Visitors at the Royal Palace inside the former Imperial Citadel in Hue. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

THUA THIEN - HUE — Hue received about 75,000 visitors during the Tet holiday, thanks to its attractive heritage monuments and Tet (Lunar New Year) traditions.

A report by the local department of culture, sports and tourism said that an increasing number of tourists booked tour programmes in the city from February 16 to 23. The rate of hotel occupancy was also high, with 90 per cent in several hotels.

The department expects more visitors to arrive in the former royal capital city, as several traditional festivals and games will take place in the first month of the lunar year.

During the first three days of the lunar year, thousands of visitors flocked to the Imperial Citadel. Every year, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre allows free entry to the monuments during this period.

Le Phuong Anh, a local resident, said that she took the opportunity to visit the site with her children after a busy year of work.

Foreign visitors enjoyed royal games that were once played by emperors and the royal family. Performances of nha nhac (Hue royal court music), unicorn dances and martial arts also entertained visitors and allowed them to take a closer look at the Vietnamese Tet festival. — VNS