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Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the historic month of April, as the whole country looks forward to the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), Hanoi once again becomes the center of attention with a unique cultural and tourism event: the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2025.
Held in the Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street area from April 11 to 13, 2025, this year's festival, themed "Hanoi Tourism - A World Heritage Destination," is not just a simple tourism promotion activity, but also a journey of telling heritage stories through gifts imbued with cultural and historical significance.
Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, shared: “Following the success of previous festival seasons, this year's program, themed 'Hanoi Tourism - A World Heritage Destination,' honors the unique cultural values of the capital city. Through each tourism gift, we hope to tell the story of our heritage, thereby spreading love for Hanoi to domestic and international tourists.”
Ms. Dang Huong Giang - Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and other delegates visited the exhibition booths.
Hanoi, a city that preserves layers of millennia-old cultural heritage, offers gifts that are not merely souvenirs but also talented storytellers, conveying the beauty of this heritage in the most subtle and refined way.
This year's festival, with its large scale and elaborate staging, brings together 80 stalls from traditional craft villages, typical tourist destinations of Hanoi and localities throughout the country. It is a place where the essence of handicraft art converges, from the smooth silk of Van Phuc, the rustic pottery of Bat Trang, to the vibrant Dong Ho folk paintings, the exquisite lacquerware of Ha Thai, and even contemporary creations that reflect the spirit of the times while retaining the essence of the nation.
Exhibition booths at the festival
Honoring traditional crafts, preserving the Vietnamese spirit.
Among them, two craft villages stand out as members of the World Creative Cities Network: Bat Trang pottery village (Gia Lam district) and Van Phuc silk village (Ha Dong district). The Bat Trang booth attracted many visitors thanks to its handcrafted pottery products that are both highly functional and retain the essence of traditional pottery making. Meanwhile, Van Phuc impressed with its shimmering silk fabrics, woven using traditional techniques combined with modern designs, showcasing the continuous creativity of its artisans.
Honoring and placing traditional craft villages at the center of the festival is not only a tribute to the skilled hands that preserve ancient crafts, but also a clear message about the direction of sustainable tourism development, based on traditional culture.
Experience making incense right at the exhibition booth.
Experience vibrant heritage in the heart of Hanoi.
Beyond simply showcasing and introducing products, the festival also offers rich experiential spaces, allowing visitors to "touch" the vibrant heritage values of the capital city. One of the highlights is the space simulating heritage destinations such as Hanoi's Old Quarter, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Temple of Literature. Meticulously designed with lighting, sound effects, and virtual reality technology, these spaces not only satisfy the photo-taking needs of young people but also convey cultural values in a visually engaging and attractive way.
Accompanying this are performances of traditional culture such as water puppetry, Ca Tru singing, Xam singing, Quan Ho folk singing, etc. These performances not only help "awaken" the intangible cultural values honored by UNESCO but also create a truly festive atmosphere: vibrant, intimate, and rich in identity.
Bat Trang ceramics
Technology, innovation, and a contemporary feel in traditional festivals.
The digital transformation space for tourism and virtual reality/arrival (VR/AR) experiences is a particular plus, demonstrating Hanoi's tourism industry's quick adaptation to global trends. Here, visitors can explore the capital's cultural heritage and scenic spots through digital technology, creating a smart, convenient, and highly interactive travel experience. This also affirms that Hanoi is constantly innovating and embracing technology to improve service quality and maintain its position as an attractive and modern heritage destination.
The workshop space for interacting with artisans is a particularly attractive area for international visitors and families with young children. Here, they can create their own handcrafted gifts such as painting ceramics, weaving silk, and making clay figurines – experiences that are both educational and emotionally engaging, turning gifts into memorable keepsakes instead of just hastily purchased items.
80 stalls were on display at the festival.
Spreading love for Hanoi through every gift.
It's impossible not to mention the spectacular art program at the opening ceremony, with its two main parts: "Hanoi - A Place to Love" and "Hanoi Tourism - A World Heritage Destination". Stories of Hanoi, past and present, were retold through music, light, dance, and multimedia projections – creating an emotional symphony that moved both domestic and international audiences.
From individual handicrafts, paintings, silk fabrics, fans, or tea boxes, one can clearly see Hanoi's efforts to transform gifts into cultural ambassadors—gifts that are both intimate, meaningful, and highly practical. When these gifts are given, they are not just material objects, but also pieces that contribute to spreading the enduring beauty and values of the capital city.
Artistic performances at the opening ceremony.
Van Phuc - a member of the World Creative Cities Network.
The Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2025 has made a significant contribution to enhancing the image of Hanoi as a city rich in tradition, dynamic, creative, and integrated. This is also a practical activity to celebrate the National Tourism Year 2025 with the theme "Hue - Ancient Capital, New Opportunities" and to look forward to the Vietnam International Tourism Fair (VITM 2025) with the theme "Developing Green Destinations, Elevating Vietnamese Tourism".
The festival clearly demonstrated Hanoi's orientation towards sustainable tourism development: using heritage as a foundation, technology as a driving force, and the community as the center. This is also how the capital city is preserving its identity while constantly innovating and refreshing its image in the eyes of international friends.
