Home»TOURISM NEWS» Hanoi’s Tourism Revival: Innovative Experiences And Cultural Journeys Reshape Travel In 2025
Friday, July 18, 2025
Dark clouds loomed over all of South-east Asia but Hanoi was having a tourism renaissance in 2025
Hanoi, the frantic capital of Vietnam, is in the midst of a tourist boom in 2025, with millions of visitors bringing it back on par with the world’s hotspots. Recovering from pandemic-induced disruption and global uncertainty, today’s city emerges stronger than before. Hanoi received nearly 15.6 million visitors in the first six months of 2019, up 11.8 percent against the same period last year. Tourism has shown particularly strong growth, with close to 2.8m people visiting in June alone, including a 21.4% rise in foreign arrivals.
The city’s renaissance is indicativey not simply of a rebound but of a intended metamorphosis in how Hanoi thinks about tourism. Hanoi is experiencing “a golden time” of tourism, as local tourism officials have increased resources on attracting and ensuring satisfaction for tourists. New and exciting tourism products have led to the repositioning of the capital as a leading destination in the region.
A Shift Toward High-Value Tourism
The city’s tourism recovery isn’t just a numbers game as tourism moves toward being less volume and more value driven. Hanoi has increasingly been courting longer-stay, deeper-pocketed travellers seeking a more immersive cultural experience. Thus it is no surprise that the city has become increasingly visitor-friendly, with an ever-increasing number of travel-oriented offerings that appeal to not only visitors from around the globe, but also local tourists who are looking for experiential activities.
One of the biggest changes to Hanoi’s tourism is an increased focus on quality over quantity. It’s now about the city attracting clientele not just interested in ticking the boxes of the well-trodden sites, but in exploring the architecture of history, culture and local experience that the city offers. The approach has been a success for Hanoi in terms of attracting tourists by the numbers without competing at the lowest rungs of quality and price of the regional tourism market, tourism authorities say.
Tourism New Products and Cultural Routes of Signature
The 2025 image of Hanoi’s tourism is refreshed with more attractive new products. A big draw is a slate of 20 signature night tours that hope to animate the city’s history and cultural riches after dark. Among these are stunners such as The Trấn Vũ Bell at Quán Thánh Temple, which channels the sacredness of the old Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. Visitors will also be able to discover two special cultural routes – the Southern Thăng Long Heritage Path and the The Path of Confucianism – which will take visitors through a corridor of villages, pagodas and relics relating to the capital city’s tradition of learning and producing scholars.
One focus is on the regeneration of creative spaces in the city. At districts like Trúc Bạch Subsidy Street and the Heritage Echoes 6 tour (on trams), new services are being added to meet the tastes of young travelers, who primarily prefer exploring their own way rather than visiting traditional historical sites,” said Đặng. The Ethnic Dao Herbal Village Discovery in Ba Vì is also fresh on the shelves, letting holidaymakers discover the natural wonders of the locality and try their hand at local customs.
Inter-Provincial Tour and Luxury Train Travel
Hanoi Eyeing Inter-provincial Tourism More than cultural and artistic programs, the capital city is also boosting inter-provincial tourism. New river tours on the Red River and the Đuống River link the capital to outlying provinces such as Hưng Yên, Bắc Ninh and Hải Phòng. These tours are meant to give you, the traveler, a greater sense of Northern Vietnam’s history and culture.
Changes in cultural train travel: It was the combination of luxury train services like the S Journey and the Hoa Phượng Đỏ train (linking Hanoi with Hải Phòng) that has allowed the cultural train travel in the country entering the next step. These trains provide tourists to explore the region in style, in addition to getting all the high-end facilities and services.
Festivals and International Promotion
Hanoi’s cultural calendar is also full of a good variety of events, making it even more inviting for its visitors. The Hanoi Tourism Festival at Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, the Beverage Festival at Thống Nhất Park, and the Third Hanoi Autumn Festival were also part of the tourist attractions in early October. Other festivals like Long Dress Tourism Festival and Gastronomy and Handicraft Tourism Festival are an excellent chance for travelers to get an insight of the deep cultural and culinary roots of the city.
Hanoi has joined in key international tourism fairs to expand its tourism market to the rest of the world. It is this approach which is leading the capital to promote and scale up the tourism programs which are scheduled to be carried out at upcoming fairs such as ITE HCM City, the Osaka Expo within the Japanese market, ITB India in Mumbai, and IFTM Top Resa in France, aimed at attracting tourists to Hanoi from the source markets.
Ad opted to Digital Tourism and Smart Measures
Hanoi is also becoming digital tourism city. In line with this evolution, the city is adopting an e-ticketing system in the main heritage attractions like the Temple of Literature, the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and at leading museums. This project is intended to improve the visitor experience and reduce queues and sales service operations at the sites.
