Hanoi has welcomed 551,600 foreign tourists so far this year, a year-on-year rise of 12%, reported the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

Germany was the leading nation in the number of holidaymakers to Hanoi with 104,900, a quadruple year-on-year increase, followed by China with 76,600, up 32%; France with 59,100, up 32% and Japan with 50,900, up 20%. Other foreign tourists came from Australia, the US and the UK.

According to the department, the increase was attributable to Hanoi’s upcoming celebrations of its 1,000th anniversary and National Tourism Year 2010 in the city.

The city has also increased the quality of its tourism and developed more tourism products, launched the ‘Hanoians Welcome Fiends and ‘The Green Tourism Year’ campaigns. It has also organised a contest for the best tourist guide and the Ao Dai, traditional long dress festival to attract more tourists.

It will organise the Thang Long-Hanoi International Tourism Festival 2010 and the Hanoi Cuisine Festival later this year. (VNA)