Ho Chi Minh City posts strong tourism growth on int'l visitor recovery

Travel service revenue topped VND19.13 trillion (US$727.6 million) during the six-month period, up 10 percent from a year earlier, as the city's continued tourism promotion efforts and expanding range of attractions helped sustain demand from overseas travelers.

In June alone, travel service revenue reached VND4.15 trillion ($158 million), rising 29.4 percent from the previous month and 29.1 percent year on year.

Revenue from accommodation and food services totaled VND21.53 trillion ($819.7 million) in June, up 8.8 percent from May and 21.6 percent from the same month last year.

For the first six months of 2026, accommodation and food service turnover hit VND119.3 trillion ($4.54 billion), an increase of 14.3 percent year on year.

Passenger transport totaled more than 283.68 million trips, up 8.3 percent from the same period last year.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the strong growth in tourism revenue was fueled by the robust recovery of international markets and higher visitor spending.

International arrivals rose nearly 50 percent in the first half of the year, while revenue from international visitors increased more than 60 percent, reflecting the effectiveness of tourism promotion campaigns and efforts to diversify tourism products.

The department said the city continues to play a leading role in Vietnam's tourism industry, particularly in attracting international visitors.

Vo Anh Tai, deputy general director of Saigontourist Group, said demand among international tourists for cultural and artistic experiences has spiked, with many visitors seeking deeper connections with local heritage and identity.

He said such products are well suited to developing the city's night-time economy by encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more on accommodation, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Tai added that the expansion of Ho Chi Minh City's administrative boundaries has also broadened its cultural and heritage assets, enabling the city to create a more comprehensive visitor experience capable of leaving a lasting impression.

Digital travel platform Agoda recently reported that searches for accommodation in Vietnam by Chinese travelers surged 164 percent in the first five months compared with the same period last year, making China the fastest-growing international source market for Vietnam.

Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Poland also ranked among the five fastest-growing international markets in terms of searches for accommodation in Vietnam.

Agoda's data indicate that Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, is strengthening its appeal to international travelers through a combination of modern urban attractions, diverse cultural experiences, and natural landscapes.

Food tours, heritage excursions, urban shopping experiences, and beach vacations have become key attractions drawing visitors from Southeast Asia to destinations across Vietnam.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said that one year after the city's administrative expansion, Ho Chi Minh City has grown not only in size but also in the diversity of its tourism offerings, combining urban attractions with beaches, nature, and resort destinations.

While the city was previously best known for urban sightseeing, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism, shopping, and cuisine, its expanded area now includes coastal destinations, ecological tourism sites, traditional craft villages, industrial tourism locations, and cultural, historical, and spiritual attractions.

He said the city's greatest advantage now lies in its ability to integrate tourism resources that were previously scattered into a unified tourism ecosystem, allowing the industry to shift from promoting individual destinations to offering diverse, integrated travel experiences.