The city is also investigating trends like sustainable tourism, film tourism, and AI-based personalization to augment the travel experience. These digital approaches do not only have the ambition of making Hanoi’s tourism infrastructure more effective, but also that its offerings are brought in line with global trends in the travel industry.
Meanwhile, individual travel companies in Hanoi has quickly adapted to the trend in the travel industry. Promotions on lodging, entertainment, and gastronomy are part of these new tours introduced by the Hanoi Tourism Corporation. City tours, cycling tours, night tours, and food culture tours have been renewed for long-term domestic and overseas visitors.
A notable one dedicated to the National Day is the “Back to Roots” travel series of Capetour Club, which was aimed to promote the country’s core values in the Vietnamese ancient capital, and to help people understand more about the country’s national identity and its historical “roots”. Besides, the Vietnam Railway Corporation has launched the Five Gateways Express train, which is set to offer a new experience in convenience and service for visitors to the region.
Conclusion:
A Rosy Future for Hanoi Tourism Profiles Throughout the paper some profiles of trainspotters appear that look for sociological references in the search of the values that society attributes to trainspotters, who has no relation with those obsessionals character profiles that in a moment we released that these profile would be a specific of diagnosis for obsessionals.
The Hanoi tourism industry has been remarkable in 2025, not merely overcoming the challenges of the pandemic, but also asserting its title as a destination with vision and creativity. Focused on cultural diversity, tailor-made experiences and sustainable tourism, the attitude is changing rapidly, however, the city, like its people, is embracing the new without the fear of losing its original identity. With its diverse tourism products, efforts in international promotion, and emphasis on quality, it is certain that Hanoi city will continue to be one of Asia’s most attractive destinations in the next years.
Two experts take us through the online travel landscape that’s unfolding in the US, and in the region, and share tips on how agents can build up their Web presence. Jennifer Welker reports. 12 Oct 2000
What do the top three US websites, Amazon, eBay and Travelocity have in common? None of them are profitable – yet.
Patrick Lai, vice president of e-commerce, Abacus International, said there were three phases to Internet evolution.
The first phase is to have a presence on the Net, the second to create partnerships with other websites to bring more people to one’s own site and finally to start doing real business in the third phase.
“No one is there yet in terms of phase three. Most travel sites are still in the first phase and moving on to the second phase. Survival depends on how deep their pockets are,” Lai said.
Although money is the driving force behind website survival, many companies in the US and abroad are paying the price for being seen on the Internet by an emerging audience.
Peter Styn, director of AC Nielson eRatings.com, has examined global Internet usage in the US over the past five years and 62 percent of all global users were from the US alone, in 1995.
Today, that percentage is down to 40 percent and, in 2005, Styn predicted that figure would drop to 27 percent.
These percentages are a reflection of Internet usage worldwide and certainly an encouraging sign to Internet companies which want to be viewed around the world.
Looking specifically at travel sites, there are significant increases in online travel browsing and bookings. AC Nielson eRatings.com keeps track of the “looker vs booker” rates to determine the activity at each travel site.
“It is interesting to note that 94 percent of the Travelbase.com audience is coming from referrals,” Styn said.
“The Travelbase.com portal is Yahoo.com, and this is evidence that the popularity of this travel site is linked to the portal.”
There are two basic types of travel sites: single-purpose and multi-purpose. Styn said single-purpose sites were designed for airlines or hotels while multi-purpose sites were one-stop shops with “full services” offering links to other sites.
“Such partnerships are crucial for success.
Most are currently single supplier sites, offering just one airline or hotel and this creates restrictions for the user. To survive, they will have to change to multiple supplier sites,” he said.
Other challenges US online travel sites are facing is handling the more complicated longhaul journeys, Styn said.
Most sites offer simple point A to B itineraries and cannot carry out complex, longhaul bookings. Styn predicted that more alliance sites will be created for the airlines which are forming partnerships.
Further as airlines grow uneasy with websites such as Travelocity.com and Priceline.com, he said they were buying into new sites such as Orbitz and Hotwire to compete.
Since the online travel industry was relatively new to Asia and Internet companies wre only just beginning to collect database information on their audiences, Styn said that eRatings was currently analysing the development of the websites and comparing them to the traditional practices of travel preparation.
Home»ASIA» Jeminay Port’s Tourism Surge: China-Kazakhstan Visa Exemption Attracts Thousands
Friday, July 18, 2025
The China-Kazakhstan border has seen a boost in tourism traffic in 2025 after China and Kazakhstan agreed to allow their citizens to travel without a visa. Jeminay Port, as a key portal in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, has also turned into a hot spring for cross-border travelers. The measure allows people from either country to visit the other for 30 days without a visa, promoting a more fluid movement and economic interchange.
