Ho Chi Minh City has set a target of welcoming 6 million foreign visitors who will spend around 190 trillion VND (7.8 billion USD) next year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Sai Gon Central Post Office is an iconic landmark in the city. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has set a target of welcoming 6million foreign visitors who will spend around 190 trillion VND (7.8 billionUSD) next year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Given stable political-economic conditions, and good recovery of tourism andrelated industries, the Vietnamese southern hub expects to welcome a touristinflux from the Republic of Korea, Japan, India, and China.
As of October, the city had served more than 4.1 million foreign visitors,accounting for 82% of the plan for this year. As the peak season for internationalapproaches, it hopes to serve 5 million international tourists for the whole2023.
According to large tour operators such as Saigontourist, Vietravel, and TSTTourist, tours to explore Ho Chi Minh City and inter-regional tours thatconnect the city with localities in its vicinity during year-end festivals areselling like hot cakes.
In early December, the tourism department will organise the third HCM CityTourism Week to stimulus both international and domestic tourism demand, andcreate an opportunity for travel firms to introduce their attractive offeringsin 2024. The highlight of the week will be the 6th Techcombank HCM CityInternational Marathon on December 8-10, which is expected to lure 14,000foreign and domestic runners.
Director of the tourism Department Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa saidan array of products will be launched in the framework of the tourismweek, including Nha Be night tour, healthcare and wellness tourism.
Besides, more lenient visa regulations and extended stays for foreigners areexpected to bring more international tourists to the city in the peak season.
Visitors at Thong Nhat Palace (Photo: VNA)
However, the department said that the visa approval process remains slowand time-consuming. Besides, Vietnam is currently providing visa exemption foronly 25 countries, which is much smaller than that of regional countries suchas Indonesia (169), the Philippines (166), Malaysia (156), and Singapore (150). It recommended theImmigration Department to shorten the time to handle visa applications fortravel firms.
Furthermore, it will step up tourism promotion activities in foreign marketswhile renewing local tourism offerings to provide visitors with betterexperience./.
A concert featuring works by Beethoven, Chopin and Grieg, the three most beloved 19th century European composers in the history of world music, will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) on November 11, HBSO announced on November 1.
Ho Chi Minh City has been holding various activities this year to promote waterway tourism, including the first-ever river festival and new waterway tours, aiming to better exploit its advantages with a dense river and canal network and rich riverside culture.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Sai Gon Central Post Office is an iconic landmark in the city. (Photo: VNA) 
Visitors at Thong Nhat Palace (Photo: VNA) 
