HANOI EYES STRONG TOURISM GROWTH DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

Visitors explore Hanoi - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Hanoi’s tourism sector expects a strong start to 2026, with the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday seen as a key period to boost visitor numbers, spending, and service quality.

According to Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the extended Tet holiday, combined with early and coordinated preparation of tourism activities and products, is expected to drive tourism growth. The focus, she said, is not only on attracting more visitors but also on improving the quality of growth by encouraging longer stays and higher spending.

Hanoi welcomed around one million visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday in 2025. Based on this result, the city believes it can achieve higher growth during the Lunar New Year 2026 and further strengthen its position as one of Vietnam’s leading travel destinations.

Anticipating a surge in visitors, the tourism sector has developed plans to ensure safety, manage visitor flows, and improve overall travel experiences. Authorities have asked tourism businesses and attractions to implement crowd management measures, reduce congestion, and maintain order and safety, particularly at traditional and popular sites during the holiday period.

Tour operators are also encouraged to promote new tourism products and destinations, especially in suburban and outlying areas. The aim is to diversify travel itineraries and ease pressure on the city center. Domestic travelers are advised to plan early, book services in advance, and choose suitable destinations during the nine-day break.

Alongside Tet operations, Hanoi is rolling out tourism promotion programs from early 2026, linked to infrastructure investment, product development, digital transformation, and workforce training. The city targets nearly 36 million visitors for the full year.

Travel companies report positive signals for the Lunar New Year tourism market, following a solid recovery during the 2026 New Year holiday. Demand is shifting toward higher-quality experiences rather than volume. Many businesses estimate Tet holiday growth of 15–20% year-on-year.

Tran Thi Bao Thu, communications and marketing director at Vietluxtour, said family groups and middle-aged travelers tend to book early to secure services and stable schedules. Younger travelers, by contrast, often book later to retain flexibility in time and budget.

Within the domestic market, destinations in the northern mountains, including Sapa in Lao Cai, Lo Lo Chai Village in Tuyen Quang, Moc Chau in Son La, and Dien Bien, are expected to attract strong demand. Nearby destinations such as Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island, and Ninh Binh are also forecast to remain popular. Central and southern routes, along with Phu Quoc Island, continue to draw travelers thanks to competitive pricing and convenient air connections.

Source: The Saigon Times