As a result, heritage sites such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature - First National University and Hanoi’s Old Quarter continue to attract tourists. Hanoi’s growing appeal to international travelers is also reflected in its recognition by a number of prestigious rankings. In 2026, travel platform Tripadvisor named Hanoi the second-most popular destination in Asia, while ranking it fourth among the world’s Top 25 Destinations, seventh among the Top 25 Cultural Destinations and 11th among the Top 25 Food Destinations worldwide. U.S. News & World Report ranked Hanoi eighth among the 20 Most Attractive Destinations in Asia for 2026.
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International tourists experience a cyclo tour in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. |
From organizing large-scale cultural and tourism events to developing green tourism, night-time tourism and digital experiences, Hanoi has been renewing its promotional approaches, improving service quality and creating fresh momentum to attract international visitors.
The city kicked off the year with the “Hanoi Tourism Welcomes 2026” program and Happy Tet 2026, featuring activities showcasing the capital’s culture, customs and new tourism products.
One of the year’s major events was the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2026, held from March 13 to 15 at Thong Nhat Park. Nearly 100 booths were arranged into themed experience spaces, combining traditional culture with digital technology and sustainable tourism trends. The Hanoi Lotus Festival 2026, held in late June, also left a positive impression. After three days, the festival attracted nearly 300,000 domestic and international visitors.
An event organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee to announce the Hanoi Master Plan with a 100-year vision attracted around 40 ambassadors and embassy representatives, as well as more than 1,500 domestic and international business and investment representatives. The event served as an important channel for promoting Hanoi’s image and potential to the international community.
Currently, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is developing a communications and tourism promotion plan targeting international media channels for the 2026-2030 period. It is also coordinating with Viet Nam Airlines Corporation to promote the capital’s tourism image on flights.
Under the message “Hanoi – Come to Love,” the capital’s tourism sector aims to welcome around 9 million international visitors in 2026. To achieve this target, Hanoi will continue organizing a series of attractive events through the end of the year, including the Thang Long-Hanoi Festival, Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival, Hanoi Autumn Festival and Hanoi Beverage Festival.
These events form part of the city’s plan to establish an annual series of activities designed to enhance Hanoi’s appeal to both domestic and international visitors.
Translated by Quynh Oanh