During the days, the capital city served 110,000 foreign arrivals and 450,000 domestic tourists, up nearly 287% and over 240%, respectively.
These figures reflect a strong recovery and robust growth right at the start of the year.
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International visitors welcome New Year 2026 in Hanoi. |
Data from the tourism sector shows that the sharp increase in both numbers and revenue is attributed to the extended four-day holiday, which allows residents and tourists ample time to rest, sightsee, and engage in experiences.
The strong influx of international visitors clearly demonstrates the city’s appeal as a safe and culturally rich destination that continuously reinvents itself. Central areas such as Hoan Kiem Lake, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), and Hanoi’s Old Quarter are consistently bustling with tourists, especially in the evenings.
Underpinning this impressive growth is a series of large-scale cultural and tourism activities and events that the city prepared well in advance. During the 2026 New Year holiday, Hanoi held fireworks displays at five locations and launched a range of new experiential programs, including an artistic lighting space highlighting Thap Rua (Turtle Tower) in the Ho Guom (Hoan Kiem Lake), a digital exhibition on heritage of Hanoi, as well as countdown events and music and art performances featuring domestic and international artists.
Notably, high-tech tourism products have created highlights for Hanoi’s tourism this year. The large-scale 3D mapping performance "Imperial Capital of Thang Long,” along with many digital experience spaces, have offered a fresh approach to heritage, allowing visitors, especially young people and international tourists, to engage with the history and culture of Thang Long - Hanoi in a more vivid and immersive way.
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An artistic lighting space highlighting Thap Rua (Turtle Tower) in the Ho Guom (Hoan Kiem Lake) |
At the same time, traditional cultural tourism continues to affirm its role as a pillar of the industry, with night tours at the Temple of Literature, Tet experiences, craft village showcases, cultural talks, traditional music performance in the Old Quarter, cycling tours, and visits to community and suburban attractions helping to distribute visitor flows, extend stays, and boost spending.
Not only in the city center, but suburban tourism routes, craft village tours, and eco-cultural tourism have also seen a significant increase in visitors. This is viewed as a positive signal for promoting sustainable tourism, easing pressure on central areas, and effectively tapping the potential of peri-urban regions.
Source: VNA