Cross-border travel through Xinjiang’s Altay region has spiked in the wake of the policy at Jeminay Port. The port had seen over 49,000 tourists and 12,000 vehicles by mid-July 2025, a record for this time of year. The daily crossing of the border has reached more than 830, thanks to the increasing willingness to travel back and forth between China and Kazakhstan, particularly in the summer vacation season.
Impact of the China-Kazakhstan Visa Exemption Policy
The China-Kazakhstan visa exemption policy, which came into effect earlier this year, has simplified cross-border travel, with a notable rise in tourism from both nations. According to official reports, this initiative is proving successful in driving cross-border tourism, with large groups and individual travelers taking advantage of the opportunity to explore new regions. Tour operators in Xinjiang have reported a sharp increase in travel consultations, particularly for Kazakhstan-themed packages that range from 1 to 30 days, demonstrating the growing interest in the region.
Xinjiang’s proximity to Kazakhstan, coupled with the ease of access now provided by the visa exemption, has made it an attractive destination for tourists looking to explore the cultural richness of both regions. The port has become a gateway for visitors from Kazakhstan to explore Xinjiang’s vast natural landscapes and historical sites, while also offering easy access for Chinese tourists to discover the cultural treasures of Kazakhstan.
Rising Popularity of Cross-Border Tours
The rise in tourism has not been confined to just one sector. Self-driving tours, in particular, have experienced a boom, with many tourists opting for flexible, independent travel between the two countries. Tour operators in Xinjiang have responded to this demand by expanding their offerings to cater to a wider range of travelers. This trend reflects the growing demand for customized experiences that blend local culture and international exploration.
Travel agencies have noticed a sharp rise in self-driving tours between Jeminay Port and Kazakhstan, particularly in May and June. The growth in self-guided tours demonstrates the changing preferences of travelers who now seek more freedom and flexibility in planning their itineraries. As a result, local tour companies are now offering packages that cater specifically to the needs of these travelers, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey.
Efforts to Facilitate the Surge in Tourism
In response to the surge in cross-border tourism, Jeminay Port authorities have undertaken a series of measures to ensure smooth operations and a positive experience for travelers. The Jeminay Port Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station has introduced several optimizations to manage the increased flow of tourists effectively. These include forecasting travel waves, which helps to ensure that peak travel times are managed more efficiently, and providing clear procedural guides for travelers to follow.
Furthermore, the border inspection station has implemented seasonal staffing adjustments to cope with the influx of visitors during peak months. Special “green channels” have been established for vulnerable groups, allowing for expedited processing to minimize waiting times and improve the overall experience for travelers.
Cultural Tourism Development and Future Plans
Looking ahead, the cultural tourism authorities in Xinjiang are focusing on developing combined “domestic plus international” travel products. These products aim to highlight Xinjiang’s natural beauty while offering easy access to neighboring destinations like Kazakhstan. The integration of domestic and international travel experiences will help create a more cohesive and attractive tourism package, drawing visitors from both within China and beyond.
The growth of cross-border tourism between China and Kazakhstan is not only beneficial for the tourism sector but is also expected to have significant positive impacts on the local economy. The increased number of tourists brings business opportunities to local hotels, restaurants, and attractions, boosting the region’s economy and fostering greater cultural exchange between the two nations.
Optimizing Travel Infrastructure for Continued Growth
The rapid growth in tourism has placed pressure on local infrastructure, but efforts are underway to address these challenges. Authorities have invested in improving transportation facilities, including enhancing roadways and transit systems that connect Jeminay Port to key tourist destinations. These improvements will help ensure that the region can accommodate growing visitor numbers in the future while maintaining high standards of service.
Local authorities are also working to promote the region’s rich cultural heritage, including ancient temples, traditional markets, and scenic landscapes, as part of their broader strategy to position Xinjiang as a major destination for international tourists. This approach aligns with the national goal of boosting tourism and fostering cultural diplomacy, both of which are critical for the long-term success of the sector.
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Cross-Border Tourism
Rapidly rising tourist flows at Jeminay Port are proof of the increasing popularity of cross-border travel between China and Kazakhstan. The launching of the 30-day mutual visa waiver scheme has contributed significantly to this trend, and ongoing efforts to improve tourism-related infrastructure in the region will continue to make the area more appealing as a destination. As travel culture keeps developing, the future of tourism between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan will have an encouraging prospect and broaden with ever deeper cultural exchanges.
References: China National Tourism Administration, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan Ministry of Culture and Sports
Home»Thailand Travel News» Thailand Faces Tourism Threat as Vietnam Accelerates Infrastructure Development and Rivals Its Dominance in Southeast Asia
Friday, July 18, 2025
Vietnam is now the second major tourism hub in Southeast Asia, upstaging popular Thailand, whose position is threatened by the pace of investment in infrastructure aimed at luring more tourists to Vietnam. It’s not just the bullet trains or the efforts to build iconic attractions in its cities like Hanoi or Da Nang. These rates of investment have greatly enhanced Vietnam’s tourism offer and is a major threat to Thailand’s hold on the region. While Vietnam develops its transport infrastructure and access to luxury, Thailand has to raise its game to stay ahead in a fast-changing tourism world.
