Welcoming ASEAN City Leaders: Hanoitourist Showcases Hanoi's Ancient Heritage to Regional Delegates
On June 9th, 2026, amidst the official proceedings of the high-profile ASEAN City Leaders’ Meeting (running from June 7th to June 10th), the historic streets of Hanoi welcomed a very special delegation. In an effort to promote the deep-rooted cultural values of the capital, the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in close coordination with Hanoitourist, organized an exclusive survey and cultural discovery journey for municipal leaders, diplomatic envoys, and international delegates representing the diverse nations of the Southeast Asian region.
This major event served not only as an opportunity to showcase the historic legacy of the 1,000-year-old capital to regional neighbors but also reinforced the growing importance of premium MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) in Vietnam's modern tourism development strategy.
A Prestigious Gathering of Regional Minds
The heritage exploration tour was attended by an esteemed circle of international and domestic VIPs. Among the international delegation were prominent city leaders and municipal representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia. Joining them were leading economic minds from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), alongside the President of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network.
On the domestic side, senior officials from various ASEAN embassies in Vietnam and leaders of local provinces joined the tour, fostering a warm atmosphere of regional solidarity, connection, and shared vision.
Immersive Journeys Into Hanoi's Historic Soul
To provide the delegates with an authentic and deeply moving experience of northern heritage, Hanoitourist designed a targeted itinerary focusing on two of the capital's most revered cultural sanctuaries:
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The delegation began their journey at this UNESCO World Heritage site, where they uncovered the deep political and cultural history of Vietnam spanning over ten centuries. To enrich the tour, Hanoitourist arranged an exclusive performance of traditional water puppetry. The ancient folk art form, played out on a shimmering pool of water to the sounds of traditional instruments, offered the delegates an enchanting window into the historic agricultural life and folklore of the Red River Delta.
The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam)
Next, the leaders visited the nation’s first university, a historic landmark built in 1070. Here, the delegation explored the profound Confucian traditions of academic excellence and the Vietnamese spirit of lifelong learning. Walking through the serene courtyards, they marveled at the Khue Van Cac pavilion, the Thai Hoc hall, and the ancient stone Doctor's Steles resting on the backs of stone turtles, which stand as enduring monuments to the country's historic intellectuals.
Elevating Vietnam's MICE and Diplomatic Tourism
For Hanoitourist, organizing this high-profile survey program is a powerful validation of its operational capacity. Managing logistics, security, translation, and cultural guiding for a large diplomatic delegation requires a high degree of precision, flexibility, and deep local expertise.
By successfully executing this tour, the company has not only helped promote Hanoi as a safe, hospitable, and culturally vibrant destination to the wider ASEAN community, but has also demonstrated the capital's readiness to host world-class international conferences and high-end corporate incentive travel.
As Vietnam travel continues to position itself as a top choice for both leisure and professional gatherings, the demand for highly reliable local destination management companies (DMCs) is more critical than ever. Whether coordinating high-level state visits, corporate summits, or curated heritage tours, Hanoitourist continues to set the benchmark for professionalism and service excellence in the country.