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Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang told Hanoimoi Newspaper about the city’s plans to attract tourists this summer and its long-term tourism promotion strategy. Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang. Photo: Hanoimoi newspaper How do you assess Hanoi’s tourism industry performance in the first half of 2023? In the first six months of 2023, the total number of tourists to Hanoi is estimated at 12.33 million, up 42% from last year. Among them, international tourists were 2.03 million, seven times higher than the same period last year. The city’s tourism revenue was estimated at VND44.9 trillion (US$1.9 billion), up 74.3% year-on-year. The first half of tourism revenue met more than 50% of the full year’s target, while international arrivals are expected to meet 75% of the annual target. Compared to the same period in 2019 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), the number of domestic tourists was equal to 95% of that in 2019, and t...

The last fortnight has seen major cities across the country excitedly prepare to welcome Christmas, with festive elements found around almost every corner. Primary schools and nurseries can be heard blaring out traditional Christmas songs to welcome arriving students, shopping centres have launched a range of promotions to lure in customers looking to buy gifts, and many businesses and residential buildings have put up an array of festive decorations to mark the occasion. Whilst these aspects of the holiday season have become more prevalent during December in Vietnam over the last few years, many traditional aspects of the festivities have so far failed to emerge in the way Vietnamese people celebrate the holiday. Indeed, it is common for many local people to think that Christmas Day is actually on December 24th as opposed to December 25th as this date coincides with the end of the Christmas sales. I recall one year seeing staff hurriedly removing festive decorations at Royal City ...