Who brings millions of visitors to the zoo?

Returning to Saigon Zoo after 3 years, Khang Pham (Vo Thi Sau ward) and Pham Ly (Binh Thanh ward) were surprised to see the zoo had undergone a remarkable transformation.

“The zoo has added many new species like capybaras. The enclosures and landscaping have been renovated, the trees are neatly trimmed, and the air is much cooler than before,” Khang said. With its central location, student-friendly ticket prices, and spacious green areas, they said they would return frequently.

Explosive presence on social media.

Not only has the Saigon Zoo changed its appearance, but it has also made a strong comeback in the digital space. According to data from Kompa, the number of mentions of this location in 2025 increased 5,822 times compared to 2020.

In 2020, the 161-year-old zoo was almost "out of the picture" on social media with only about 50 mentions. By 2021, that number had increased to 509, mainly revolving around the zoo's plea for help due to financial difficulties. In 2022, discussions plummeted to around 15 mentions.

Since 2023, the Saigon Zoo has unexpectedly experienced a resurgence in popularity, with over 218,000 mentions. In 2024, it peaked at 328,230 mentions, thanks to a series of activities celebrating its 160th anniversary and numerous events for young people. By November 2025, the number of mentions decreased slightly but remained high, exceeding 291,000.

The amount of mentions of the Zoo on social media.
Source: Kompa
Label		2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	November 2025
	Mentions	50	509	15	218000	328230	291000

According to Kompa, the appeal of Saigon Zoo comes from its "everyday stars." Mika, the clever cat caretaker; the four capybaras Phu, Quy, Cat, and Tuong with their humorous expressions; Tai No, the raccoon; Dzit, the pygmy hippo; and Noel, Miss Saigon Zoo… have all become internet sensations, nicknamed, meme-making, and widely shared by the community. This group of "idols" alone has attracted 51,012 mentions.

The natural and witty "humanization" of animals gives each individual a unique story, creating a sense of closeness and connection with viewers. Simultaneously, the zoo regularly shares moments of care, health updates for rare animals, and humorous everyday clips, showcasing the dedication of its staff.

The quartet of capybaras Phu - Quy - Cat - Tuong, Noel bear - Miss Saigon Zoo, Cong Thi Tai No raccoon,... are some of the "zoo" animals that are causing a sensation on social media. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Beyond its online space, Vietnam's oldest zoo is expanding its community activities, collaborating with schools, environmental organizations, and young artists to transform it into a truly meaningful "living space."

Having almost "disappeared" from social media during the 2020-2022 period, the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens has made a strong comeback and become a familiar face on various platforms from 2023 to the present. Facebook is its most active platform, with the "Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens" fan page currently boasting over 206,000 followers.

What did the zoo do?

Speaking to Tri Thức - Znews , a representative from Saigon Zoo said that visitor numbers and revenue have increased by approximately 20% in the past 11 months, thanks to the effective exploitation of experiential education activities, improved services, the addition of new products, and the implementation of interactive programs with animals.

“The noticeable changes began in mid-2023, when we implemented renovation projects on nearly half of the zoo's enclosures; upgrading facilities, standardizing care, safety, and hygiene procedures, and diversifying visitor experiences.” Simultaneously, social media campaigns created a significant impact, making the zoo's image more modern and approachable. Recruitment and training of veterinary staff, caretakers, and cleaning personnel were also intensified.

During the restructuring phase, animal welfare was prioritized. The unit applied veterinary science , improved nutrition, invested in additional personnel, and built a zoo model focused on education, ecology, and entertainment for the city, enhancing the visitor experience through services, technology, and amenities.

However, the transition process was not easy: a large amount of investment was required, while some old cages had to be dismantled and renovated, which took a long time and affected visitor activities; there was also operational pressure on weekends and holidays when visitor numbers increased sharply…

Nearly half of the farm's facilities have been renovated, outdated structures have been demolished, specialized nutrition plans have been implemented, and new tours have been introduced – these are some of the efforts made recently. Photos: Linh Huynh, Duy Hieu.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Phu, Deputy Director of the Saigon Zoo Animal Enterprise, stated that zoo operations are "dynamic." This means that all procedures are applied flexibly, based on technical standards but constantly changing to suit various factors such as seasons, weather, animal health, and visitor preferences.

