Ho Chi Minh City zoo reports strong business results during January-September

According to the company’s third-quarter financial report, the zoo sold more than 513,000 tickets valued at over VND26.56 billion (US$1 million).

Beyond admissions, its revenue from commercial activities, including food and beverage sales, amusement rides, parking, tram and train services, and souvenir sales, topped VND14 billion ($531,780) during the third quarter.

The revenue generated in the third quarter raised its total earnings for the January-September period to nearly VND122 billion ($4.6 million), a 13-percent year-on-year increase.

As many as 1.5 million entrance tickets were sold between January and September, contributing almost VND78 billion ($3 million), excluding tax, to the total revenue.

Food and beverage operations added over VND20.5 billion ($778,670), while other services made up the remainder.

After deducting costs, the zoo achieved a gross profit of nearly VND35 billion ($1.3 million), along with a financial income of over VND3.3 billion ($125,480).

Administrative costs rose nearly 22 percent from the same period last year to around VND28.8 billion ($1.1 million).

The firm posted a post-tax profit of more than VND4.8 billion ($182,500), up nearly 12 percent year on year.

As of the end of September, the zoo’s total assets stood at nearly VND901 billion ($34.2 million), most of which were tied to ongoing construction projects.

The company also held over VND82 billion ($3.1 million) in bank deposits, while its liabilities only amounted to some VND30 billion ($1.1 million), mainly employee payables and tax obligations.

Founded in 1864, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of the eight oldest zoos in the world.

As of 2024, it had been home to more than 2,000 animals from 135 species, including many rare and endangered ones such as crested argus, douc langur, yellow-cheeked gibbon, golden deer, and clouded leopard.

The site also preserves over 2,500 trees from more than 900 species.

Late last year, public concern arose when reports suggested the 160-year-old zoo might face closure due to hundreds of billions of Vietnamese dong in unpaid land rent. (VND1 billion = $37,971)

In April, however, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee resolved the issue by converting the zoo’s land status from rental to allocation, effectively clearing nearly VND800 billion ($30.4 million) in debt and securing its continued operation.