More foreigners visit Hà Nội

June 09, 2011 2:25 PM GMT+7

VGP - Hà Nội has welcomed nearly 5.7 million visitors in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 23%, of whom 552,000 were foreigners, up 20%, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A corner of Hà Nội

The number of visitors from China surged 32% to nearly 82,000; Australia, up 28% to roughly 50,000; and Japan up 14% to over 48,000.

The rise in international arrivals is mainly attributed to Hà Nội’s promotion programs launched in key markets.

From now to the end of this year, Hà Nội will approve a tourism development plan till 2020 with vision to 2030. It will outline a plan to develop eco-tourism networks, and craft a scheme on transport networks to serve tourism development in the city.

The municipal Department will continue to promote the development of home-stay services in Ba Vì District, and tourism-directed services in cultural heritage sites, craft villages.

It has set to focus on the central part of the Thăng Long Royal Citadel, Gióng Festival, Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám (the Temple of Literature), Hà Nội Museum, Ngọc Sơn Temple, Hương Pagoda, Thày Pagoda, Tây Phương Pagoda, Đường Lâm ancient village, Bát Tràng pottery village, Vạn Phúc silk village…

The capital city strives to welcome nearly 1.8 million foreign visitors and 11.5 million domestic ones this year and expects to cater for 2 million international arrivals and 14 million domestic visitors by 2015.

By Ngọc Vân