VietNamNet Bridge – Obtaining a gross domestic product growth rate of over 10 percent is the top priority for Hanoi in 2010. The city also emphasizes curbing consumer price index.

New apartment blocks in Hanoi.

At a meeting between Hanoi officials and district representatives on March 31, top officials highlighted the city’s GDP growth of 8.7 percent in the first quarter, but worried about the high CPI and low number of tourists.

Hanoi’s CPI in the first quarter of 2010 is 4.72 percent, higher than neighbouring provinces. Meanwhile, tourism to Hanoi dropped by 7.2 percent year on year, while Vietnam reported a rise of 36 percent.

Pham Quang Long, Director of Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, explained that the absence of the stimulus policy and the increase of CPI forced tourism firms to increase tour costs and room charges. Moreover, the number of foreign tourists to Thailand felt recently, which affected Vietnam.

Long also admitted weaknesses in tourism promotions and explained that they would focus on advertising and also restructure tours.

Hanoi Chair Nguyen The Thao calculated that the city spent 250 billion dong to stabilize prices. He observed that the city would maintain its price stabilizing fund, but asked agencies to suggest products that need balancing.

Thao stated that Hanoi would strive to maintain a CPI at 4 percent for the period from April to December 2010.

Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi noted that Hanoi needs to curb CPI and give top priority to obtaining GDP growth of over 10 percent this year.

PV