Thailand is facing growing concerns about its position in the global tourism market as neighboring countries, particularly Vietnam, ramp up their investments in infrastructure and tourism development. Vietnam’s swift investments, including high-speed railways and iconic projects in cities like Hanoi and Da Nang, have placed it in direct competition with Thailand, which has long been a dominant tourism hub in Southeast Asia.
The National Soft Power Strategy Committee in Thailand has issued a cautionary note regarding the country’s tourism industry. The committee emphasized that Thailand must not underestimate its regional competitors, especially Vietnam, which is aggressively developing tourism infrastructure. This includes not only high-speed railways but also the construction of new attractions, as well as the introduction of luxury hotel chains that elevate the destination’s appeal to affluent travelers.
At the SPLASH 2025 Soft Power Forum, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, chairwoman of the Tourism Subcommittee, addressed the pressing issue. She noted that while Thailand has remained a top destination for tourists, it cannot afford to rest on its laurels. There is an urgent need for new investment in Thailand’s tourism infrastructure, especially in man-made development projects, to ensure it retains its competitive advantage. Without such strategic investments, Thailand risks losing its edge to emerging competitors like Vietnam.
One of Vietnam’s most significant advancements is the rapid development of its transportation network. The country has invested heavily in high-speed railways, a move that promises to reduce travel times between major cities, making it easier for tourists to explore the country’s diverse attractions. This is expected to boost Vietnam’s tourism appeal, offering more efficient and convenient travel options for visitors.
In addition to transportation, Vietnam has been attracting high-end international hotel brands, further enhancing its tourism profile. Capella Hanoi, for instance, is a luxurious property designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley, reflecting the country’s growing appeal as a destination for luxury travelers. This project is part of a broader strategy to attract upscale tourism, positioning Vietnam as a rival to destinations like Thailand, which has long been known for its beach resorts and vibrant cities.
Furthermore, Hanoi is undergoing a major transformation with the construction of the Hanoi Opera House, which is expected to become a new cultural and architectural icon for the capital. The project is poised to further elevate Hanoi’s status as a top cultural destination in Southeast Asia. This, combined with other planned developments in Hanoi and Da Nang, is contributing to the rise of Vietnam as a tourism powerhouse in the region.
Da Nang, in particular, has seen significant improvements in its tourism infrastructure, including new luxury hotels, resorts, and entertainment complexes. These developments have helped transform Da Nang into one of the most popular tourist cities in Vietnam. With its growing reputation as a destination for both leisure and business travel, Da Nang is quickly becoming a strong competitor to Thailand’s popular resort areas such as Phuket and Krabi.
As Vietnam continues to develop its tourism infrastructure, Thailand faces the challenge of maintaining its appeal. While Thailand is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning beaches, and world-class resorts, the country must continue to innovate to remain a leader in the region. The tourism industry in Thailand must look beyond traditional attractions and focus on modernizing infrastructure and creating new, unique experiences for visitors.
Thailand’s government and tourism industry leaders are now recognizing the importance of diversifying the country’s tourism offerings. The aim is to attract not only traditional tourists but also those seeking new experiences, including luxury travelers, digital nomads, and adventure tourists. Investment in infrastructure projects such as new airports, enhanced public transportation systems, and eco-friendly resorts will be essential in ensuring Thailand’s continued dominance in the tourism sector.
Moreover, Thailand’s tourism industry must adapt to the changing preferences of travelers. There is an increasing demand for sustainability, wellness tourism, and immersive cultural experiences, areas where Thailand has significant potential. The country is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, ancient temples, and rich cultural traditions. By focusing on these areas and integrating modern amenities and eco-friendly practices, Thailand can stay ahead of the curve and maintain its position as a top destination.
Vying for tourism demand, Thailand is now facing competition from Vietnam which has been actively promoting its tourism with the development of infrastructure, such as high-speed trains and landscaping of iconic landmarks in major cities. The investments are helping make Vietnam an emerging challenger to Thailand, which has long led Southeast Asia in tourism.
While Thailand has long been a leader in Southeast Asia’s tourism industry, the country must acknowledge the growing competition from regional players like Vietnam. To maintain its competitive edge, Thailand must invest in new infrastructure, attract high-end international brands, and innovate in tourism experiences. With strategic investments and a focus on sustainability and unique experiences, Thailand can continue to be one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for travelers. However, the time to act is now, before other countries such as Vietnam gain further ground.
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