Published:  16:33 Monday - June 25, 2012

Ha Noi has welcomed about 8.33 million visitors during the first six months of this year, according to the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The city, which was listed one of the cheapest global tourist destinations for the summer of 2012 by the world's largest travel website TripAdvisor, lured over 1.03 million foreign tourists during the first half of the year, a rise of 20 percent over the same period last year.

It also saw 7.3 million domestic tourists arrive during the first half of the year, an increase of 24 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

Tourists to Ha Noi came from over 160 territories and countries including western Europe, North East Asia, Australia and North America amongst others.

Ha Noi would strive to attract about 2.5 million international and 14 million domestic visitors by 2015, which could earn the capital about US$2.1 billion, added the department.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Source: Viet Nam New