Enhancing Tourism Connectivity between Chinese Nanning and Hanoi

With its advantageous geographical location and diverse landscapes, Nanning is emerging as an ideal destination for Vietnamese tourists. The tourism cooperation between Nanning (Guangxi - China) and Hanoi not only broadens travel opportunities but also fosters deeper cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism coordinated with the Hanoi Tourism Department to organize a conference to promote and connect Nanning tourism with Hanoi travel agencies in Hanoi. The tourism promotion event called “Old Friend Nanning” brought together tourism agencies from Hanoi and Nanning. This is part of the continuous effort to strengthen tourism connection and development between the two cities after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, offers convenient access from Vietnam via road. Its location, adjacent to the Vietnamese provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh, makes Nanning a prime destination for Vietnamese tourists eager to experience Chinese culture and landscapes.

This event marked an important step forward in the cooperative ties between Hanoi and Nanning. New tourist routes like Hanoi-Mong Cai-Taiping Ancient City-Nanning and Hanoi-Huu Nghi-Nanning-Guilin-Yangshuo are increasingly appealing to Vietnamese travelers. These routes not only offer opportunities to visit renowned destinations but also foster cultural exchange between Vietnam and China.

Mr. Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of Hanoi Tourism Department, emphasized that “Developing new tourist routes between Hanoi and Nanning not only broadens travel opportunities but also enhances economic and cultural cooperation between the two cities. Nanning, with its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is a promising destination that offers a wealth of experiences for visitors”.

Zhang Zhenyu, representative of the Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, said that Vietnam is the largest and most important source of tourists for Nanning. In the first six months of 2024, Nanning welcomed 300 Vietnamese tourist groups with more than 19,000 tourists from Vietnam.

“In the coming time, to facilitate tourist exchanges, the tourism industry of Nanning City will optimize products and entry tourism routes and build one-stop entry tourism service points to enable Vietnamese companies to bring tourists to the city,” he said.

China is one of the key tourist markets of Vietnam, including Hanoi. Hieu informed that, in 2023, Hanoi tourism welcomed 4.72 million international tourists, including 275,879 of Chinese tourists, accounting for 8.3% of total foreign visitors. In the first six months of 2024, the city received 241,106 Chinese tourists, accounting for 11.4% of total visitors to Hanoi.

At the event, leading travel agencies from Hanoi such as Hongai Tours, Trang An Travel, and Postum Travel signed cooperation agreements with Chinese partners. These agreements not only create attractive joint tourism products but also open up many new business opportunities for both sides.

The restoration of international bus routes and flights from Nanning to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nha Trang has made it easier and more convenient for tourists to travel. At present, 45 travel companies in Nanning are actively engaged in the Vietnamese market and enhancing mutual tourist exchanges. These are ideal conditions for travel agencies to tap and develop the two-way tourism market while promoting sustainable development for the travel industry.

While tourist arrivals between Hanoi and Nanning have recovered significantly, the current level of traffic still falls short of the mutual potential and the strong friendly relationship between the two cities. This challenge is to create more diverse and attractive tourism products to attract and retain tourists. In addition, it is necessary to ensure safe tourism services and protect tourist interests to reinforce the highest trust and satisfaction.

With the ongoing effort from both sides, Hanoi and Nanning tourism will be further developed strongly to bring great benefits to travel businesses and contribute to socioeconomic development of both cities.

By Giang Tu, Vietnam Business Forum