As of 6am on January 1, 2010, Hanoi received its first 300 European tourists from Paris, France on flight of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

A ceremony to welcome these guests was organised by Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with Vietnam Airlines, opening activities in response to the National Tourism Year 2010 in Hanoi.    

Present at the ceremony were representatives of Hanoi’s leadership and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as well as leading travel agents.

The first visitor, Mr. Zamorano Denis, received a special present-a trans-Vietnam tour for 10 days 9 nights for two people, including expenses for domestic flights and services meeting the five-star standard.

To attract visitors, especially foreigners, to attend the ceremony for the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, along with National Tourism Year 2010, Hanoi’s tourism industry is actively investing more in infrastructure development and tourism products, while building new tours to serve them, said Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Mai Tien Dung.