According to economists and tourism experts, it is not hard for Vietnam to devise proper strategies and promote a variety of services for night business activities providing that the policy-makers could identify the demand of tourists and understand the readiness of the locals.

Hanoi Opera House at night. Photo: TopsVietnam.

Hanoi - a vibriant city with intertwining old and new cultures that receives millions of foreign and domestic tourists annually -  has huge potential to tap into its night economy.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently instructed major cities, Hanoi included, to find measures to spur the night-time economy, which has proven to be enormously beneficial for the economic, cultural and social development in some countries including China, Japan, the UK, VnExpress reported.

Night economy is all business activities that take place from 5.pm to 6.am the following morning including food, art, music, entertainment, festivals, events, and tourist attractions.

 Over the past three years, night time economy has drawn the attention of lawmakers in several nations, which has resulted in the enactment of a series of promotion policies.

 For instance, China’s Beijing has pledged to optimize the public transportation services as well as promote publicity for night restaurants and encourage extending business hours.

 Japan has plans to improve infrastructure and adjusts regulations relating to locations and working conditions at night, while Canada has found solutions for developing night-economy besides bars and clubs.

 According to Hanoi Department of Tourism, the city welcomed 3.3 million international tourists in the first six months of 2019, an increase of 10.6% year-on-year, of which, many holidaymakers prefer spending time to explore Hanoi at night by wandering around the Old Quarter. 

 Hanoi has so far been the sole city in Asia granted the "City for Peace" title by the UNESCO.

 CNN Travel once wrote about the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s Ta Hien street at night, the most well-known “beer corner” in the capital city.

 According to the US news television channel, the street becomes alive with the shine of lights as soon as the sun sets.

 “If you really want to get up close and personal with the culture of a new city, in particular, the culture of the local people, you need to stroll the sidewalks, sit on a stool and have a nice cold beer," CNN cited Brett MacDouall, co-founder of Hanoi Beer Tour as saying.

 However, Ta Hien is just one of seven amazing night experiences in Hanoi that CNN suggested visitors besides walking through some heritage downtown such as Sword Lake or Hanoi Opera House, immersing oneself in the local culture, discovering street foods, watching art shows, dancing or enjoying mixed night flavors.

 Those aforesaid are considered exemplary models for night-time economy in Hanoi and Vietnam as the business activities only burst out when the sun sets.

 According to economists and tourism experts, it is not hard for Vietnam to devise proper strategies and promote a variety of services for night business activities providing that the policy-makers could identify the demand of tourists, and understand the readiness of the locals.

 General Director of Vietravel Nguyen Quoc Ky said that from 6.pm to 2.am the following morning, travelers are willing to spend even more than during the day.

 He also elaborated that the pedestrian streets in some localities would be the scenes of more bustling night life if there are some cultural programs and events for foreign visitors.

 Nguyen Khac Giang, Ph.D. student of Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand proposed two solutions for Vietnam to promote night economy including carefully consider holidaymakers’ demand when visiting the country and pilot the model in some big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city before deploying nationwide.