1:21:11 PM | 5/4/2007
The capital city of Hanoi greeted more than 350,000 foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year, accounting for 35 per cent of the total number of tourists to the city during the period.
In March alone, as many as 120,000 international tourists visited Hanoi, up 20-30 per cent on-month and 5 per cent on-year.
Domestic holiday markers to the city in the month were also up, 10 per cent against the same period last year, to 420,000.
Most of the tourists came from China, South Korea, Japan, and France, posting respective increases of 42 per cent, 12.3 per cent, 10 per cent and 9.2 per cent.
The rise in the figure of international and domestic vacationers has contributed to the 18-20 per cent increase in total tourism revenue in the three-month span.
Currently, Hanoi boasts 34 hotels ranked 3-5 stars, which meet only 70 per cent of international tourist demand during this "hot" tourism season.
The city has set a target to receive 6.6 million visitors, including 1.2 million foreigners, an increase of around 9 per cent against 2006, and earn revenue of VND15 trillion (US$937.5 million) in 2007. (New Hanoi)
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