31st SEA Games: Golden Opportunity to Promote Vietnam Tourism

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) taking place in Hanoi from May 12 to May 23, 2022 is a "golden" opportunity to promote Vietnam's tourist destination in general and Hanoi capital to international friends, especially as Vietnam's tourism has reopened after a long time being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in order to promote the image of Hanoi, with a long history of culture, potential and socio-economic achievements, to domestic people and international friends, Hanoi tourism is ready for a series of tourism activities to serve the 31st SEA Games.

Many special events and promotion programs have been organized, including Friendship Journey 2022 held in Quoc Oai district on April 24, 2022; Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2022 held from April 29 to May 1, 2022, the pedestrian zone of Hoan Kiem Lake; Bat Trang Tourism Week held from April 29, 2022; Opening the Son Tay - Doai Tourism Year and opening the pedestrian street of Son Tay Ancient Citadel held on April 30, 2022; Opening ceremony of Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple in 2022 and receiving the decision to recognize "Phu Dong Tourist Site" on May 6, 2022; and Love Festival in Hong Van commune, Thuong Tin district held from April 30 to May 2, 2022.

Hanoi Department of Tourism has requested relevant units to develop new tourism products and programs such as the footprints of the ancient village of Bat Trang; night tourism products at the space of Son Tay pedestrian street, Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street; Night Tour Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel; Night tour to explore Hoa Lo Prison; Hanoi City Tour by double-decker bus; and Tour of Southeast Asian Culture by Ethnology Museum.

Currently, several reputable travel companies such as Hanoi Tourist, Vietfoot Travel, LUX Travel, and Vietravel have also built 28 typical tours and programs.

In order to promote the capital's tourism on the occasion of the 31st SEA Games, the city has republished 3,500 tourist maps of Hanoi; 4,000 Books "Hanoi - Safe - Friendly - Attractive Destination" in two languages Vietnamese – English and produced souvenir gifts for promotion of Hanoi tourism to international delegations, athletes and reporters.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism has coordinated with Vietnam Television (VTV) and Hanoi Television (HTV) to broadcast the tourism promotion program "Hanoi - Come to love" from May to December, and with CNN International TV to promote Hanoi’s tourism image.

The Hanoi tourism industry also promotes the image of Hanoi's culture, tourism and people on the website of the Department of Tourism, the Hanoi Tourism Website and other social networking platforms, and maintains the Hanoi tourism FM program and tourist support line.

By Giang Tu, Vietnam Business Forum