Hanoi 2024 – friendly and welcoming capital
Maintain the image of Hanoi as a friendly and hospitable capital, building trust for tourists.
Hanoi – A safe and friendly destination for tourists
Hanoi 2024 – friendly and welcoming capital
Authorities, experts, tourists and even international publications have long considered Hanoi a safe, friendly and hospitable destination.
However, recent incidents of overcharging tourists have somewhat affected the hospitable image that the city’s tourism industry has worked hard to maintain.
While the government has responded promptly, protecting Hanoi’s tourism reputation is a shared responsibility, in which public awareness plays an important role.
On March 15, a video went viral on social media showing a street vendor on Thuy Khue Street in Tay Ho District selling a small bag of apples to two foreign tourists for $8. Realizing the amount was too small, the tourist refused and asked for the change back. The vendor refused to return the money, tried to leave, and then offered more mangoes and guavas, which the tourists refused. During the confrontation, a nearby security guard intervened and asked the vendor to return the money.
The People’s Committee of Buoi Ward has handled the case, summoned the street vendor to clarify his behavior, educated him on proper behavior, and imposed administrative penalties for illegal street vending without posting prices.
Before this issue could be resolved, another incident surfaced on March 24. Social media users shared images of a street vendor near Hoan Kiem Lake selling three donuts to two foreign tourists for $2 (they were originally asking for $4). Upon learning of the incident, Hoan Kiem District Police took action, fining the vendor $8 for price gouging and violating urban order.
These are not isolated cases. Since 2022, Hanoi has seen many cases of overcharging, such as:
- Two South African tourists were charged $24 for a cyclo ride around the Old Town, even though the agreed price was $12.
- A street vendor charged $10 for two cups of kumquat tea, a plate of sunflower seeds, and a small fruit tray containing only half a mango, half a cucumber, and a jicama.
- A taxi driver charged $6 for a short trip from 2 Ly Thai To Street to 54 Tho Nhuom Street and then stopped at 2 Trieu Quoc Dat Street, charging another $4.
Another incident involved a customer being charged $16 for just two glasses of fruit juice, a cup of cocoa, and two packets of sunflower seeds. In another case, a motorbike parking attendant initially agreed to pay a $0.40 fee but then demanded $0.60, using abusive language when the customer objected.
Hanoi is the country’s tourism hub, attracting tens of millions of tourists each year. In 2024, the city aims to welcome 25.6 million tourists, including 5 million international tourists.
Besides efforts to attract tourists and enhance destinations, building a civilized, safe and friendly tourism environment is still the top priority of Hanoi’s tourism industry.
Every year, the Hanoi Department of Tourism organizes dozens of training sessions on community tourism to improve service skills. Authorities and districts, especially Hoan Kiem district, focus on hospitality and civilized behavior in tourism.
Despite these efforts, however, many individuals in the tourism industry—such as taxi and rickshaw drivers, street vendors, and service providers—fail to maintain ethical behavior. They view tourists as easy targets for profit, exploiting language barriers, cultural unfamiliarity, and lack of understanding of market prices to overcharge.
Many cases have been resolved, but some individuals continue to actively solicit tourists, overcharge, and even engage in scams, theft, or pickpocketing. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and other tourist areas, it is common to see street vendors and cyclo drivers constantly approaching tourists, creating an unpleasant experience. A small profit in the short term can have long-term negative consequences.
Many tourists have expressed frustration at being forced to make purchases, which affects their travel experience and leaves a negative impression of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general.
Most of those involved in these incidents—whether street vendors or some taxis and cyclo drivers—are migrants from other provinces seeking a living in Hanoi. However, this does not excuse their inappropriate behavior.
More importantly, vendors and service providers must realize the importance of civilized behavior, as they represent the image of Hanoi to tourists. Even a small negative action can significantly affect the way tourists perceive the thousand-year-old capital.
Enhancing Hanoi’s Reputation as a Top Travel Destination
Enhancing Hanoi’s Reputation as a Top Travel Destination
Hanoians have long been known for their warmth and hospitality. Many locals go out of their way to assist tourists, whether it be giving directions or helping them find services. The capital’s travel experts also provide courteous and professional service.
It is no coincidence that TripZilla, Southeast Asia’s leading online travel platform, honoring Hanoi as the safest destination for female solo travelers in the region, becoming the only representative from Vietnam.
In 2023, Hanoi won many international tourism awards, including:
- World’s Top Resort Destinations
- Best Golf Cities in the World
- Asia’s Top City Destinations
- Asia’s Best Emerging Culinary City Destinations
To ensure the safety of tourists, the Hanoi Department of Tourism continues to work with relevant agencies to monitor and prevent harassment of street vendors, solicitation of visitors and other disorderly acts involving tourists.
According to Director Dang Huong Giang, the Department will coordinate with local authorities to maintain order in key tourist areas such as Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. It will also regularly inspect and handle violations, strengthen propaganda, and prevent pickpockets, fraud, and excessive fees.
Law enforcement has stepped up efforts to ensure public safety, urban order, and environmental sanitation at tourist sites. The government also works closely with the police to monitor and punish individuals who engage in fraud, theft, and aggressive street vending.
Furthermore, Hanoi also maintains a 24/7 tourist support hotline (1800556896) and many information counters to promptly support tourists.
With annual tourism revenue reaching nearly VND100 trillion, Hanoi aims to reach VND103.74 trillion by 2024, which will significantly increase the city’s GRDP.
As Hanoi’s reputation tourism continues to grow, improving the quality, safety, and hospitality of the destination remains vital to establish the capital as a truly ” Safe, Friendly, High-Quality, Attractive ” destination.
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