HCM City (VNA) – The diversification of cultural, historical, and experiential tourism products, espe⛦cially those offering tourist the experience of celebrating Lunar New Year (𓂃Tet) like locals, has been praised by international visitors, according to insiders.

On January 20, the Vietluxtour Travel JSC welcomed a group of nearly 100 Polish tourists embarking on a 10-day Indochina tour. Their itinerary included stops in Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and the southernmost coastal province of Binh Thuan’s Phan Thiet city, offering a unique cultural experience of Tet – Vietnam’s biggest traditional celebration, which lasts from January 25 (the 26th day of the last month of the Year of the Dragon) to February 2 (the fifth day of the Year of the Snake) this year. The Polish tourists are set to enjoy regional attractions and traditional Tet dishes such as banh tet (cylinder glutinous rice cake), banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), caramelised pork, and pickled vegetables, while participating in customs like receiving lucky money. Wojciech Pawelec from the group shared that it is his third visit to Vietnam, but his first Tet experience. He was impressed by festive decorations across streets of HCM City and the food, particularly banh tet. Another visitor from the Polish group, Thomas, expressed excitement over the local craft markets and Tet-themed decorations, noting their uniqueness compared to Poland. He also appreciated Vietnam's traditional Tet delicacies and the hospitality of its people. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour, highlighted that the positive feedback from tourists over the years has motivated the company to not only maintain but also innovate its Tet-themed tours. On the Tet travel trends for 2025, tourism companies forecast a growing demand for relaxing, premium services alongside traditional tours spanning Vietnam's three regions. Additionally, more tourists are opting for flexible travel packages, including F&E tours – a type of travel where tourists only need to book basic services in advance to prepare for their trip instead of purchasing a full-package tour – and customised option tours, which are tailored to the specific preferences of clients, particularly overseas Vietnamese. A report by The Outbox Company, which specialises in tourism market research, ranked Da Nang as the most loved domestic destination of 2024, while HCM City emerged as a major source and destination market for domestic travel. The report underscores the enduring appeal of local tourism, particularly for short, nearby getaways, which remain a priority for Vietnamese travellers./.