Over the past time, major tourist sites in Hanoi have offered new products as part of efforts to spur the night-time economy.

The night tour “Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long” made its debut in April 2022, attracting crowds of domestic tourists. This is the second night tour in the capital city, after that offered at the Hoa Lo Prison relic site.

The night tour “Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long” made its debut in April 2022. Photo: daidoanket.vn

Travelers begin the 1.5-hour tour at Doan Mon (Main Gate), the entrance to Cam Thanh (Forbidden area) - the king’s residence, and learn about the site’s history, architecture and functions.

They later enjoy an ancient dance right on the glass covering the archaeological excavation area and gain insight from tour guides into this dig which will yield new information on the vestiges of the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties. They will also visit an exhibition hall of antiquities, some dating back over 1,000 years.

At Kinh Thien Palace, travelers can offer incense to King Ly Thai To, who moved the country’s capital from Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh Province to Dai La, which he renamed Thang Long in 1010. Tour guides will also discuss the contributions of other kings to the capital’s development.

The last stop of this tour is the archaeological site at No.18 Hoang Dieu Street, where visitors will experience a laser light show of outstanding antiquities of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Tourists can take part in a game in which they identify typical objects of feudal dynasties in the past.

Organizers since its launch, the tour, available every Friday and Saturday evening, has attracted about 9,000 travelers.

In July 2022, the Hoa Lo Prison relic site also launched a night tour taking visitors on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Using light and sound effects, the 45-minute tour, called “Sacred Night - Glorious Vietnamese Spirit” tells the story of the prison, once called “hell on earth”.

In July 2022, the Hoa Lo Prison relic site also launched a night tour taking visitors on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Photo: daidoanket.vn

The tours are available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and are not recommended for children under 16 years of age.

Aiming to bring literary beauty to the public with a new approach, the Vietnam Literature Museum, located 6.2 km from downtown Hanoi to the north at 275 Au Co, Quang An ward, Tay Ho district, started offering the night tour every Saturday and Sunday late last year. This tour makes visitors feel the uniqueness of Vietnamese literature from ancient and medieval literary periods to the present.

Most recently, such service was launched at the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in the heart of Hanoi in October, offering tourists an opportunity to enjoy a feast of dazzling light and traditional music and a taste of the quintessence of Vietnamese educational history.

Experts suggest night-time tourism not only allows tourists to enjoy the unique local culture and culinary specialties, but also helps disperse the number of tourists during the daytime, thus reducing the load on main tourist destinations during peak hours and enhancing sustainability.

Night-time tourism allows tourists to enjoy the unique local culture and culinary specialties. Photo: daidoanket.vn

This type of tourism also contributes to creating more jobs for local people, promoting the local economy and increasing the competitiveness of the country’s tourism sector.

However, there are problems relating to the size, linkage, and quality of the tours, which need to be solved to achieve sustainable development.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, suggested Hanoi put forth a detailed project with potential risks under consideration in order to fully tap its potential for night tourism.

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