating significant room for growth in the industry.

“Hanoi has untapped potential when it comes to luring long-term tourists and boosting tourism revenue,” Minh asserted. However, he also pointed out that the city primarily attracts professionals or short-term visitors during the summer, and the number of international guests staying in Hanoi remains relatively low.

To address this, Minh suggested that lodging establishments step up their game by offering enticing incentives to attract a regular and long-term clientele.

This summer, several accommodation facilities are rolling out attractive programs to stimulate demand. For instance, the JW Marriot Hanoi Hotel is offering a family promotional package, with rates starting at VND4.5 million ($177) per night, including breakfast and afternoon tea. Similarly, the Silk Path Hotel is wooing guests with a 15% summer discount, while the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel provides flexibility with a preferential program that allows late check-in and check-out.

Even the suburbs of Hanoi are getting in on the action, with luxury accommodations offering promotional programs to entice visitors seeking a respite from city life.

At the Meliá Ba Vi Resort, guests can immerse themselves in a plethora of tourist activities, including complimentary camping and team-building experiences, as shared by resort manager Hoang Van Phuong in an interview with The Hanoi Times.

The Meliá Ba Vi Resort, nestled in Hanoi’s Ba Vi district, offers guests a tranquil escape with a range of sightseeing activities to explore.

Glory Resort, located in Son Tay Town, is also doing its part to encourage longer stays by offering discounted rates on select days.

Nguyen Anh Phuong, Deputy Director of Delta Travel in Hanoi, highlighted the untapped potential of the Ba Vi and Son Tay areas for ecotourism, cultural immersion, and recreational and sports tourism, making them ideal destinations for families and groups.

“Hanoi has a wealth of tourism offerings yet to be fully utilized,” Phuong remarked. “The city should focus on developing unique and authentic tourism products to truly stand out.”

Chu Ngoc Quan, Deputy Director of Ba Vi National Park, echoed this sentiment, revealing a remarkable 170% increase in visitors to the park in May compared to the previous year. He expressed his hope that travel companies would collaborate to create enticing, high-quality tourism packages and that the city would continue with its plans to host large-scale events to draw in the crowds.

Strengthening Connections for a Better Visitor Experience

Deputy Director Minh of the Hanoi Department of Tourism acknowledged that the city lacks large-scale hotels with over 1,000 rooms and comprehensive services encompassing accommodation, sports, and entertainment. While Hanoi boasts an abundance of culinary and shopping options, these are scattered and lack cohesive linkages with hotels and resorts, impacting the overall visitor experience.

To boost visitor numbers, Minh suggested that accommodation facilities create tailored tourism product packages to attract domestic tourists during off-peak periods. This could include offering service discounts and organizing a variety of engaging activities, thereby creating a seamless service supply chain from accommodation to entertainment.

Le Hong Thai, Director of Hanoitourist Travel Company, emphasized the importance of collaboration between hotels and travel agencies. He suggested that hotels adopt a cooperative approach, working hand-in-hand with travel agencies to craft comprehensive product packages that would appeal to group travelers.

“In addition to hotel discounts and demand stimulation policies, Hanoi should focus on developing immersive tourism experiences to attract long-term visitors,” Thai told The Hanoi Times.

In line with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s domestic tourism stimulus program, “Vietnamese People Travel to Vietnam – Vietnam I Love,” the Hanoi Department of Tourism is taking proactive steps to attract domestic tourists to the city, especially during the fall and summer of 2024. They are launching a campaign to promote experiential activities at four and five-star hotels in Hanoi, encouraging collaboration between accommodation facilities, airlines, and travel agencies to create enticing tourism packages.

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, emphasized the importance of coordination between these industries, stating, “This summer, Hanoi’s accommodation facilities need to work together with airlines and travel agencies to craft tourism experiences that resonate with travelers. Additionally, a thoughtful pricing strategy is key to encouraging locals to explore their own city.”