(Illustration: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Hanoi tourism development plan takes into consideration COVID-19 pandemic developments and the Ministry of Health’s recommendations. Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Trung Hieu said that if the pandemic is contained, the Department will assess the situation and recommend phased reopening.

“In October 2021, reopening measures have been taken that will allow travel agencies to serve tourists within Hanoi city. In November, further reopening and recovery measures will be applied, allowing travel agencies to welcome from other cities and provinces that have the pandemic under control. In December, further reopening and recovery measures will be part of the new normal,” Hieu said.

According to the plan developed by the Hanoi Travel Association, in order to ensure safe tourism, "green" criteria must be met: "green" tourists, who are fully vaccinated and have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 virus, "green" companies, whose employees are fully vaccinated and can conduct safe tours, and "green" service chain, which are closed off to ensure safe products and services.

The Hanoi Travel Association and businesses develop a number of safe tourism products such as the tour to discover Duong Lam ancient village. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Hanoi Travel Association and travel companies have piloted a number of safe tourism products, such as tours to explore Duong Lam ancient village, Ba Vi National Park, Perfume Pagoda, East - Northwest caravans and cycling tours to Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh.

Chairman of the Hanoi Travel Association Phung Quang Thang said, “The tourism sector is ready to launch new products once the pandemic is over. These are considered an investment in the future. After each pandemic outbreak, new efforts are made to stimulate tourism. We have organized many tourism campaigns to generate visitors for companies. We also hold major events like the annual Hanoi International Tourism Fair.”

Despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanoi’s tourism industry has been able to accomplish a number of tasks, notably creating new tourism products, including a night tour "Deciphering Thang Long Imperial Citadel" at Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site, a folklore tour of the Museum of Ethnology, and a tour "Sacred night" of Hoa Lo Prison relic site.

Chairman of the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club Truong Quoc Hung said,“Travel companies want the COVID-19 pandemic to be gotten under control. One of their special concerns is the development of domestic tourism and safe domestic tourism. After each pandemic wave subsides, companies work together to determine safe destinations and design products and tours accordingly. We are especially interested in promoting the assurance that Vietnam is a safe destination.”

Thang LongImperial Citadel is lit up at night. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi’s tourism activities have been on hold or conducted in a minimal fashion. Vietnam has not yet opened its doors to foreign  tourists, so foreigners coming to Hanoi recently have been experts and workers. Some hotels have offered quarantine accommodation to maintain revenue and personnel.

Nhu Thi Ngan, General Director of the Hanoi Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company, said,“We are rearranging our structure, considering this an opportunity to develop new products. We want to develop sustainably. The way of serving is different now than before. Retraining our staff allows them to meet the needs of today’s more demanding customers.”

All lodgings and destinations in Hanoi are required to register for a safety evaluation on the website safe.tourism.com.vn. Hanoi’s hospitality industry has developed a tourism development scenario from now until the end of 2021 with the primary focus on serving domestic tourists.