Hanoi targets welcoming 30 million tourists by 2020, including 5.7 million international arrivals, for an annual increase of 8 to 10 per cent, according to Resolution No. 6 on developing the capital’s tourism in the 2016-2020 period signed by Mr. Hoang Trung Hai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Total revenue from tourism in 2020 is to be VND120 trillion ($5.3 billion), increasing by 15 to 17 per cent each year. Occupancy rates at hotels are expected to average 60 to 65 per cent.

All staff at tourism agencies are to undergo full training.

To achieve its target Hanoi will select strategic investors for tourism projects in West Lake, along the new road to Noi Bai International Airport, Ba Vi National Park and Suoi Hai Lake, and Huong Son - Quan Son Lake in My Duc district.

The decree also noted the results of the tourism development plan for Hanoi in the 2007-2015 period.

Tourist numbers to the city have often represented one-third of those to Vietnam and increased by about 10 per cent each year.

Travel website TripAdvisor reported in July that Hanoi was the least expensive international destination to visit.

Its study showed that lunch for two in the capital is $28, dinner $55, taxi travel (a two-mile round-trip) and tours/activities $2, and hotels $79. The total average cost of a three-day summer trip for two comes to about $497. 

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), international tourist arrivals to Hanoi in July were estimated at about 192,000, a 12.4 per cent increase compared to June and up 8.8 per cent year-on-year.

Arrivals by air were 172,000, up 12.6 per cent compared to June, while those arriving by water or road totaled 20,000, up 11.1 per cent.

Domestic tourists visiting Hanoi numbered 770,000, a 1.1 per cent increase against June and up 5.4 per cent year-on-year.

Revenue from tourism in July was estimated at VND4.585 trillion ($205 million), a 0.1 per cent increase compared to June and 13.4 per cent higher year-on-year.

In the first seven months arrivals to Hanoi from some countries increased dramatically, such as China (up 96.9 per cent year-on-year), South Korea (33.6 per cent), Thailand (33.1 per cent), and Germany (35 per cent).

In the first half, total tourist arrivals to the capital stood at 11.015 million. International arrivals were 2.04 million, up 33 per cent year-on-year, and domestic arrivals 8.97 million, up 6 per cent year-on-year.

Total revenue from tourism was VND31.306 trillion ($1.4 billion), an increase of 24 per cent year-on-year.

In 2016 Hanoi has targeted welcoming 21.165 million tourists, including 3.8 international tourists, and to earn revenue of VND60 trillion ($2.69 billion).