Hanoi thrives with green tourism

In recent years, Hanoi has consistently been recognized as an attractive tourist destination by several leading international travel magazines, such as Travel and Leisure (USA) and Smart Travel Asia (Hong Kong).

International tourists visit Ngoc Son Temple (Hoan Kiem District). (Photo: Hoai Nam)

Untapped potential

Hanoi is a city with great potential and advantages, possessing both natural and human factors to develop sustainable green tourism . Nature has endowed the capital with a rich system of natural tourism resources, from its distinct four seasons to its diverse topography, including fertile plains and mountainous regions…

Ecological landscape systems such as Ba Vi National Park, Huong Son scenic area, Vien Nam mountain landscape... along with some agricultural spaces such as specialized crop belts in the districts of Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Hoai Duc... and ornamental flower and plant belts in Bac Tu Liem, Dong Anh, Me Linh... have a long tradition.

Notable examples include ecotourism and wellness tourism products such as herbal baths of the Dao people in Ba Vi district; experiential activities at Duong Lam Ancient Village (Son Tay town); incense making in Quang Phu Cau (Ung Hoa); and community tourism in Thach That district… Hanoi's green tourism products not only produce agricultural products to serve the urban area but also offer natural and cultural landscapes that contribute to tourism development, especially rural tourism and farm tourism.

Developing green tourism and digital tourism is not only an inevitable trend, but also a direction towards sustainable tourism development in the capital city. Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, Tran Trung Hieu, shared that in the coming time, the department will organize many survey trips with the participation of travel agencies to help localities develop products that meet the needs of tourists, thereby increasing the connectivity of tours and routes, exploiting the strengths of community tourism and green tourism, contributing to the more professional and effective development of tourism in the capital city…

Developing tourism to elevate the status of the Capital City.

In the coming period, Hanoi needs to focus on implementing key solutions to develop tourism commensurate with the capital's strengths: such as investing in the construction of tourism infrastructure and technical facilities in a synchronized, professional, modern, and environmentally friendly manner.

Develop diverse types of accommodation facilities, from high-end accommodation systems (4-5 star hotels, luxury tourist apartments, tourist villas) to 1-3 star hotels, tourist guesthouses, homestays, tourist villages, tourist cruise ships, etc.

In addition, we should promote the development of diverse, unique, and high-quality tourism that meets market demands and global trends. This includes cultural heritage tourism, spiritual tourism, craft village tourism, and community-based tourism – a form of tourism business based on natural resources and local cultural characteristics.

Furthermore, raising awareness about tourism development as a key economic sector will create a strong impetus for the development of other industries and fields, making a significant contribution to the formation of a modern economic structure. It is necessary to further promote tourism through communication, advertising, and marketing, and to develop the domestic and international tourist markets.

According to Dr. Cao Viet Sinh, former Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, in order for Hanoi to become a rapid and sustainable growth hub for the whole country, it is necessary to clearly define Hanoi's position within the national growth chart. From there, a direction for shifting the economic structure to increase growth in the direction of industry and services, including tourism, can be developed.

Associate Professor Pham Trung Luong, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Tourism Research, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, proposed that Hanoi needs to do a better job of promoting its strengths in terms of numerous and unique historical relics that no other locality can match, including many world cultural heritage sites, in order to develop tourism. Simultaneously, it should plan for efficient wastewater discharge, contributing to the "net-zero" goal that the Government is committed to implementing.

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