Foreign visitors tour HCM City by "xich lo" (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) 🦹– International arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City numbered over 3.61 million in the first nine months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 13 percent.
Revenue from tourism in the period hit over 73 trillion VND (3.28 billion USD), up 5.6 percent against the same period in 2015.
According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the number of visitors from China, the Republic of Korea, the US and Japan surged while Russian tourists fell by 31.7 percent.
Five Western European nations including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Belarus, which enjoy visa exemption, saw an average increase of over 20 percent in the number of holidaymakers.
To reach these outcomes, the city stepped up existing tourism promotion programmes such as developing river-based tourism and announcing “100 interesting facts”, standardised tourism services and tips to serve tourists.
The quality of tourism events and festival was improved while communication work was also enhanced.
As of mid-September this year, 2,186 accommodation facilities had been built, offering 51,353 rooms, up over 4,000 rooms from the same period last year.
The municipal tourism sector focused on improving services quality as well as training human resources.
It will also work with relevant bodies to turn tourism into a key economic sector of the city.
HCM City strives to receive 5.1 million international visitors and 21.8 million domestic holiday-makers this year.-VNA
Despite HCM City’s dense network of rivers and canals, waterway tourism has not matched its potential, thus failing the city’s expectations it would become the main tourism product by 2020.
The HCM City tourism sector has made good preparations this year to attract international visitors but more new attractions are needed for them to succeed.
Despite having a 1,000-km long network of canals and rivers, Ho Chi Minh City has developed its waterway tourism slowly in recent years, with only a few tours now operating.
The 12th International Travel Expo kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on September 8, bringing together a large number of domestic and foreign travel companies.
“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.
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.
Foreign visitors tour HCM City by "xich lo" (Photo: VNA)
