Tourism companies are impatiently waiting for the tourism administration’s scheme for the National Tourism Year 2010, hosted by Hanoi, which will be combined with the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Van Mieu - an attractive destination in Hanoi.

Travelling and discovering history

There are around 500 days left from now to the great celebration of the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi as Vietnam’s capital. However, travel firms have only six months to prepare for the Hanoi National Tourism Year, which explains why they are anxious.

All tourism companies in Vietnam are urgently developing tours and advertising plans to attract visitors to Hanoi. Discovering the city’s 1,000 years of history is the focus of almost all tours.

“Hanoi will be the foremost destination on tours for local and foreign visitors coming to the north. Tours in 2010 will be connected to historic events, such as King Ly Cong Uan and the Edict on the Transfer of the Capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province at present) to Dai La (Hanoi at present), the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties, Phat Tich Pagoda (Bac Ninh), and combined with tours to Yen Tu and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh,” said Hanoi Redtours Deputy Director Nguyen Cong Hoan.

“Cultural, historical and folk game tours will encourage visitors to take initiative in discovering the culture and people of Hanoi,” added historian Le Van Lan.

Anxious for event scripts

Foreign visitors discover Hanoi’s cuisines.

Many travel firms say that they are confused and cannot begin compiling their tours for next year because the plans for the Hanoi – National Tourism Year and for the 1,000^th great anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi are not available.

Hanoi Redtours’ Nguyen Cong Hoan said his company needs information about events and festivals in 2010 to prepare its plan. Travel firms also want the culture-tourism administration to hold training courses on the history and culture of Hanoi for tour guides.

Saigontourist’s Pham Duc Hoa said Hanoi should inform tourist firms at least one year before it organises such a massive event so travel firms have time to prepare and to inform their foreign partners.

The National Tourism Year, an initiative of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, made its debut in 2003. Each year a province or city is chosen to host the programme promoting the tourism potential of a specific region to international visitors.

Ha Yen