More than ten days after the official reopening of Vietnam’s tourism sector, localities and businesses are putting all hands on deck to prepare for the summer travel season and revive the industry.

VOV.VN - Thousands of local residents flocked to pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of Hanoi on March 25 to view a cluster of colourful low-flying hot air balloons.

VOV.VN - Local residents and tourists enjoyed the chance to participate in the capital’s first-ever hot-air balloon festival which opened on March 25 with the theme of “Get on Hanoi 2022”.

VOV.VN - The capital of Hanoi is set to stage a hot air balloon show from March 25 – 27 to kick-start its tourism year 2022.

The fourth wave of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on tourism in Vietnam, including Hanoi, but it has also opened up opportunities to restructure this industry, change approaches to the market, and align products to travellers’ demand and the reality, according to insiders.

The number of tourists to Hanoi in the first half of 2021 is estimated at 2.9 million, down 25% year-on-year, according to the municipal Tourism Department.

Responding to the domestic tourism stimulus programme of the Hanoi People's Committee, Vietjet will participate in the “Hanoi tourism stimulating and introducing the culinary culture festival 2021” for three days from April 16 to April 18 at Hoan Kiem Lake area.

Right after the fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country was put under control at the beginning of March, travel agencies in Hanoi started offering various products at favourable prices to attract tourists.

The capital city of Hanoi welcomed over 122,000 tourist arrivals during the first seven days of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival which lasts from February 10-16 , according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

VOV.VN - The capital of Vietnam is aiming to welcome between 13.13 million and 19.04 million visitors ahead in 2021, which would represent an increase of between 45% and 65.5% compared to the previous year.