During the reviewed period, over 20 million domestic tourists visited the southern city, an annual increase of 7.6%, reaching 52.8% of the 2024 plan.

Furthermore, tourism revenue surged by 15.4% during the reviewed period to reach VND108 trillion.

According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, to realize the goal the city must continue to develop the Smart Tourism Development Project in the 2021 to 2025 period, especially in terms of accelerating the completion of the tourism database system and the tourism service information integration project.

She added that the southern city will continue to diversify tourism products, thereby promoting the tourism strengths of various localities, such as nightlife tourism, waterway tourism, cultural and historical tourism, and agricultural and ecological tourism.

Most notably, Hoa stressed that the city will focus on organizing the 18th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City – ITE HCMC 2024, with the event scheduled to take place in early September.

To date, the organiser has registered more than 400 domestic and international exhibitors who will come together to showcase travel destinations, tourism technology, and products.

The event is expected to welcome around 220 international buyers from over 45 countries and territories, including senior executives from travel agencies, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) organisers, luxury travel companies, and other key stakeholders interested in the Vietnamese market.

The purpose of the function is to accelerate the recovery and growth of the southern economic hub's tourism sector.