Hanoi’s tourism sector is taking a wide range of measures, includingincreasing the number of services on offer, improving the quality ofservices, and boosting links with other localities in an effort tolure more holiday-makers to the capital.

With its 5,000historical sites, 1,300 traditional craft villages, and a large numberof intangible cultural heritages and eco-tourism sites, Hanoi is anattractive destination for tourists.

The city is planning to turnthe Ba Vi-Suoi Hai site into a national tourist centre and developcommunity-based tourism in seven mountainous villages in Hanoi’soutlying district of Ba Vi, Mai Tien Dung Deputy Director of theMunicipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said.

Meanwhile,traditional festivals in the city are to be linked with cultural andhistorical sites in order to form festive, spiritual and ecologicaltours. Community-based tourism will also be promoted in ethnic minoritycommunities.

Recently, Hanoi diversified its tourism services.In addition to its best-known attractions, the city is planning todesignate areas for the performance of traditional art forms.

Themunicipal authorities are working hard to promote the city’s image tointernational visitors. A tourist hotline was established to be able torespond to visitors’ needs effectively and promptly.

Hanoi isranked amongst the world’s top ten emerging tourist destinations and isone of the six must-see cities in Asia. The city aims to become one ofthe region’s major tourist hubs. In 2014, Hanoi is expected towelcome 3 million international and 14 million domestic tourists.-VNA