(VOVworld) – With more than 5,000 historical relics, close to 1,300 traditional craft villages, and a great number of intangible cultural heritages, Hanoi is an attractive destination for tourists. The municipal tourism sector is looking to regional links to improve efficiency.

Tourists visit Ngoc Son temple in Hanoi (Photo: Thanh Ha/VNA)

In the first quarter of this year, Hanoi received more than 700,000 foreign visitors, up 15%, and nearly 4.9 million domestic tourists, up 8% compared to last year, thanks to the city’s effort to promote the environment and boost cooperation among companies. Luu Duc Ke, Director of Hanoi Travel Agent, says Hanoi’s current policy has changed the tourism economy. He says: “Although other economic sectors are facing difficulties, the hospitality industry has maintained its growth, thanks to travel agents’ efforts. This is an opportunity for the government to confirm its support for the sector’s development.”

Hanoi Imperial Citadel is an ideal place to visit Hanoi in a sunny day. (Photo: Linh Linh)

Recently, Hanoi has diversified its products to lure visitors to come, learn, and experience. Apart from its best-known tourist attractions, Hanoi is planning to create an area for stage puppetry performances and to organize additional traditional art shows. Investment has been made in upgrading the infrastructure of inner-city cultural relic sites and improving service quality. Hanoi is also planning to turn the Ba Vi – Suoi Hai tourist site into a national tourist complex and to develop community-based tourism in 7 mountain villages in Hanoi’s outlying district of Ba Vi. Nguyen Thi Hoan, a tour guide with the Municipal Tourism Company, comments:

“Promoting links among companies has contributed to diversifying tourist products giving tourists more qualified products and services.”

The municipal tourism sector is promoting the construction of a center covering an area of 50 hectares in the outlying district of Dong Anh to introduce local craft villages. To Van Dong, Director of Hanoi’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department, says:

“Hanoi is implementing tourism development projects with a focus on upgrading historical relics and offering tourists on-site translation so they can better understand what they are looking at.”

In 2014, Hanoi intends to welcome 3 million foreign tourists and 16 million domestic travellers, 20% more than last year. It has set a goal of becoming a major tourist center in the region.