In the first half of 2025, Hanoi welcomed 15.5 million visitors, a sharp increase from 14.3 million in the same period of 2019.

This strong rebound lays the groundwork for a new phase of tourism development in the capital, particularly during the upcoming celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, when Hanoi will become a focal point for domestic and international tourists.

In 2019, Hanoi recorded nearly 29 million tourist arrivals and aimed to reach 32 million in 2020. However, that goal was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Normal tourism operations resumed in early 2022, but the industry continued to face challenges due to global economic impacts and ongoing conflicts in some regions.

Despite these hurdles, Hanoi's tourism sector has made a strong recovery, receiving 15.5 million visitors in just the first six months of 2025.

This year, as Hanoi becomes the centerpiece of national celebrations, the city has finalized and launched a series of new and upgraded tourism products.

According to Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Tourism, “Hanoi’s tourism is not only growing in visitor numbers but also gaining global recognition.”

He highlighted recent accolades: Top 3 most popular global destinations (TripAdvisor), Top 25 all-time favorite destinations, and one of the Top 11 most captivating cities in the world (Time Out magazine). “Hanoi is entering a golden period to accelerate both visitor volume and experience quality. These new tourism products are not just attractions - they are keys to enhancing the capital's status within Vietnam’s and the region’s tourism value chain.”

Among the newly introduced experiences, many are scheduled to officially launch in August. Notable is the nighttime event “The Bell of Tran Vu” at Quan Thanh Temple, a spiritual and cultural highlight tied to one of the Thang Long’s Four Sacred Temples.

Another major rollout is the “Southern Thang Long Heritage Road” tour. While the original route covered Thanh Oai, Ung Hoa, and My Duc, the revamped version offers distinctive highlights: the village of Ngau, known for chrysanthemum wine (Dai Thanh commune); Phuc Am votive paper village (Hong Van commune); and Cuu village (Chuyen My commune), famous for its dozens of French-style heritage homes in a peaceful countryside setting.

Creative tourism spaces are also being launched, including “Truc Bach Subsidy Street-Electric Train Car No. 6-Leng Keng Heritage Route” and a herbal village experience in the Dao ethnic community at Ban Mien (Ba Vi district), aiming to offer “authentic Hanoi check-in spots.”

Regarding rail travel, Hanoi has introduced new high-quality night trains such as Sjourney and Hoa Phuong Do (a culinary tour connecting Hanoi and Hai Phong), and the “Five City Gates” train set to depart on August 19.

Nguyen Huu Viet, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Tourism Promotion Center, shared that beyond new products, the city is expanding its promotional campaigns through a series of festivals and events.

Highlights include: the 2025 Hanoi Beverage Festival from August 29 to September 2 at Thong Nhat Park; the third Hanoi Autumn Festival, planned from October 3 to 5 at Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street; the November Ao Dai Tourism Festival at Son Tay Citadel; and the Culinary and Craft Village Tourism Festival.

Parallel to these local events, Hanoi will also participate in major domestic and international promotional activities, including Da Lat Tourism Week, Tuyen Festival, Osaka Expo (Japan), ITB India (Mumbai), and IFTM Top Resa (Paris), aiming to promote Hanoi’s image, connect with tourism businesses, and attract more international travelers.

Large-scale projects scheduled for completion in 2025-2026 will further transform the capital’s tourism landscape. These include the National Exhibition Center, Kim Quy Park, Soc Son horse racetrack, Hoan Kiem Lake renovation, and a new chain of luxury hotels. These developments will provide a strong foundation for Hanoi’s tourism to enter its next phase of robust growth.

PV