International visitors enchanted by ‘Beautiful Hanoi Sound’ night experience

Inspired by the lyric ‘Ha Noi dep sao’ (‘How beautiful Hanoi is’) from the song ‘Nguoi Ha Noi’ (‘The Hanoian’) by late Vietnamese musician Nguyen Dinh Thi, and playing on the shared spelling of ‘sao’ in Vietnamese and ‘sound’ in English, the program opened on Friday as part of Hanoi’s night tourism promotion campaign.

Launched on Hanoi Book Street in Cua Nam Ward, the initiative introduces new night-time tourism experiences that highlight the capital’s cultural identity through sound, live performances, and public spaces, leaving a strong impression on international visitors.

Daniela Drescher, an American tourist, found herself drawn to a very different side of the Vietnamese capital as she strolled along the book street, guided not by signs or schedules but by layers of sound.

From the entrance, the night unfolded through music, beginning with smooth saxophone melodies and gradually blending into performances featuring traditional Vietnamese instruments.

It was Drescher's first visit to the book street and her first time experiencing the city at night in this way. 

She said she was immediately struck by the artistic setting, where festive Christmas-themed decorations combined with live music to create an immersive atmosphere.

Warm yellow lights lined the street as Vietnamese musicians performed along the route, turning the book street into an open-air cultural stage.

“I see a Hanoi night that feels more lively but also very warm and intimate,” she said.

“People gather around the band, clapping, taking photos, and enjoying the evening together. 

"It feels welcoming, not rushed.”

Beyond live music, the program also features night bicycle tours that allow visitors to experience Hanoi’s slower rhythm after sunset.

The tours are supported by a GPS-based audio guide system that automatically activates commentary as cyclists pass key landmarks, providing historical and cultural contexts without disrupting the quiet charm of the night.

Visitors can choose from different routes depending on their interests.

One route covers seven notable sites, including the book street, the Supreme People’s Court, the former Hoa Lo Prison, the National Museum of History, the Hanoi Opera House, the State Bank of Vietnam building, and the Government Guest House.

A longer route connects around 30 destinations, passing landmarks such as the Hanoi Flag Tower, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, Quan Thanh Temple, and the ancient house at 87 Ma May Street, before ending at the book street.

According to Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the city currently offers 20 night tourism products alongside nine pedestrian zones and culinary streets, which have become key attractions for visitors.

She said developing night-time tourism is a long-term strategy aimed at showcasing Hanoi’s distinctive identity after dark while enhancing its competitiveness as a destination.

Through ‘Ha Noi Dep Sound,’ the capital hopes to attract more domestic and international visitors, encourage higher spending, and extend tourists’ length of stay, while offering moments like Drescher's — where a city’s story is told not only through sights, but through sound and shared experiences.