Hanoi is not boring at night
About ten years ago, international visitors to Hanoi could easily fall into a state of “boredom” because they did not know where to go or what to do at night, especially for those staying for a long time. The common answer of Western visitors was “go for a walk, drink a few beers and go to bed early”.
However, in recent years, both Western and Vietnamese tourists probably no longer have to exclaim: "So bored, don't know what to do" in Hanoi when a series of tours and tourism products associated with night tourism have been born.
Thuy Duong (24 years old, Hoang Mai District), an employee of a travel company, said she often has to research activities and experience programs to suggest to international guests in Hanoi for evening entertainment, in addition to the daytime exploration schedule.
“When talking about nightlife in Hanoi, people usually think of eating out at night, walking around the streets at night or going to bars. But in the past few years, Hanoi has had many special night tours to introduce to foreign tourists. Even on the walking streets in the capital, there are cultural and artistic activities that change weekly.”
Cavin Teo, a tourist from Singapore, had special praise for the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street on the weekend. “Having visited the walking street during the day, I came back again on Sunday night, the last day we could enjoy the traffic-free streets before flying back home. I had the chance to enjoy a performance of the monochord - a one-stringed instrument I had seen in the Thang Long Water Puppet Show. The atmosphere was very lively.”
Not only attracting international visitors, the night tourism experience has truly become a spiritual dish for both Hanoi residents and out-of-town visitors.
Ms. Hoa My (54 years old, Nghe An) was very surprised when she first enjoyed the live show "Quintessence of the North" in Quoc Oai, Hanoi on a November day. "It was so beautiful and elaborate. The performance seemed to open up a Northern village right before my eyes. Next time I return to Hanoi, I will definitely invite my friends to watch it."
This show is also one of 16 unique night tourism products announced by the Hanoi Department of Tourism since the end of 2023. The map of food - entertainment - viewing for tourists is more diverse than ever, with rich experiences from the live show "Quintessence of the North"; Night tour of Hoa Lo with 3 different themes; Walking space in Hanoi's Old Quarter; Hoan Kiem Lake area and vicinity; Food and walking street combined with Ngoc Island - Ngu Xa, Ba Dinh district... to Thang Long Water Puppet; Night tour "Decoding the Imperial Citadel" at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Relic Site; Night tour "The Word Heart and the Word Talent" at the Vietnam Literature Museum; Art program "Legend of Youth - Living a Life Worth Living" at the Vietnam Women's Museum; Bicycle tour: Thang Long - Hanoi Night; Night tour of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam: "Quintessence of Dao Hoc".
According to Ms. Dang Huong Giang - Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism, the event of launching Hanoi night tourism products is part of a series of activities to orient the development of night tourism products in the city. This series of activities aims to promote the advantages of night services to develop diverse and unique Hanoi night tourism products, bringing to the people and tourists creative cultural spaces, high quality and value-added tourism products, contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the city.
Night travel brand
Up to now, many new programs and new night tours continue to be introduced to the public, creating a buzz for Hanoi tourism.
After the success of the 3D mapping film “The Essence of Dao Hoc” which ran for a full year since 2023, the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam continues to release the film “History of Stones”. The film tells the story of the journey to find the light of wisdom through books to be recorded on the Doctor's steles, with light and sound projection technology with a modern EDM music feel. The film officially premiered in the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam Night Tour from December.
Most recently, the Hanoi 2024 tourism promotion program attracted thousands of visitors to visit and experience the Ngoc Island - Ngu Xa Night Food Street in early December. The space recreates memories of the subsidy period, the old Hanoi lifestyle with cultural and artistic activities and contributes to the strong development of services such as cuisine, entertainment, and night-time tourism.
From the tourism business side, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat - Vice President of Hanoi Tourism Association, President of Capital Tourism Club, highly appreciated the walking street models providing night tourism experiences such as the event at Ngoc Island - Ngu Xa.
However, he said that in order for night tourism products to have sustainable vitality and become a brand for Hanoi, the city needs to have socialized models in tourism development.
For example, with the space at Ngoc Island - Ngu Xa, a night food street that is somewhat inferior to the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street, Mr. Tien Dat suggested that it is completely possible to turn this food street into a subsidy-themed street.
“The food street in Ngoc Island - Ngu Xa is quite convenient in terms of transportation, has its own unique dining experience but is not yet diverse in terms of regular activities for tourists. We can completely socialize to develop tourism at this location, with the participation of large enterprises to build a beer garden, a subsidy-era trade pho shop... creating a difference for the walking street”, the expert analyzed.
Enterprises expect that in the coming time, Hanoi will continue to research and develop specific night-time economic models for each region, so that Hanoi becomes a destination with a brand and identity in terms of night-time economy. From there, the city's tourism industry will have activities that meet the needs of residents and tourists, and have competitive capacity.
Ms. Dang Huong Giang - Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism said that with 20 night tourism products, Hanoi tourism industry has promoted the advantages of night services, developed diverse, unique, sustainable night tourism products with high quality and added value. From there, contributing to the socio-economic development of the city, contributing to increasing the experience for domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Hanoi.
Building Hanoi into a vibrant, unique destination for night-time economy Regarding the planning of Hanoi Capital, the conclusion of the Politburo clearly stated: Research and develop specific night-time economic models for each region, building Hanoi into a safe, vibrant, attractive, unique destination with a brand for night-time economy. This is one of the contents in Conclusion No. 80-KL/TU of the Politburo on the Hanoi Capital Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 and the Project to Adjust the Hanoi Capital Master Plan to 2045, with a vision to 2065. The Politburo's Conclusion clearly states: Research and develop specific night-time economic models for each region, build Hanoi into a safe, vibrant, attractive, unique destination with a night-time economic brand, meeting the needs of people and tourists, with higher competitiveness than other domestic and international destinations. Pay more attention to exploiting the advantages of Hanoi's rivers and lakes, especially the potential of West Lake, Red River, Duong River, To Lich River. Identify development reserve areas for future generations.
