Free travel in Ho Chi Minh City

TP - Free Walking Tours are a form of tourism organized without charging fees to promote a brand or a locality. The profit comes not from tourists' money, but from the promotion itself, which increases awareness among visitors and promotes sustainable tourism development through the growth of the brand and the locality. In Ho Chi Minh City, this form of tourism has emerged and is gradually becoming popular.

Experience a "zero-cost" tour…

Lan Ho, a Vietnamese-Canadian, shared that she had a very enjoyable trip back to her homeland this past summer. At the end of June 2024, after experiencing the waterways of her hometown, Ben Tre , she chose Ho Chi Minh City, planning to spend the last days of her trip exploring the famous landmarks of this vibrant city. Lan Ho was surprised to read about a free walking tour organized by BenThanh Tourist.

“Before returning to Vietnam, I did some research and learned that some Southeast Asian countries organize free tours. However, most of these tours are organized to attract tourists to shopping areas, similar to some casinos abroad. But there are also free tours for promotional purposes, like the one BenThanh Tourist is organizing. I signed up and had a wonderful exploration trip in Ho Chi Minh City,” Lan Ho shared.

"Whenever we visit a historical site, the free tour guides have fascinating stories to tell visitors about its history and unique features, connecting it to the lives of the people and the development of Ho Chi Minh City."

Female tourist Lan Ho

On this trip, Lan Ho, along with other tourists, was guided to visit many famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City such as Nguyen Hue Walking Street; the old building that is now the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the City Theater, the City Post Office, the Reunification Palace… and ended the journey with a wonderful meal of local specialties at Ben Thanh Market. Although it was a free tour, the guide was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and spoke fluent English…

According to a female tourist from Canada, those who choose free tours aren't necessarily poor. They want to experience and immerse themselves in the local culture as companions, not as buyers and sellers. Tourists who participate in free tours are often history enthusiasts, food lovers, or simply curious about local culture and enjoy observing the vibrant city life.

Tourists participating in BenThanh Tourist's Free Walking Tour.

Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, representative of BenThanh Tourist, the organizer of the Free Walking Tour, said that this is one of the tourism products aimed at creating opportunities for tourists to have beautiful impressions and a deeper understanding of Ho Chi Minh City - one of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia - through a stroll through famous landmarks. The Free Walking Tour is held from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM daily, open to all domestic and international tourists who wish to explore the center of Ho Chi Minh City. In the future, the company hopes to expand the number of free tours to give tourists more opportunities to visit other tourist destinations in the city.

Tourists on a free tour can take photos in front of the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office.

Unique product

In 2017, Vietravel Tourism Company also successfully organized a Free Walking Tour in Ho Chi Minh City. According to a Vietravel representative, the Free Walking Tour helps tourists "slow down," allowing them to observe, feel, and experience the lives of the locals in a truly authentic way along each route. The Free Walking Tour explores Saigon, once known as the "Pearl of the Far East," with familiar yet unfamiliar street corners and alleyways where, by slowing down, tourists will discover stories never before heard...

Besides Ho Chi Minh City, this organization had planned to expand the Free Walking Tour model to other major cities in Vietnam. In each locality, the Free Walking Tour would be uniquely designed to suit the local characteristics, allowing tourists to learn about and experience the area firsthand. Each walking tour would last 2-3 hours, depending on the specific destination, and would include a guide. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this model has been temporarily suspended.

Visitors can tour the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee headquarters building for free.

In the global tourism market, the Free Walking Tour model has been implemented in many countries, the most famous being Guru Walk – a platform specializing in providing information on free walking tours worldwide for tourists. Currently, on the Guru Walk platform, tourists can search, compare, and book over 2,300 Free Walking Tour products in multiple languages ​​in more than 800 cities across 120 countries worldwide, including many locations in Vietnam.

Tourists participating in the Free Walking Tour will be directly connected with local guides, able to join tours or receive specific advice and enthusiastic assistance completely free of charge…to help them choose the most suitable sightseeing options for their needs.

In April 2024, Guru Walk surveyed and compiled a list of the 100 most searched cities by tourists between April 2023 and April 2024. Three cities in Vietnam made the list: Hanoi (ranked 42nd), Hoi An Ancient Town (ranked 87th), and Ho Chi Minh City (ranked 99th).

Among them, Ho Chi Minh City is considered by tourists to be the "city that never sleeps," with countless nighttime activities and explorations. Many attractions and entertainment venues are located close together, making it very convenient for tourists to explore the city on foot.

According to some tourism experts, Guru Walk's launch of the Free Walking Tour model in Vietnam has created opportunities for many tourists to independently explore and experience new parts of Vietnam. This is similar to other travel platforms such as Agoda, Airbnb, Booking, and Traveloca, which have a strong presence and operation in the Vietnamese tourism market. This demonstrates the diversity and integration of Vietnamese tourism with the global tourism market.

According to representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, free tourism is a unique product, showcasing the diversity and richness of Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector, demonstrating its ability to develop and organize many types of tourism products to meet the diverse needs of tourists. Besides free tours, Ho Chi Minh City also offers several attractive free destinations for tourists, such as the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Headquarters, the City Theatre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office, the Jade Emperor Temple (Phuoc Hai Tu Pagoda), Tan Dinh Church, etc. Several major events, such as the HOZO International Music Festival and the "The River Tells Stories" show, are also organized free of charge, creating highlights to attract tourists.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/du-lich-mien-phi-o-tphcm-post1668084.tpo