Hanoi Ignites Vietnam Tourism With A Culinary And Craft Festival That Drew Thousands Of Visitors: All You Need To Know

Published on December 16, 2025

Hanoi city in Vietnam was blooming with hues, scents and artistic work when the Hanoi Culinary, Craft Village and Craft Street Tourism Festival 2025, a plus of thirty-thousand visitors during the four still and vibrant days, thereby strengthening the capital’s ever-growing fame as a place for culture-oriented trips. Many of the guests meandering through the event thought less of it as a festival and more of the living core of Hanoi, where food, heritage and people effortlessly came together.

Held from December 11 to 14, the festival concluded on Saturday night and was positioned as a key tourism promotion activity for the city. According to information highlighted on Vietnam’s official tourism platforms, the event aligns with Hanoi’s broader strategy to develop experiential tourism rooted in heritage, gastronomy and traditional craft villages.

A strategic tourism showcase rooted in heritage

Organised under the theme Hundreds of Crafts, Thousands of Flavours, the festival was designed to honour and preserve traditional craft villages and historic trade streets while presenting them as compelling travel experiences. Spanning approximately 5,000 square metres, the venue was thoughtfully styled to echo Hanoi’s ancient houses and old quarter streets, allowing visitors to experience the city’s past through a modern tourism lens.

Tourism officials noted indirectly that such festivals play a vital role in diversifying Hanoi’s tourism offerings, particularly for international travellers seeking authentic, hands-on cultural encounters rather than conventional sightseeing alone.

Craft villages take centre stage for experiential travellers

One of the strongest draws for visitors interested in craft tourism was the dedicated craft village and trade street space. Renowned villages such as Bat Trang for ceramics, Van Phuc for silk, Chuong for conical hats, Chang Son for fans and Ha Thai for lacquerware showcased not only their finished products but also the skills behind them.

Live demonstrations allowed visitors to watch artisans at work, shaping clay, weaving silk or applying lacquer layers by hand. Many tourists were seen engaging directly with craftspeople, guided through basic production stages, an experience that travel experts have observed to be increasingly valued by culturally curious travellers.

The recreated scenes of Hanoi’s historic trade streets, including the festive atmosphere of Hang Ma Street during Lunar New Year, added narrative depth. Calligraphers writing traditional characters and artists displaying watercolours of Hanoi offered visitors visual storytelling that connected crafts with the city’s broader cultural identity.

Culinary heritage as a powerful tourism magnet

Food proved to be another major factor in attracting crowds, particularly international tourists eager to explore Hanoi’s culinary identity beyond restaurant menus. The Hanoi culinary heritage space presented a curated journey through the capital’s flavours, from ceremonial feasts of Bat Trang village to refined West Lake lotus tea.

Iconic local dishes such as pho, egg coffee, shrimp fritters and freshwater snail noodles were served alongside craft village specialties like Vong village green young sticky rice, Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls and Uoc Le pork sausage. Throughout the festival, chefs and artisans shared cooking techniques and culinary stories, indirectly emphasising how food functions as both sustenance and cultural expression.

Tourism representatives were quoted indirectly as saying that showcasing culinary heritage in an interactive setting helps visitors better understand Hanoi’s lifestyle, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits.

Promoting destinations through immersive storytelling

Beyond food and crafts, the destination promotion area connected festival-goers with Hanoi’s wider tourism landscape. Images and displays highlighted landmarks such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda and Hanoi Flag Tower, while travel agencies and accommodation providers introduced themed tours, heritage routes and souvenir collections.

By linking craft villages and cuisine with established attractions, the festival effectively positioned Hanoi as a multifaceted destination where urban heritage, rural traditions and contemporary tourism coexist.

Boosting Hanoi’s tourism economy and global appeal

This year’s festival brought together 10 representative craft villages, nearly 30 artisans and master craftsmen, alongside tourism businesses and hospitality providers. Such collaboration reflects Hanoi’s ongoing efforts, promoted through Vietnam’s national tourism channels, to integrate cultural preservation with economic development.

Observers noted indirectly that events like this help generate income for artisans, raise international awareness of lesser-known villages and strengthen Hanoi’s brand as a cultural capital of Southeast Asia.

A festival that continues to be remembered for its great impact

Saturday night marked the end of the festival but many visitors were not ready to go back home yet as they stayed on in the vibrant streets, savoring the food and admiring the artists. For tourists, the event was more than just pictures or souvenirs; it was a matter of taking along stories, skills, and flavors. This was in line with the Hanoi Culinary, Craft Village, and Craft Street Tourism Festival that has shown travel through made-up cultural events not only can be a day of fun but also can be a great way of developing human ties and letting tourism in Hanoi be experienced as distinctly personalized.