Fascinating tours await international travelers to Hanoi

Being ready to welcome international tourists from today [March 15], Hanoi introduces many attractive heritage tours to discover the rich historic and charming capital city.

Vietnam National Museum of History is adorned with velvet red Hoa Gao (Bombax ceiba) in every March. Photo: Duy Khanh

The Hanoitourist Corporation in coordination with the Vietnam National Museum of History launches a tour to enjoy Bombax Ceiba flowers and experience the rural life inside the museum.

Tours on typical traits of Hanoi

Both local and international travelers can join the new tour entitled “Bac Co (École française d'Extrême-Orient) in Bombax Ceiba Flower Season” from March 19.

According to Phung Quang Thang, Director of the Hanoitourist Company, tourism businesses in Hanoi are now rushing to prepare new tourism products in anticipation of the arrival of international travelers. The tour to enjoy Bombax Ceiba flowers in March is aimed at introducing the typical seasonal beauty of Hanoi.

Every March, when the spring sunshine begins to warm Hanoi’s atmosphere, that is also the time when Bombax ceiba (cotton-tree flowers) bloom brilliantly in all parts of the capital city.

The hundred-year-old Hoa Gao tree, in front of the Bac Co building inside the Vietnam National Museum of History, is said to be the most beautiful one in town. The Bombax ceiba is in full bloom from early March until late April. All old leaves fall down, leaving the tree with only red flowers, adorning the Indochina-style ancient architecture.

Visitors of the tour “Bac Co in Bombax Ceiba Flower Season” can both enjoy the beauty of cotton-tree flowers and learn about culture and experience rural life in northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the museum

The “Bac Co in Bombax Ceiba Flower Season” and the walking tour “French architecture in the heart of Hanoi” are among the highlights that have recently been offered by Hanoitourist Company, according to Thang. 

“Travelers who join the tour in March will have a chance to get a 50% discount on the ticket fare. Accordingly, the price is only VND75,000 (US$3.3) for adults and VND25,000 ($1) for children,” he said.

When joining this new tour, visitors to the Vietnam National Museum of History not only have a chance to enjoy the beauty of cotton-tree flowers but can also learn about culture and experience rural life in the northern region of Vietnam through folk games and decorative settings of an old village gate and a tea stall in the courtyard of the museum.

“In addition, they are also introduced to the national treasures associated with the wet rice civilization that are kept at the museum such as Ngoc Lu bronze drum, Van Ban pagoda’s bell, Tu Ky pagoda’s stone incense tower, among others,” Thang added.

Meanwhile, the “French architecture in the heart of Hanoi” walking tour was launched in late October, 2021.

The stunning beauty of Bombax ceiba (known as Moc Mien or Po Lang in Vietnamese) will be in sight of visitors on the tour. Photo: Yeu Hanoi

In a 90-minutes tour, visitors are taken to the Vietnam National Museum of History, Hanoi Opera House, Sofitel Metropole Hotel, Tonkin Palace, and  Dien Hong Park.

Through vivid explanations with rich and fascinating information, visitors have a grandstand view to identify and compare the remarkable values of the architectural works and styles, as well as the Vietnam-France acculturation in the early twentieth century. 

The tour is much sought-after by travelers as they said that thanks to the tour, they would be able to learn more about typical architectures as well as the history of Hanoi.

Throughout French colonialism, Vietnamese identity and charm were enhanced with Western-style architecture. Some of the city’s buildings built at that time illustrate cultural inspiration worth celebrating. 

Logo for National Tourism Year 2022 launched

The logo of Vietnam National Tourism Year 2022 depicts the friendly smile of the Quang Nam people

In addition to the launch of interesting tours for foreign visitors to Hanoi, Vietnam’s tourism industry is also getting ready for the National Tourism Year 2022 themed “Quang Nam - A Green Tourism Destination”.

The central province of Quang Nam has just launched the logo for the National Tourism Year 2022, which is the stylized image of the My Son relic site and Hoi An Ancient Town as the centerpiece. Underneath are some colorful strokes that represent the kites in the sky, sails on the sea as well as depict the friendly smile of the local people.

The green color of the logo symbolizes nature and the theme of “green tourism” this year; the blue expresses the sea, while orange yellow stands for the golden walls in Hoi An ancient town and red epitomizes the fascinating and diverse cuisine of the place.

Themed “Quang Nam – A green destination”, the National Tourism Year 2022 will feature 192 events, including 10 national-level ones, 62 organized by Quang Nam, and 120 others by 40 cities and provinces of the first level of administrative division in response to the tourism year.

The cultural and tourism events organized by Quang Nam Province will feature themes such as “Quang Nam in Spring”, “Quang Nam Tourism - Summer emotions”, “Quang Nam Tourism - Heritage Colors”, among others