Foreign tourists visit Hanoi’s downtown. (Photo: Thao Nguyen-Hai Ly)

Genie Bettencourt, an American tourist, said, “People are very nice, very friendly, a lot of motorbikes. I did have an egg coffee this morning that was very good. I hear that it is a beautiful city and it is also a good location to see the North of Vietnam.”

Recently, US-based magazine Travel & Leisure has included Hanoi on its list of Top 10 cities in Southeast Asia. This is a category of the Asia’s Best Awards 2022 for destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars, according to the votes made by readers between January and April this year.

“I have got a really pleasant time in Hanoi. Things are pretty much easier here because in the capital city, you can find almost everything. It’s almost possible to find somebody speaking English, so life here is easier,” said Sebastien from France.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, Hanoi has welcomed more than 210,000 foreign tourists in the first half of this year. The city is focusing on promoting its pedestrian streets, cuisine and services.

“I really love Vietnamese people. They are lovely, kind and make us feel welcomed wherever we’ve been. I would tell everyone to come here. It’s fantastic,” said Avedis, an Australian tourist.