Hanoi Aims for Smart Tourism as Creative Economy Pillar by 2030

Hanoi is positioning tourism as a key pillar of its creative economy

On August 19-20, the Hanoi Department of Tourism held a seminar on smart tourism development, focusing on travel, accommodation, and destinations. The event served not only as an experience-sharing activity but also as a platform for cooperation between the government, tourism businesses, and technology providers, laying the foundation for a digital tourism ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Huu Viet, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Tourism Information Center under the municipal Department of Tourism, said that, based on the resolutions and digital transformation plans of both central and local governments, Hanoi aims to establish a smart tourism ecosystem by 2025 and complete the digital platform by 2030, making tourism a key pillar of the city's creative economy.

According to Viet, developing smart tourism goes beyond applying technology; it also involves innovative management, promoting green tourism, and placing tourists at the center. “Every visitor to Hanoi not only enjoys convenience and safety but also experiences unique cultural and heritage values,” he emphasized.

Notably, Hanoi's smart tourism model seeks to integrate the three pillars of travel, accommodation, and destinations. Rather than implementing isolated technologies, the city is developing a shared data platform that enables businesses to exchange information, coordinate promotions, and offer diverse tourism packages.

In the tourism sector, digital transformation now spans the entire value chain, going beyond promotion. At the seminar, experts presented many solutions, including multi-channel sales management, Online Travel Agency (OTA) integration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in customer care, and itinerary optimization.

In accommodation, the rise of online booking and demand for smart experiences are pushing hotels, homestays, and resorts to innovate broadly. Key solutions include Property Management System (PMS) systems integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), AI for dynamic room pricing, and Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR) tools that let visitors preview rooms before booking.

For destinations, technology is creating opportunities to bring history and culture to life more vividly. Big Data, Geographic Information System (GIS), and IoT solutions help manage visitor flows and preserve heritage, while AR/VR offers immersive experiences that recreate historical contexts. Tourism apps with digital maps and multilingual QR codes are also being implemented, allowing visitors to easily access information about nearby monuments, restaurants, and hotels.

Experts said that the main challenges today are investment costs and workforce capacity. Comprehensive digitalization requires businesses to be ready for change, along with mechanisms to support digital skills training and the development of an open data platform for easy business use.

Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, said: “The tourism industry is recovering strongly after the pandemic, with an expected 22 million international visitors and 120-130 million domestic visitors in 2025. This is a golden opportunity, but it is essential to make effective use of digital technology.”

He affirmed that smart tourism must rest on three pillars: technology, people, and institutions. Technology enables data management, operations, and enhanced experiences; people are the decisive factor in successful digital transformation; and institutions must provide a transparent, safe, and sustainable legal framework.

The three core areas of travel, accommodation, and destinations must be fully digitalized to boost competitiveness. Travel businesses need to innovate proactively; management agencies should take a creative approach, and training institutions; and experts must stay ahead in developing and educating digital talent.

With a clear strategic direction and the support of businesses and experts, Hanoi is poised to become a pioneering locality and a model for smart tourism development - not only in Vietnam but across the region.