HCM City’s tourism sector focuses on quality, product diversity
Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism held a conference on January 10 to announce its planned activities for 2023 with a focus on quality improvement, product diversification, demand stimulation, and digital technology application.
Foreigners discover HCM City on cycle rickshaws (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism held a conference on January 10 to announce its planned activitiesfor 2023 with a focus on quality improvement, product diversification, demandstimulation, and digital technology application.
As heard at the meeting, the sector aims to serve 5 millionforeign tourists and 35 million domestic visitors, raking in some 160 trillion VND (6.82billion USD) in revenue.
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the department, said it willfurther complete existing tourism programmes and work with businesses andconsultating agencies to develop a set of typical products for the southern largest economic hub.
Attention will also be paid to IT application, domesticcooperation, and human resources development, she added.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, General Director of the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism (VNAT), said 2023 is expected to bring about bothopportunities and challenges related to the global political and economic situation,therefore the city’s tourism targets are ambitious but possible.
According to the department, the economic hub receivednearly 30 million domestic and foreign tourists in 2022, doubling the previousyear's figure. Its tourism revenue reached 120 trillion VND (5.1 billion USD),an increase of 171.2% year-on-year./.
Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 546,000 international visitors in October this year, lifting the total number of foreign arrivals to the city in the last 10 months to 2.65 million, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
With its advantages in regional connectivity and a big number of visitors, Ho Chi Minh City has been chosen by other cities and provinces to organise activities aiming to boost tourism development.
The 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week, a series of tourism-sport-music events serving domestic and foreign visitors, kicked off at a ceremony in the southern metropolis on December 5.
Despite significant potential for growth, river-based tourism in Ho Chi Minh City remains underexploited due to a lack of proper investment and a legal framework for developing river cruising, a conference heard.
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.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Foreigners discover HCM City on cycle rickshaws (Photo: VNA) 
