Hanoi Tourism Day opened on Sunday in Hanoi as part of the ongoing Hanoi flowers streets festival to welcome the New year 2012. The event was the first to open the National Tourism Year 2012 under the theme “Heritage Tourism”. Following the opening ceremony of Hanoi Tourism Day was a tourism cooperative program between Hanoi and 10 provinces and cities to promote tourism this year. Mr. Mai Tien Dung, Deputy Head of Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "The event aims to promote tourism through flowers. Hanoi is known to be rich in tourism potentials and heritages especially those recognized by UNESCO".