SEA Games 31 expected to boost Hanoi's tourism

Hanoi will host 18 events at 15 venues during SEA Games 31

Dang Huong Giang, director of Hanoi Department of Tourism said, "SEA Games 31 is an event of special significance, having a great impact on the capital's tourism industry in particular and the whole country in general. This is a wonderful opportunity for the capital's tourism to heat up and accelerate its recovery."

Hanoi Department of Tourism has prepared a system of high-quality tourist accommodation facilities to serve international delegations, athletes, and reporters at 14 hotels with more than 3,000 rooms.

In addition to building new tourism products and promoting inner-city cultural tourism to scenic spots, Hanoi Department of Tourism has also coordinated with related units to prepare a menu of Hanoi's unique food to introduce to the delegations.

Promotion activities have been arranged to introduce tourism in the capital through domestic and international media and television channels.

Hanoi Department of Tourism has organised a training course for more than 160 cultural and tourism managers in districts, towns, and destinations to ensure the success of SEA Games competitions and improve the communication and organisation that is needed to welcome guests.

Preparing for a series of events to welcome SEA Games 31, Hanoi is holding the Hanoi Gift Festival 2022 on May 1.

This is the first time Hanoi has organised a gift festival to promote local souvenirs, stimulate domestic tourism with the slogan Vietnamese people travel to Vietnam, and restore the tourist market after the impacts of the pandemic. At the same time, it hopes to build an image of the capital as a safe, friendly, high-quality, and attractive destination.

The items brought to the festival must meet the criteria of being compact, delicate, and highly symbolic of Hanoi, whilst also promoting destinations like the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Temple of Literature.

During the festival, Hanoi Department of Tourism will launch a gift design contest to increase creativity in the capital's products.

"The gift festival will attract the participation of many destination units and tourism businesses. They will also provide other gifts including service combos and discount coupons", Giang said.

Hanoi Department of Tourism said that many businesses have registered to introduce new tourism products, aiming to serve the delegations of athletes, experts, and fans from ASEAN countries.

Thang Long Heritage Conservation Centre Hanoi will reopen the night tour – Deciphering the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – with a new version. After the 2022 Hanoi Gift Festival in May, Hanoi Department of Tourism will continue to coordinate with other departments including Hanoi Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Centre to organise events such as the Hanoi Tourism Festival from May 13 to May 15 and the Hanoi Food and Craft Village Tourism Festival from May 18 to 22.

Hanoi aims to welcome about 10 million visitors this year, including up to two million international guests. The total revenue from tourists is expected to be around $1.5 billion.