Ha Noi takes centre stage in September tourism season

Autumn is considered the "golden season" for tourism in the capital. As the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam’s National Day (September 2) spreads across the country, Ha Noi is preparing for a peak travel period, marked by a significant surge in hotel bookings.

Autumn and winter traditionally see a rise in tourist arrivals to Ha Noi.

During the four-day public holiday in September, which coincides with a series of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, hotel bookings in the city's central districts have soared. This uptick is contributing to increased revenue for local businesses and boosting the city’s budget.

According to the digital travel platform Agoda, Ha Noi has become the focal point of domestic tourism, with a sharp rise in hotel searches for stays between August 30 and September 3, a period aligned with major anniversary events. Many hotels and accommodation providers near the main venues of the military parade and procession have already sold out.

A representative from the Ha Noi Department of Tourism noted that, in addition to ensuring sufficient accommodation supply, the city is also working on distributing tourists to outer districts and neighbouring areas, as well as reallocating visitors between venues to maximise capacity. Efforts are also under way to expand pedestrian spaces, enhance existing tours, and support tourism businesses with promotional activities.

To better serve residents and tourists attending the events, and to contribute to Ha Noi’s image as a civilised and elegant capital, authorities are encouraging agencies, businesses, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, schools, community venues and households to open their restrooms to the public free of charge during the celebrations.

An estimated 40,000 people, including guests, armed forces personnel, officials, civilians and support staff, are expected to take part in the 2 September anniversary, parade and procession.

In preparation, Ha Noi’s Department of Agriculture and Environment has collaborated with relevant units to conduct surveys and devise plans for the deployment of mobile toilets. A comprehensive plan has also been drafted to accommodate up to one million participants across all events. More than 1,010 public toilets will be made available, including over 610 mobile units funded and maintained by the city. Additionally, some 400 toilets in agencies, schools, hospitals and private homes will be made accessible free of charge.

Notably, the city is also launching an environmental protection campaign, encouraging both locals and tourists to express their love for Hanoi through concrete actions, such as disposing of waste properly, reducing the use of plastic and non-recyclable products, and helping to keep the city clean.

Amid concerns about potential difficulties in finding accommodation, the Department of Tourism reassured the public that Ha Noi has more than 71,000 lodging rooms available across wards and communes, sufficient to meet the surge in visitor demand during the holiday period.

The city is also promoting the use of Airbnb and homestay models to increase lodging capacity while maintaining service quality and supporting the trend of cashless payments. However, authorities have also warned of possible scams by individuals creating a false sense of scarcity. In response, official advisories will soon be issued to help tourists avoid fraud when booking rooms.

NDO