Capital advances its heritage tourism

During a formal visit from UNESCO to Vietnam at the end of April, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung expressed hopes for continued support and collaboration from UNESCO in implementing Hanoi’s developmental directions.

Hanoi still needs more nighttime tours for foreign visitors

Particularly, he sought support for a report on the conservation status of its city centre, which was submitted to UNESCO in January and is scheduled for review at the World Heritage Committee session in July.

With a millennia-old history of civilisation, serving as the nexus of Vietnamese historical roots and cultural richness, Hanoi is known as the ‘Heritage City’, boasting an immensely diverse and valuable cultural heritage comprising nearly 6,000 historical and cultural relics.

Hanoi tourism leaders said the capital has never seen as much domestic and international interest in heritage activities as recently.

“Hanoi’s successful organisation of major cultural festivals and events opens up avenues for night-time economic development, stimulating the cultural industry of the capital city and cementing Hanoi’s brand as a friendly destination,” declared Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism.

A highlight is the emotionally charged Sacred Night experience at Hoa Lo Prison. Amidst the heart of Hanoi, visitors are immersed in a space of glorious, sacred, and emotionally rich history, to listen to the stories of revolutionary soldiers who devoted their youth to the nation’s liberation struggle.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism, in collaboration with Hoan Kiem district, launched the Hanoi Night - Touchpoint of Emotions art experience space on Hang Buom street, introducing visitors to 13 installations that combine light and shadow with blocks that reflect images. The experience also includes activities introducing traditional culture such as painting, performances, and showcasing art products made from bamboo, rattan, and weaving from craft villages.

The Cultural and Scientific Centre of the Temple of Literature has also conducted a night tour themed Essence of Philosophy, illuminating a space with light, sound, and pride, drawing in 80,000 visitors in January alone, including regular sightseeing.

Phung Quang Thang, chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said that developing nighttime tourism will awaken some museums and historical sites that are currently dormant in the capital. “Night products and services must be associated with indigenous culture. Companies need to collaborate with heritage sites and museums to create experiences and differences for tourists instead of offering conventional tours,” Thang said.

Additionally, Hanoi needs more night-time tours for visitors, including the Old Quarter, which should have its own tour highlighting its unique characteristics, Thanh added. “Water puppet theatres should also have more performances narrating stories for foreign visitors instead of just local folklore,” he said.

It is hoped that revenues from the cultural industry will increase year by year, contributing about 8 per cent of the city’s regional GDP by 2030 and 10 per cent by 2045.

New vitality comes to monuments and heritage sites Many heritage sites and ancient relics have become more lively destinations thanks to developing new activities that pull in numerous visitors, especially from overseas.

Hanoi promotes experiential tourism linked to heritage, trade villages Hanoi, home to a large number of cultural and historical sites and craft villages, is taking measures to develop experiential tourism to attract more visitors to the over-1,000-year-old capital.

Trang An marks 10th anniversary as UNESCO World Heritage Site The northern province of Ninh Binh hosted a ceremony on April 26 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition of Trang An Landscape Complex as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site.