Ho Chi Minh City welcomes 7.77mn international visitors in January-August

The city has also received about 3.82 million domestic tourists in August, up 12.51 percent year on year.

Domestic arrivals in January-August have reached nearly 35.5 million, down 5.8 percent from a year earlier but equivalent to 71 percent of the city’s full-year target.

Tourism revenue is estimated at VND22.23 trillion (US$844 million) in August, up three percent year on year, bringing the January-August total to nearly VND259.7 trillion ($9.85 billion), up 48.8 percent from a year earlier.

The tourism department said the figures highlighted Ho Chi Minh City’s continued appeal and growth potential.

It added that the city should focus not only on attracting more visitors but also on improving travel experiences, increasing tourist spending, and extending stays.

To stimulate demand in the final months of the year, the city is preparing a series of major tourism, cultural, and sporting events aimed at expanding market links and encouraging longer stays and higher visitor spending.

A key part of that push will be the 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026), scheduled for August 27-29 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center.

The event is expected to draw more than 260 international buyers and over 500 businesses and brands, with over 21,000 business-to-business meetings planned.

Beyond generating immediate business opportunities, the expo is expected to help local tourism firms strengthen ties with overseas partners, tap new source markets, and develop products tailored to emerging visitor segments.

The city will seek to carry that momentum into the year-end travel season through major public events.

The sixth Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week, themed 'Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City Fest,' will run from December 4 to 12, while the ninth Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon, scheduled for December 4-6, is expected to attract 20,000-23,000 domestic and international runners.