A wide range of vibrant activities are being held within the 20th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Fair, which kicked off on April 4 to promote the southern metroplis as a safe, attractive and hospitable destination for both domestic and foreign visitors.
HCM City (VNA) – A wide range of vibrant activities are being heldwithin the 20th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Fair, which kicked off onApril 4 to promote the southern metroplis as a safe, attractive and hospitabledestination for both domestic and foreign visitors.
Over 150 booths are arranged at the four-day fair where 50 vendors from 45cities and provinces are touting promotion tourism programmes and products tothe visitors.
Nearly 400 low-cost tours, travel vouchers and discounted tourism services areon sale at the event, with a total value of some 50 billion VND (2 million USD).
Along with packages with steep discounts, there are many gifts and lucky draws whichare expected to bring fascinating experience to visitors.
Travel firms reported handsome sales right on the first day of the fair astheir packages were sold like hot cakes, earning them more than 26.3 billionVND in revenue, up 49% year-on-year.
The event features acoustic and stilt walking performances, an exchangeprogramme to introduce culture and destinations of different localities andvarious tourism promotion workshops, among others.
A highlight of this year's fair is a tourism career exchange that helps connecttravel businesses with workers and students.
According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan, asa tourism hub of the country, HCM City has worked to develop specific plans andactions to bolster tourism post pandemic.
The fair is expected to enhance cooperation between travel firms and promoteregional linkages so as to improve tourism offerings’ quality and competitiveedge, he said.
In Q1, HCM City welcomed 1.38 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-yearsurge of 32.4% and accounting for 30% of the country’s total internationalvisitors. Meanwhile, it served over 8 million domestic arrivals, up 6.6% fromthe same time last year.
Tourism revenue was 44.7 trillion VND in the period, rising 23.8% year-on-yearand making up 23.7% of the country’s total earnings./.
Ho Chi Minh City’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) was estimated at over 406.34 trillion VND (16.34 billion USD) in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 6.54%, the highest growth recorded for Q1 since 2020, heard a meeting of the municipal People’s Committee on April 2.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on April 3 launched the 2024 stimulus programme, with discounts of 10-60% on various tourism products and services.
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.
At the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
