The heritage of wards and communes creates new momentum for tourism in Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo caption — Tourists began their journey to experience tourism products in Xuan Hoa ward on the morning of December 12th.

Touching urban memories through storytelling journeys.

On the morning of December 12th, the People's Committee of Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, introduced a new tourist tour called "Xuan Hoa - Ancient Charm in a New City." This tourism product is built on the foundation of heritage, architecture, culture, and traditional crafts. The journey helps visitors understand the milestones in the formation of the Xuan Hoa area, while also experiencing the art of lacquerware - a distinctive feature that has contributed to the local identity.

For those who have lived in Xuan Hoa ward for many years, the new tour brings many special emotions. Ms. Tran Thi Nguyen (70 years old), currently living in Xuan Hoa ward, said that she often visits familiar places like Xuan Hoa Temple or Tan Dinh Church, and each time she feels like she is returning to the stories of previous generations.

According to Ms. Tran Nguyen, the value of Xuan Hoa lies not only in the beauty of its ancient buildings but also in the memories and spirit they preserve. "Visitors come to see them, but more importantly, they get a sense of the old life of Saigon. I am very happy that more and more people are coming to this place," Ms. Tran Nguyen added.

From a management perspective, Mr. Nguyen Hung Hau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Hoa Ward, said that sustainable tourism development must begin with understanding the needs of tourists and designing suitable products that provide a complete experience. Accordingly, connecting heritage, architecture, and traditional crafts into a single tour helps tourists not only visit but also feel the "soul" of the land.

"Every destination must have its own story. When tourists understand the story, they will remember it and want to return. That's why the Xuan Hoa tour is oriented as a storytelling journey – where each building and each street represents a layer of culture," Mr. Hung Hau added.

While Xuan Hoa ward focuses on heritage sites and traditional crafts, Tan Dinh ward has also recently introduced the "Cultural Experience - Tan Dinh's Imprint" tour, offering a different approach but sharing the same spirit of immersing visitors in urban life.

Ms. Do Thi Anh Tuyet, Vice Chairman of the Tan Dinh Ward People's Committee, said that the new tourism product is developed in an experiential and interactive way to help tourists directly engage with local life, cuisine , and culture. Through the new tour, tourists not only visit the old Tan Dinh but also truly feel the spirit of this place, a land rich in human warmth and traditions.

According to Ms. Anh Tuyet, the "Cultural Experience - Tan Dinh Landmark" tour is designed concisely, suitable for the current trend of experiential and slow-paced tourism in Ho Chi Minh City. Tourists travel by vintage Vespa scooters, starting at Tan Dinh Church, a more than 140-year-old architectural masterpiece in Gothic, Roman, and Baroque styles. The journey continues to the Temple of Saint Tran Hung Dao, a space imbued with national pride, and then to Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, a national historical site and a former stop for former US President Barack Obama.

The destinations are introduced concisely and simply, yet sufficiently for visitors to recognize the interplay of beliefs, history, and architecture within an urban neighborhood. Furthermore, the tour offers an experience of local life through exploring Tan Dinh Market – a market that has existed for nearly a century – and concludes with a taste of banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake) at a Michelin-starred culinary establishment. These experiences allow visitors to clearly see the daily life of the people through each dish, each rhythm of buying and selling, and each story told along the journey.

According to representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the emergence of many new tourist tours in Xuan Hoa and Tan Dinh wards shows how inner-city wards are choosing a new direction. While each area has its own strengths, they all share a common focus on people, memories, and culture, creating tourism products that prioritize depth of experience over superficiality. This is also a trend many localities are pursuing to adapt to the new demands of tourists who want to "travel nearby to understand deeply" and rediscover their identity amidst the modern pace of life in Saigon.

Creating a network of experiences to retain tourists for the long term.

According to tourism experts, developing tourism at the ward and commune level is becoming an important direction, helping each locality increase its attractiveness and create a diverse network of destinations for Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding areas.

In Ho Tram commune, Mr. Nguyen Tuc, Chairman of the People's Committee, said that besides natural advantages such as the sea, high-end resorts, and golf courses, the locality needs strategic partners to promote infrastructure. Completing the coastal road and regional connecting highways will not only facilitate transportation but also determine the attractiveness of the destination. "When transportation is smooth, new tourism products will have the conditions to develop, helping to extend the length of stay and increase spending by tourists," Mr. Tuc emphasized.

Similarly, Vung Tau ward is proactively strengthening its existing tourism ecosystem. Mr. Vu Hong Thuan, Chairman of the Ward People's Committee, said that the locality possesses all the elements to form a seamless chain of experiences, from the sea, mountains, cuisine to cultural relics, including the Museum of Ancient Weapons – a unique destination found only in this coastal city.

In the coming period, the ward will focus on completing Thuy Van Park and developing the Thuy Van - Beach Square - Tam Thang Tower tourist axis, along with a system of pedestrian streets, food streets, and nighttime art performance spaces. "Along with developing tourism products, it is essential to preserve the environment, ensure food safety, and maintain security and order – core factors that determine whether tourists will return," Mr. Thuan stated.

From a business perspective, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Travel, stated that developing tourism products within Ho Chi Minh City is currently a strategic pillar. This is both a way to open up markets and a way to support the government in exploiting the historical and cultural values of each locality.

“We are committed to building high-quality itineraries, continuously innovating, prioritizing green tourism and sustainable development,” Mr. Triet said. With Ho Chi Minh City completing its administrative reorganization, businesses are now able to restructure tours to suit the characteristics of each area. In particular, the “I Love Saigon” city tour product line will be refined to enhance day-trip experiences, something that urban tourists are very interested in today.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Saigontourist Group, stated that the cooperation strategy with 168 wards and communes aims not only to exploit tourism strengths but also to form a green tourism model centered on people and the environment. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to become a leading destination in the region if it effectively addresses the challenges of mechanisms, infrastructure, and local resource management. This requires close coordination between businesses, the government, and the community, especially in removing obstacles related to planning and the organization of tourism resource exploitation.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, to retain tourists, products must be based on local culture. Therefore, businesses hope to strengthen cooperation with local people and groups to further explore the rich cultural heritage, cuisine, traditional crafts, and lifestyles—values that cannot be replicated anywhere else. This is the key factor that creates differentiation and depth for regional tourism.

Associate Professor Pham Trung Luong, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research, believes that when each ward and commune becomes a "product nucleus" and is connected into an inter-ward network, Ho Chi Minh City can form a multi-layered experiential ecosystem.

Mr. Trung Luong also emphasized the role of digital transformation: 168 local representatives can absolutely become "content creators," telling tourism stories in their own community voices, thereby creating a diverse tourism landscape. If implemented properly, this model will not only attract but also retain tourists with authentic, culturally rich experiences.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/di-san-phuong-xa-tao-suc-bat-moi-cho-du-lich-tp-ho-chi-minh-20251212134830818.htm