Hanoi continues to promote waterway tourism activities.

Hanoi Department of Tourism has sent report No. 236/BC-SDL to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the current status of waterway tourism activities in Hanoi city in the period of 2023-2025.

Hanoi has seven major rivers flowing through it, with a total length of 556 km. These include large, interconnected river systems such as the Red River, Duong River, Da River, and Cau River… the Red River alone stretches 163 km through the capital city. These rivers have been planned and connected, contributing to the formation of a national inland waterway network capable of reaching all regions of the country.

The Red River. (Photo: Ngoc Thanh/vnexpress.net)

In the past period, the City has actively advised the Government to issue Decisions, which, regarding tourism planning, have identified the planning and development of four river tourism corridors, including: the Red River tourism corridor; the Day River tourism corridor; the To Lich River tourism corridor; and the Cau, Ca Lo, and Tich River tourism corridors. The City has identified these as key tourism routes and corridors that need to be focused on attracting investment and development in the coming period.

Regarding the number of tourists and revenue from waterway tourism: Hanoi currently offers waterway tourism products on the Red River. Statistics on the number of tourists using Hanoi's waterway tourism products over the years are as follows: 2,909 visitors in 2023, 7,352 visitors in 2024, and 2,585 visitors in the first nine months of 2025. Revenue from waterway tourism activities reached VND 1,564,039,616 in 2023, VND 3,066,967,517 in 2024, and VND 1,826,740,000 in the first nine months of 2025.

Currently, one company, Thang Long GTC Joint Stock Company, operates waterway tourism routes along the Red River. The company employs 18 staff members in various tourism activities. They operate two tourist boats on the Red River, with capacities of 40 and 72 seats respectively. Thang Long GTC Joint Stock Company currently offers nine tours on the Red River, including five full-day tours, two half-day tours, and two afternoon/evening programs.

The city of Hanoi has identified the development of mechanisms and policies for waterway tourism products as one of its key, fundamental tasks and a foundation for effectively implementing other groups of tasks and solutions. In the past period, the Hanoi People's Committee has actively directed relevant departments, localities, and units to research and propose the development of many new, highly practical mechanisms and policies.

According to assessments, in the past period, this type of waterway tourism product has gradually attracted a large number of domestic and international tourists. Indicators for waterway tourism development continue to increase, maintaining a rapid growth rate. Many new tourist routes have been formed and developed with diverse and attractive service quality, meeting the needs of tourists, such as the Hanoi - Hung Yen route, Hanoi - Bac Ninh route, etc.

For businesses operating and organizing waterway tourism routes in the city: Currently, units exploiting river tourism products in the city are basically operating effectively, achieving good business results, and showing a trend of growth and development year after year. Companies are continuing to research and expand new tourism routes connecting Hanoi to provinces such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Phu Tho, etc. In addition, many reputable central and local businesses are also researching, proposing, and wishing to participate in developing waterway tourism products in the city.

In summary, it can be affirmed that, initially, waterway tourism products have yielded positive results, making an important contribution to the overall development of tourism in the city, and are increasingly asserting their role as a potential and key tourism product of the capital in the coming period.

In the coming period, to promote the development of waterway tourism in Hanoi, the city will focus on several key tasks. These include accelerating new investment solutions to improve infrastructure, prioritizing land allocation according to the zoning plan on both banks of the Red River and in urban development areas and satellite cities to build art facilities, service areas, and green spaces to support tourism and cultural development.

Continue to renovate and upgrade the internal infrastructure and connecting transportation infrastructure at waterway ports; at the same time, attract socialized investment to build large, modern waterway ports with professional services to serve the development of waterway tourism; research and develop model tourist ports; publicly disclose detailed planning for some large ports; pilot the exploitation of passenger transport and tourism on river routes, especially the Red River... to attract investors with practical effectiveness.

Prioritize the allocation of resources to upgrade inland waterway transport infrastructure, such as improving channels; ensuring adequate clearance for vessels; and strengthening connectivity between waterways and roads. Strengthen decentralization and management for localities to proactively implement management and investment according to the plan.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/ha-noi-tiep-tuc-day-manh-hoat-dong-du-lich-duong-thuy-20251023103548525.htm