HCM City earns 307 million USD from tourism during Lunar New Year 2025
Ho Chi Minh City reaped nearly 7.7 trillion VND (307 million USD) in revenue from tourism during the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday that ended on February 2, up 17.4% year-on-year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Tourists visit the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City reaped nearly 7.7 trillion VND (307 million USD) in revenue from tourism during the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday that ended on February 2, up 17.4% year-on-year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
Specifically, the city welcomed 87,358 foreign visitors, an increase of 16.5% compared to the same period last year. Tourist attractions, entertainment venues, and service areas recorded around 2.1 million visitors, a hike of 16.7% from last year.
This positive outcome was attributed to the city’s organisation of events to celebrate Tet and its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of its tourism products.
A preliminary report from travel companies also indicated that preparations to serve tourists began early. New tourism products with competitive prices were introduced as early as late 2024. Additionally, travel companies launched various promotional programmes, such as offering gifts, 4G SIM cards, and discount vouchers for customers paying by credit card, early registrants, or group bookings.
Some notable new tourism products in HCM City include Spring Tour in Thu Duc city, Celebrating Tet with celebrities and Binh Dong Wharf - Phu My Hung - Double-Decker Bus. Other interprovincial tours featured destinations such as Sa Dec’s Century-Old Flower Village, Cho Lach Flower Village in Ben Tre province.
🌃 Shopping centres and restaurants also arranged various activities to welcome the new year, decorating their premises and hosting traditional Tet festivals with discounts and promotions ranging from 15% to 20% for both residents and tourists. Furthermore, hotels from three to five stars held diverse and traditional Lunar New Year celebrations to enhance guests' holiday experiences, including lion dance performances and New Year greetings. Some hotels also offered 20-30% discounts on services such as bars and spas and a 25% reduction on airport transfer fees./.
Three Vietnamese cities, namely Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, are among top travel destinations for holidaymakers from the Republic of Korea (RoK) during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday, alongside popular locations in Japan, Thailand, and China.
The 2025 New Year Book Street Festival will take place in Le Loi street of Ho Chi Minh City from January 27 to February 2, showcasing nearly 68,000 book titles, according to the municipal Department of Information and Communications.
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.
