Hanoi: a City of Peace
CHAP. In the early days of 2019, the attention of the whole world was paid to Vietnam where the 2nd US-North Korea Summit was held (February 27-28, 2019). The event is more meaningful when 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Hanoi being recognized as a “City for Peace” by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Hanoi is the only Asia Pacific country granted this title by UNESCO.
Hanoi is situated on both sides of the Red River – an important river of Vietnam’s wet rice cultivation culture, 1760 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi, the thousand-year-old cultural capital of Vietnam, features a long-term history with many famous cultural and architectural works and historical relics. Hanoi ranks first in the number of relics, including 3,840 out of nearly 40,000 relics in Vietnam. Hanoi is really a big tourist center of Vietnam, one which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists.
A safe and open city
To be recognized by UNESCO as one of the five typical cities in the world and to represent the Asia-Pacific region to be granted the title of “City For Peace” by UNESCO, Hanoi met a series of criteria such as: typical achievements in activities to improve people’s life, promote social solidarity, cultural and educational development and solve urbanization and environmental issues.…
To this day Hanoi has been the only capital of the Asia-Pacific region honored as “City for peace”. The appreciation of the international community has sharply increased the pride of the people of the Capital, promoted the thousand-year-old city to continue to preserve its own precious traditions and cultural identities and have the steady stages of development.
Achievements in strengthening friendship and cooperation in all fields of economy, trade, culture, tourism, services, investment… in recent years have contributed to enhancing the position and prestige of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general in the international arena.
The city has now become the center for connection of global values, has built the friendly partnerships with more than 100 capitals and cities around the world, and has become actively and responsibly involved in many important international forums…
In 2018, Hanoi was voted to rank 12/25 of the world’s best destinations in 2018; as one of the two “hottest” cities in Vietnam in 2018 in terms of the number of room reservations, nominated by the World Travel Awards as one of 17 candidates for “World’s Leading City Destination 2018” award.
At the end of 2018, the total number of tourist to Hanoi was estimated at 26.04 million (increasing by 9.3% compared to that in 2017), of which international tourists was estimated at 5.74 million (increasing by 16%). Thanks to its stable political and security situation, and increasingly transparent and smooth business investment environment, Hanoi becomes an attractive destination for investors around the world.
In particular, in 2018, the foreign direct investment (FDI) in Hanoi reached over USD 7.5 billion, as the leading one in the whole country after more than 30 years of opening and integrating.
Bridge of Friendship and Peace
Hanoi’s title of “City for Peace” – a destination of friendship has been again affirmed when Hanoi was selected as the venue for the second US-North Korea Summit. In addition to its role as the Capital – the national political and administrative nerve-centre and the major center of culture, science, education, economics and international transactions of the whole country, where most of the foreign affairs of the State take place, Hanoi fully met the requirements for facilities and security to organize such important submit.
The fact that Hanoi was selected as the venue for this important political – diplomatic event proves Hanoi’s ability to meet the high-level service and national standards, thereby, strongly developing the types of public and MICE tourism (Meeting Incentive Conference Event – a type of tourism in combination with organization of conferences, seminars, cultural, sports and commercial events …) in the coming time.
Elegant and hospitable people
Besides relics, beauty spots and natural landscapes, long-time cultural traditions with rich identity, and rich cuisine, Hanoi is also famous as a peaceful city with friendly and hospitable people.
Immediately after landing at Noi Bai airport, US President Donald Trump immediately posted his status on his Twitter account, expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome of Hanoi’s leaders and people: “I just arrived in Vietnam. Thank you to all of the people for the great reception in Hanoi. Tremendous crowd and so much love”.
Previously, many stories about the Hanoi people’s friendliness, warm reception and readiness to help international guests have been widely shared. Voluntarily decorating stores to welcome the US-North Korea Summit, providing free barber services, organizing tours of city experience and discovery for foreign journalists not only promoted Hanoi’s image but also showed the respect of Hanoi authorities and people for the Summit as well as the large number of international journalists coming to the Capital on this occasion.…
These features constitute an attractive tourism resource and unique charm of the thousand-year-old city in the viewpoints of tourists and international friends, including politicians and the heads of the States. Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, ran in the morning around Hoan Kiem Lake (November 2006), US President Barack Obama ate Bun Cha in a popular restaurant on Le Van Huu street and chatted with a tea vendor at Me Tri market gate ( May 2016), President of France Francois Hollande walked and shook hands to greet the Hanoi people and came to a café to chat with students (September 2016), most recently, President of Argentina Mauricio Macri walked and sat enjoying coffee at a sidewalk of Hanoi (February 20, 2019) …. Perhaps there is no evidence more vivid and convincing than those.
Perhaps, the modesty, friendliness and hospitality of the Hanoi people have touched the hearts of domestic and international tourists. Therefore, through the polls of millions of readers around the world, many travel newspapers and websites famous worldwide such as Telegraph (UK); CNN, Trip Advisor (USA), Smart Travel Asia (Hong Kong – China) … have continuously honored the Hanoi Capitol has been honored continuously as one of the destinations worth visiting in Asia and the world.
Facebook Comments