Ho Chi Minh City: Developing sea tourism according to the river - sea - urban model

(HTV) - Ho Chi Minh City expands its space to the sea, develops river - sea - urban tourism, and aims to become the first coastal megacity in Vietnam.

In the context of Ho Chi Minh City expanding its development space after the merger, sea tourism is considered one of the strategic directions to diversify products and enhance the competitiveness of destinations.

According to statistics, compared to the period before the merger, the total number of international and domestic visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong (old) in 2024 accounted for nearly 50% of the total number of tourists in the country, with revenue of approximately 1/4 of total tourism revenue in Vietnam. This shows that the merger of three provinces and cities is a "golden" opportunity for the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City to transform its development model, towards sustainable growth and improving tourist experience. In the context of Ho Chi Minh City expanding its development space after the merger, sea tourism is considered one of the strategic directions, aiming to diversify products and enhance the competitiveness of destinations.

The atmosphere of the 2025 Whale Festival in Can Gio commune became more vibrant and brilliant than ever, when the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern procession of a large number of people, parents and students paraded in a space filled with colors and joyful sounds. This activity contributed to making the traditional festival of more than a hundred years old more unique and attractive.

On this occasion, many Mid-Autumn Festival activities combined with the Whale Festival were held on the main roads of Can Gio commune, attracting a large number of people and tourists to participate.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Phat, residing in Di An ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “This is the first time I have participated in the festival. The atmosphere here is very exciting, joyful and different from that in Saigon.”

Mr. Pham Van Hung, a resident of Can Gio commune, expressed his excitement: “This year, the organizing committee has organized a large-scale, grand festival for people to enjoy during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Whale Festival has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, so everyone is very proud and excited.”

Atmosphere of the Whale Festival 2025 in Can Gio commune

After 112 years of formation and development, this year's Can Gio Whale Festival brings many new features with thorough investment, rich and unique activities, demonstrating the position of Ho Chi Minh City in the new period. Considered as a cultural project to welcome the City Party Congress, the program organized by the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City has met the expectations of the coastal people, while opening up many prospects for the development of similar sea cultural festivals in the future.

Coming to Can Gio in the fresh morning, visitors always feel the relaxation and special impression that this land brings. Along with rich eco-tourism resources, Nghinh Ong Can Gio Festival - a national intangible cultural heritage - is one of the important potentials contributing to promoting tourism development of Can Gio in particular and Ho Chi Minh City in general in the coming time.

First of all, the Can Gio - Ho Tram - Binh Chau corridor is an area with great development potential thanks to its advantage of being adjacent to the sea. This area possesses a diversity of economic activities: from the port system serving industrial development, to the ecosystem contributing to protecting the green environment, along with beaches and resort spaces favorable for tourism development.

In the context of such rich resources, the city's identification of tourism and cultural industry as two of the five main development pillars is a strategic direction and in line with existing potential.

Currently, two prominent approaches can be seen. The first is resource economics - based on available natural advantages such as geographical location, environment, beaches... The second is experience economics, expressed through exploiting human intelligence and knowledge to transform historical and cultural values ​​into tourism products.

In terms of development level, the shift from resource economy to experience economy is a step forward, demonstrating the initiative in sustainable development based on the foundation of national culture and history. This is a strategic step, in line with current trends and opens up many development potentials in the future.

Tam Thang Tower and 12 other construction items at Back Beach, Vung Tau (Ho Chi Minh City) have just been completed, attracting thousands of tourists to visit and have fun during the National Day holiday on September 2. In particular, Tam Thang Tower has become a special highlight, expected to develop into a "forest of light", opening up space for night economic activities in Vung Tau ward.

Mr. Le Hong Tu - Director of BT Tour Tourism Company, said that there should be more specific night programs such as weekend music nights, fireworks displays or flycam flights to create a unique mark and increase the attraction of Vung Tau tourism.

Emphasizing the role of innovation, technology and environmental conservation in sustainable tourism development - the theme of World Tourism Day 2025, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoan - Former Director of the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "In addition to the new products we have just announced, we also received the support of wards and communes in supporting information for tourists. We also accompany wards and communes to find solutions for night tourism products in Ba Ria Vung Tau,..., especially the connection to launch the Back Beach Park of the old Vung Tau city. so that we not only have beautiful landscapes but also have entertainment services and activities in Ba Ria Vung Tau to retain tourists".

Back Beach in Vung Tau (Ho Chi Minh City) attracts tourists to visit and have fun during the National Day holiday on September 2nd.

According to the reporter, the park system along the coast of Ba Ria - Vung Tau is being upgraded, expanding the tourist space connecting with Binh Duong and the old Ho Chi Minh City, forming unique journeys rich in regional identity.

Vung Tau Ward currently possesses a rare comprehensive tourism ecosystem – including sea, mountains, relics, cuisine and culture – and is aiming to develop professional, international tourism. However, to achieve this goal, the locality needs a specific mechanism for “tourism wards”, creating conditions for more proactive organization, operation and management of community tourism.

With impressive growth momentum and a product strategy associated with open spaces, Ho Chi Minh City is affirming its role as an international tourism center, aiming to welcome 10 million international visitors and generate VND260,000 billion in revenue in 2025, creating a strong boost for the Southern key economic region - and at the same time becoming the first coastal megacity in Vietnam.

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Source: https://htv.com.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-phat-trien-du-lich-bien-theo-mo-hinh-song-bien-do-thi-222251020192927518.htm