Ho Chi Minh City aims to become an international tourist super city with 10 million international visitors

With its position as an international tourism center and many synchronous solutions, Ho Chi Minh City will make a breakthrough in the last period of the year and beyond.

Reporter: The goal of welcoming 10 million international visitors and 290,000 billion VND in tourism revenue by 2025 is very challenging. What advantages will the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry rely on to turn this big goal into reality, madam?

- Ms. BUI THI NGOC HIEU - Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Tourism: The HCM City tourism industry also aims to welcome 50 million domestic visitors this year. These are big challenges but the city has many advantages to achieve them.

Specifically, the effects of successful international events such as the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC) in 2025 and the 2025 General Assembly of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) have affirmed the position of an international tourism center, while creating a breakthrough foundation for the end of the year.

Vung Tau's sea tourism advantage helps Ho Chi Minh City attract international visitors, as well as compete with other domestic and regional destinations. Photo: BICH NGOC

In the near future, Ho Chi Minh City will launch a culinary passport, republish the Ho Chi Minh City Culinary Guide and announce specialized culinary tours, positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a "culinary paradise". In addition, a series of regional festivals and sports and cultural events will be held, such as the Ho Chi Minh City River Festival (October), Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week (December) and the Techcombank International Marathon 2025.

Regarding promotion, we will organize destination promotion programs in the US, UK, Singapore; participate in international events in Indonesia and Korea, thereby creating a push to attract international visitors.

In particular, with the synchronous coordination between the government, businesses and the community, the tourism industry of Ho Chi Minh City believes it will achieve and exceed this year's target, thereby creating a premise for a breakthrough in 2026.

Ho Chi Minh City has a large number of international visitors but their length of stay and spending are not commensurate. What do you think is the main reason and what is the key solution to change it?

- It is true that international visitors to the city are numerous, but their length of stay and spending are not high. The main reason is that the product structure is not unique enough. Night products, high-end experiences, and personalized services are still lacking; regional connectivity is still limited...

Therefore, in the coming time, the tourism industry will promote the development of the ecosystem of experiential products as I have shared. In the immediate future, it is launching a culinary passport; building specialized culinary tours; diversifying night tourism products; tourism combined with conferences (MICE), Wellness (health care) ... Integrating inter-regional products, after merging administrative boundaries, connecting the advantages of sea tourism, high-class resorts of Vung Tau and eco-tourism, sports ...

The city also promotes the high-quality tourist market, targeting the high-spending and long-stay segment through promotional campaigns in target markets such as the US, UK, and Singapore.

In the long term, Ho Chi Minh City aims to turn festivals into tourism products by enhancing the brand of events, such as: Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, Ho Do International Music Festival, Lantern Festival... will be invested in content, increasing the experience, to create long-term attraction. At the same time, connecting with typical tourism products, associating events with cuisine, cultural tours, MICE to extend the tourism value chain.

In the context of fierce competition with tourist cities in the region, what will Ho Chi Minh City do to create its own mark to attract visitors to come back many times, spend more and stay longer?

- Ho Chi Minh City will position itself as a "vibrant experience paradise" by developing multi-layered products, from cuisine, night tourism, river tourism, urban culture, wellness to MICE. Focus on sustainability, promote green transformation and digital transformation, and improve service quality.

Promote increased regional connectivity, form a common message "New Ho Chi Minh City - One journey, three experiences", connect modern urban areas, islands and ecology, create a difference in the region.

The overall strategy is to integrate infrastructure, products and communications to enhance competitiveness, create a unique mark, and aim to build the new Ho Chi Minh City into an "international super city".

(*) See Lao Dong Newspaper from September 23 issue

Ms. DOAN THI THANH TRA, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company: Applying digital technology to tourism

Ho Chi Minh City needs to soon deploy a smart tourism ecosystem integrating multiple platforms. Such as a digital tourism map, integrating attractions - cuisine - accommodation - entertainment - public transport; can advise on itineraries and sell tickets online, respond and resolve urgent complaints from tourists. Connecting public transport - attractions - service facilities: helping visitors easily travel by metro, electric bus, electric taxi, waterbus. Platform for evaluating - giving feedback - improving tourism services: helping to systematically improve quality. If properly implemented, these solutions will be an effective bridge between international visitors and this dual trend and Ho Chi Minh City has all the conditions to lead this trend in Vietnam.

Mr. NGUYEN DUY TUAN, Director of A Plus Travel Company: Preserving ancient architectural works well

To promote the tourism strengths of Ho Chi Minh City, it is necessary to first focus on the reception at international and domestic airports, improve the procedures to create a good first impression for tourists. At the same time, it is necessary to exploit the advantages of waterways with tours and routes on the Saigon River and canals, connecting tourist attractions inside and outside the city.

Preserving ancient architecture and building a map of walking streets is also very necessary, helping tourists easily experience "walking - enjoy". The city should strongly develop traditional cultural spaces, creating real experiences of music, cuisine, festivals, and crafts. Along with that, publish a list of destinations and authentic cuisine guaranteed by the State so that tourists can choose with confidence.

In addition, events in the city center need to be experiential rather than just promoted through billboards or LED screens. Reasonable parking planning and creating open walkways are also important factors for tourists to comfortably explore. With synchronous steps, Ho Chi Minh City can become an increasingly attractive and friendly destination.

Ms. HUYNH PHAN PHUONG HOANG, Deputy General Director of Vietravel Tourism Company: Need more local specialty products

Global tourism trends are shifting strongly towards local experiences associated with green - sustainable factors and digital technology. International tourists do not just visit but also want to live like locals, prioritizing green, clean, safe and socially responsible destinations.

To seize this opportunity, Ho Chi Minh City needs to accelerate digital transformation with applications, smart maps, and multilingual explanations; and at the same time, develop local green products from the center to the suburbs. Businesses are encouraged to "green" their services, reduce plastic waste, and cut carbon emissions.

The city also needs to continue investing in smart tourism infrastructure, promoting long-term and professional international promotion, and supporting businesses, training human resources in foreign languages ​​and technology, in order to turn Ho Chi Minh City into a modern, sustainable and outstanding destination in Asia.

Lam Giang recorded

Source: https://nld.com.vn/sieu-do-thi-du-lich-da-rat-gan-muc-tieu-khong-chi-la-10-trieu-luot-khach-quoc-te-196250924215608495.htm