Ho Chi Minh City, Indonesia vow deeper tourism cooperation to unlock future potential

The Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City held a table-top meeting between Vietnamese and Indonesian travel agencies at the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday.

The event was part of the tourism exhibition titled “Indonesia: Gateway to Paradise” and organized by the consulate general.

Opportunity from bánh pía

Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on the sidelines of the meeting, Indonesian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Carolina Tinangon affirmed that tourism cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia can help boost Vietnam's Halal economy in general and the city's in particular.

Tinangon said Ho Chi Minh City is currently one of the favorite travel destinations for young Indonesians.

With more than 90 percent of its population being Muslim, Indonesian tourists are particularly interested in Halal products when visiting Vietnam.

She emphasized that with Halal certification, food and cosmetics from Ho Chi Minh City businesses can not only be sold to Indonesian tourists but also exported to the country.

The same applies to tourists from and markets in Malaysia and Brunei - the other Muslim countries in ASEAN.

The Indonesian Consul General also revealed a souvenir that Indonesian tourists are particularly fond of.

“For souvenirs, one of the food products that's loved by Indonesians is bánh pía - the sweet with durian inside. You know Indonesians like durian and they love this bánh pía.

“If you have the Halal certificate, it will boost sales to these tourism travelers. So it's one of the opportunities for productions in Vietnam.

“And it also applies to some other products. If you have the certification, travelers will not hesitate to buy that product. So it will increase your economy as well.”

Tinangon pledged that the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is willing to assist and guide Vietnamese companies interested in obtaining halal certification, thereby promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia.

“The consulate general is more than happy to help, more than happy to assist all Vietnamese companies who would like to penetrate the Indonesian market,” she said.

Vast tourism potential after administrative merger

Speaking at the conference opening, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Department Pham Huy Binh noted that Indonesia is one of the city's key tourist markets, consistently ranking among the top.

In the first 10 months of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 79,677 Indonesian visitors, accounting for nearly 47 percent of total Indonesian arrivals to Vietnam.

According to Binh, this figure not only demonstrates Ho Chi Minh City's appeal to tourists but also shows the potential for bilateral cooperation to expand strongly in the future - especially as the city now has more conditions to develop marine, culinary and cultural tourism after merging with Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong Provinces.

Conversely, Indonesia also captivates Ho Chi Minh City tourists with impressive destinations, notably the resort paradise of Bali, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Borobudur, Komodo National Park, along with numerous other natural wonders and cultural-historical landmarks.

“To maximize potential and promote tourism development between our two localities, I hope to continue strengthening the partnership among tourism management agencies, airlines, service industries, hotels and tourism organizations and associations,” the director emphasized.

He also called on the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesian businesses to continue partnering with and supporting the city to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Promoting Ho Chi Minh City - Bali cooperation

Tinangon said the tourism industry has contributed significantly to the economy and welfare of people in both Indonesia and Vietnam over the years.

“As the global tourism industry continues to develop, we can find partners to grow together, embracing new trends, new demands and new opportunities that Indonesia is proud to bring. Indonesia is striving to innovate and adapt, working closely with partners to share experiences that meet the needs of tomorrow's travelers," the diplomat pledged.

Also at the conference, the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.

Tinangon shared that the MoU aims to boost the partnership between tourism associations in Bali and Ho Chi Minh City.

“If the agency in Ho Chi Minh brings travelers from Ho Chi Minh City to Bali, they already have their partners - credible partners. With a credible partner, we can make assurance to the travelers, to our guests, for their safety, for their convenience and everything,” she affirmed.