Hanoi-ideal place for backpacking adventure

Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake - one of the most attractive destinations in Hanoi

Ideal for travellers on a tight budget, Vietnam's capital city is one of the cheapest destinations for backpackers.

“Not only is accommodation and food remarkably affordable, but you’ll be spoiled for choice of things to see and do in the city, which has a mix of Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences,” the magazine wrote.

Apart from the many popular places like Sword Lake, Hai Ba Trung Temple and Hoa Lo Prison Museum, the magazine highlights a special attraction – bia hoi. It notes that “backpackers often spend their evenings gathered at bia hoi bars across Hanoi, where you’ll find the cheapest beer in the world at around 25p a glass.”

In the first half of this year, Hanoi welcomed 13.19 million tourists, up 10 percent year-on-year, according to the Hanoi Tourism Department.

The number of foreign visitors to the capital city surpassed 3 million, marking a year-on-year increase of 26 percent. Meanwhile, domestic visitors rose by 6 percent to more than 10.1 million.

Foreign visitors were from about 190 countries and territories worldwide, with China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France and the US remaining key markets.

Hanoi is striving to welcome more than 25.4 million tourists, including 5.5 million foreigners, in 2018, confirming itself as an attractive destination in the region and the world. To realise the target, the city aims to develop various kinds of tourism, including culinary tourism.

The year 2017 was considered a success for the city’s tourism sector with 5 million foreign vacationers arriving in Hanoi, up 23 percent against the previous year, surpassing the target of 15 percent.