Ho Chi Minh City seeks new drive for nighttime economy

Industry experts said the southern metropolis has yet to create products strong enough to keep visitors engaged after dark.

Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel Holdings, warned that without placing culture at the center, nighttime offerings will struggle to attract tourists.

Currently, many localities view the nighttime economy primarily through food and beverage services. But experts argued that dining alone cannot generate sustainable value.

Businesses believed that properly developed nighttime activities could also revitalize traditional markets.

Phan Thanh Tan, director of Binh Dien Market Management Company, said that the Binh Dien wholesale market already operates a stable nighttime trading system.

He sees the nighttime economy as an opportunity to add new experiential value without changing the essence of a wholesale market.

To identify bottlenecks and unlock resources, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association co-hosted a forum on March 25 this year, titled ‘Developing Nighttime Economy - A Growth Driver for Ho Chi Minh City.’

The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and major enterprises including Saigontourist Group, Satra, Vietravel, and Viettel.

Discussions focused on urban planning, diversifying cultural and artistic products, and listening to business proposals for supportive policies.

The forum also showcased successful nighttime economy models from around the world, offering lessons for pilot projects in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event took place at the time when the city drafts a Special Urban Law and a resolution on special mechanisms, giving it more autonomy to plan and attract investment.