Over the past year, the unit has focused on four main groups of solutions:

Habitat improvement: Enclosures are repaired, expanded, and greened in a natural way, suitable to the habits of each species, ensuring both animal welfare and aesthetic appeal for visitors. Some species are moved to semi-natural environments.

Specialized nutrition: Feed rations are adjusted according to the season, breeding stage, and biological characteristics of each species. The zoo also purchases data from wildlife nutrition data software from the US to compare with current data and optimize menus to suit local food sources.

Veterinary techniques and reproductive control: Disease prevention, vaccination, and parasite control procedures are carried out regularly and fully documented. In addition, the 161-year-old zoo receives professional support from international experts and sends staff to participate in numerous training courses to update their knowledge and technical standards.

To ensure that the number of animals does not exceed the planned limits based on enclosure conditions, manpower, and operating costs, and to minimize disease risks, the zoo has implemented reproductive control measures for animal groups with large numbers exceeding the planned enclosure capacity, such as separating herds by sex and collecting eggs for birds and reptiles.

Thanks to these solutions, by November 2025, the zoo recorded 367 new individuals, contributing to stabilizing and enriching the population. Many species achieved remarkable breeding success, such as flamingos, crowned cranes, parrots, golden deer, and several other rare species like wild cats and giraffes…

After nearly two decades of waiting, the zoo has recorded its first ever flamingo cub born and raised naturally. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Besides natural breeding, Saigon Zoo also imports several "hot" animal species to increase its appeal to visitors and add to its collection, especially those with sex imbalances, such as capybaras, North American squirrels, and meerkats. It also receives many individuals handed over by authorities (the City Forestry Department, the Court) such as swans, turtles, and primates.

Thúy Ngân (from Bình Hưng Hòa ward) is one of thousands of regular visitors to the zoo whenever new animals are added. “Every time the zoo adds new animals or a new animal is born, I invite my friends to come see them,” she shared. This time, Ngân came to see the newly hatched flamingo cubs and to take photos in traditional Vietnamese áo dài for Tet (Lunar New Year). She highly appreciates the zoo's communication efforts, its updates, and its adaptation to changing tastes.

A significant milestone this year was the zoo's role as an intermediary in the "Bringing the Cranes Back" project. Six cranes from Corat Zoo (Thailand) were received, quarantined, and inspected here before being transferred to Tram Chim National Park to help restore the crane species that was once common in the Mekong Delta.

The unit is also actively working towards and awaiting approval for animal welfare certification from the Southeast Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA), opening up opportunities for international cooperation and individual animal exchange with many zoo systems in the region.

Discounted tickets and free entry on certain holidays help increase visitor numbers by 25-30%, especially young families and schools, contributing to promoting the image of Saigon Zoo as an educational destination.

Khang Pham was surprised by the changes at Vietnam's oldest zoo in recent years. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Educational and entertainment products have become the "highlight," recording high registration rates, such as junior veterinary tours, nighttime exploration tours, and science-related experiential activities. According to internal statistics, over 70% of parents said they would return.

The formula for viral marketing.

Sharing the "common formula" for viral videos on social media, a representative from Saigon Zoo said that videos with animals as the central characters – short, relatable, and emotional content – raise awareness and convey messages about wildlife conservation. Clips of capybaras sunbathing, newly hatched flamingos, or moments of staff caring for animals quickly spread on social media, contributing to attracting visitors to the zoo.

The first ever fan meeting "Mika and the Idols of Zoobiz," held on December 7th, attracted a large number of fans. Photo: Provided by the company.

Saigon Zoo aims to be one of the leading conservation and educational institutions in the country, applying AR/VR technology to the experience, expanding international cooperation, and maintaining its role as a "green lung" in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

"This outstanding growth is the result of a persistent process and the collective efforts of all zoo staff and employees. From overcoming difficulties, we have improved animal care conditions, innovated services, refreshed our media image, and are aiming for sustainable development in the future," the representative shared.

Source: https://znews.vn/ai-keo-hang-trieu-luot-khach-den-thao-cam-vien-post1610024.html