Many unique tourism products

As the city lights come on, Ngoc Son Temple dons a new, dazzling cloak. Amidst the resounding music and drumbeats, and the sparkling lights, visitors step into a space steeped in history and culture on the "Ngoc Son - Mysterious Night" night tour. The journey begins at the foot of the Pen Tower – a symbol of a pen reaching towards the sky, inscribed with the words "Tả thanh thiên" (Writing the Clear Sky). In the soft, dim light, the solemn ceremony of bestowing sacred characters is performed, opening up a space to pay tribute to our ancestors.

The "Ngoc Son - Mysterious Night" night tour attracts both domestic and international tourists.

Following the young women in traditional costumes, visitors continue their night tour with the "Ritual of Welcoming the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth" at The Huc Bridge and Dac Nguyet Pavilion. Amidst the resounding drumbeats echoing across the lake, each step on the bridge is like a rhythm connecting the past and present, where people quiet their hearts to receive energy from heaven and earth. The highlight is the reenactment of King Le returning the sacred turtle sword, performed with solemn rituals combined with modern lighting technology, depicting a golden page of history in fighting invaders and defending the country.

Born and raised in Hanoi , 36-year-old Pham Thi Dung, residing in Bo De ward, was surprised to find that Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple—places so familiar to her—had become so attractive and mysterious. “I was immersed in the atmosphere of the past, and I was particularly impressed by the reenactment of King Le returning the sword to the sacred turtle. This is like a history lesson reminding everyone, especially the younger generation, to study history and show gratitude to our ancestors,” shared Pham Thi Dung.

Twenty-five years after being recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Thang Long Imperial Citadel has become a prominent cultural destination. Besides being a center for major cultural events in the capital and the country, the site attracts domestic and international tourists with tours focusing on cultural, historical, and archaeological exploration. Among these, the "Decoding the Thang Long Imperial Citadel" night tour has become a flagship tourism product of the capital in recent years. The 90-minute night tour begins at Doan Mon Gate. Here, visitors experience the atmosphere of the ancient Imperial Citadel, enjoy traditional court dances amidst unique archaeological remains, and admire valuable artifacts and relics found within the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The tour concludes with a game to decipher the secrets of the Imperial Citadel for visitors.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang, Director of the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the Center's policy is to preserve and promote cultural heritage on the foundation of continuous creativity and innovation, with the aim of making Thang Long Imperial Citadel a vibrant cultural, artistic, and tourism center of the capital and the country.

Building a city of heritage and creativity.

Hanoi leads the country in the number of cultural heritage sites, with over 6,400 historical relics and nearly 2,000 intangible cultural heritage items inventoried; more than 1,000 traditional festivals, and over 1,300 traditional craft villages. To further enhance its cultural heritage, Hanoi is a pioneer in applying digital transformation in the management, preservation, and promotion of heritage. Applications for visiting historical sites using 3D technology, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) not only enhance the viewing experience but also open up opportunities for a wider audience, both domestic and international, to access heritage.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, former Director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi believes that to achieve breakthroughs in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, it is necessary to help cultural workers and the public improve their capacity and awareness of heritage. To do this, effective communication and training methods are needed for those working in museums, historical sites, and those who possess intangible cultural heritage, so that they understand the value of heritage and, consequently, foster creativity.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in the first 10 months of 2025, the number of visitors to Hanoi is estimated to reach over 28 million, an increase of approximately 22% compared to the same period in 2024; including 6.17 million international visitors, an increase of 23.6% compared to the same period in 2024. This high increase in visitors is expected to generate total tourism revenue of over 108 trillion VND, an increase of nearly 20% compared to the same period in 2024. A significant portion of these impressive figures is contributed by the large-scale cultural heritage events that have been and are being organized in the capital city. Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, emphasized that Hanoi places special emphasis on developing cultural tourism, using it as the foundation for developing other types of tourism. The city has proactively issued specific plans, projects, and schemes to develop and improve cultural tourism products and traditional craft villages, ensuring that these products are complete, unique, attractive, and highly professional, in line with sustainable tourism development.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/phat-trien-du-lich-tu-cac-di-san-van-hoa-1013292