A destination for international film producers and distributors.

Not only is Ho Chi Minh City known as the film center of the country, but it is also emerging in Southeast Asia as a promising destination for film production and distribution.

The "invasion" of films and international stars.

International films shot in Ho Chi Minh City have been around for decades, but in recent years, this location has increasingly attracted the attention and choice of foreign filmmakers. It's one of the settings that contributed to the content of films like Artemis Fowl (2020) on Disney, Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods (2020), and Netflix's A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)…

Sammo Hung and Louis Koo met and interacted in Ho Chi Minh City on November 6th.

PHOTO: THANH CHI

In 2025, the Vietnamese box office witnessed a boom in international co-productions: from the Vietnamese-Thai horror film * Ghost Bride * to two romantic dramas co-produced with South Korea, * Bring My Mother Away* and * My Hand Holds a Star* . All three projects featured many scenes filmed in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City is also a potential market targeted by many international film crews and distributors. According to Mr. Nguyen Khanh Duong, founder and CEO of Box Office Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City's box office revenue has consistently led the country for many years, even one and a half or double that of the next-ranked city, Hanoi . "Both international and domestic distributors mainly organize film launch events in Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the effectiveness of product promotion. I think this will not change in the future," he assessed.

In just the past three months, Ho Chi Minh City has welcomed numerous international stars to promote new projects. In September 2025, Taiwanese actor Hsu Kuang-Han and the cast of "Your Year, My Day " visited to launch their film. The resounding box office success in Vietnam also brought Thai actor Nadech Kugimiya and the main cast of "Tee Yod: The Organ Eater" back to Ho Chi Minh City in October to further promote the third installment. This year, audiences also had the opportunity to welcome Lee Kwang Soo and Jung Il Woo to Ho Chi Minh City to participate in promotional activities for the Vietnamese-Korean co-production.

The Vietnamese-Korean co-production film "Bring My Mother Away" has grossed over 171 billion VND, according to Box Office Vietnam.

PHOTO: MANUFACTURER

Most recently, two Hong Kong film stars, Sammo Hung and Louis Koo, visited Ho Chi Minh City to participate in the Hong Kong Film Gala: Vietnam Station . The two stars also saw this as an opportunity to observe the Vietnamese market, gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and public tastes, meet potential partners and filmmakers, and lay the groundwork for deeper discussions leading to potential collaborations.

Opportunities for Vietnamese filmmakers

The above examples show that Ho Chi Minh City is increasingly becoming a hub connecting Vietnamese cinema with the international community. This opens up opportunities for international exchange and cooperation while also boosting the competitiveness of domestic films.

Actress and producer Hong Anh shared: "With Ho Chi Minh City becoming a film city, I believe this will open up opportunities for international cooperation for large-scale projects with bigger production sizes."

Hong Anh also shared that she believes this is an opportunity for Vietnamese filmmakers to learn more, from technology and production management to global marketing strategies. And above all, it's a chance for us to confidently tell our own stories using a cinematic language powerful enough to reach the world .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/diem-den-cua-gioi-san-xuat-phat-hanh-phim-quoc-te-185251108231734624.htm