Hanoi attracts Chinese tourists with "tailor-made" products.

Model tourist route

For a long time, China has been the largest international market for Vietnamese tourists, accounting for approximately 30% of the total number of foreign visitors.

After more than two years of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam officially reopened all tourism activities on March 15, 2022. However, it wasn't until a full year later that the Chinese government included Vietnam in its pilot program for allowing citizens to travel in groups. This created favorable conditions for both sides to promote and restore normal tourism activities.

Recognizing the long-suppressed demand for tourism between the two countries, on March 28, 2023, in Hanoi, the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in coordination with the localities of Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong (Vietnam) and Honghe Prefecture (Yunnan Province, China), organized a conference to promote and launch the "Two Countries - Six Destinations" golden tourism route (comprising Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh of Vietnam and Kunming and Honghe of China). Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, this was considered one of the model tourism products, bearing the strong imprint of friendship and cooperation between the localities of the two neighboring countries; meeting the needs of tourists for sightseeing, learning, exploring, and experiencing.

Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said: “The tourism industry in the localities has prepared the best conditions and is ready to warmly welcome tourists from China with quality tourism services that meet the maximum needs of tourists.” Ms. Giang also said that in 2023, Hanoi will host the 10th Conference on Economic Corridor Cooperation between 5 provinces and cities of Vietnam and China. In 2022, Hanoi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Beijing (China), which includes the implementation of cooperation in tourism development.

Hanoi has always identified China as a top priority international tourist market. Therefore, Ms. Giang said that Hanoi will focus on investing in and developing unique tourism products, upgrading destinations, technical infrastructure, service infrastructure, and the tourism environment... This will accelerate the recovery of the international tourism market and lay the foundation for the development of Hanoi's green economy.

Develop "tailor-made" products.

According to Ms. Vu Nam Phuong, CEO of PNTrip, Chinese tourists currently visiting PNTrip fall into two main groups. The first group consists of business delegations on conference tours, exhibition tours, and trade and investment survey tours. The second group comprises independent tours for families and young people, usually during the summer months.

"Post-Covid-19, Chinese tourists prefer health-focused tourism products and services such as leisure and sports for family groups, self-guided vacations, and conference tours," Ms. Phuong revealed, predicting that from the beginning of May 2023, Chinese tourists will return to Hanoi in particular, and Vietnam in general, as they did before the pandemic.

To welcome the "wave" of tourists from China, Ms. Giang said that Hanoi will strengthen connections and develop tourism products based on exploiting the traditional and unique cultural values ​​of the capital, suitable to the needs and tastes of Chinese tourists, such as the "Thang Long Imperial Citadel" tour, the Temple of Literature - National University - Thang Long Imperial Citadel tour and resort stay at Tuan Chau Eco-urban Tourist Area - Hanoi; cultural tourism combined with health care in Ba Vi, Soc Son… New products such as health care tourism using traditional methods, sports tourism, conference and seminar tourism, or golf tours… will also be "tailored" for Chinese tourists.

In addition, Hanoi will proactively and actively participate in reciprocal tourism promotion programs with Beijing (China); and will preside over and coordinate the organization of tourism product promotion programs in Yunnan province (China)...

Ms. Giang expressed her hope that the governments of both sides would further strengthen coordination to promote cooperation in restoring the model tourism program "Two Countries - Six Destinations," aiming to make it a key tourism product for businesses on each side; and prepare the best conditions and support the smoothest possible immigration procedures to be ready to welcome tourists.

In particular, the parties will coordinate research and surveys to support the completion of procedures and resolve difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of the Road Transport Agreement between Vietnam and China, aiming to soon operate tourist bus routes to the two countries and their localities. At the same time, they will report to the competent authorities for consideration of piloting self-driving tourism with the accompanying conditions for the "Two Countries - Six Destinations" routes.

Bi Le