Immediate actions needed for Saigontourist Group to achieve breakthrough growth and lead the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City.

Experts affirm that Saigontourist Group is facing a "golden opportunity" for comprehensive restructuring to consolidate and develop the group's leading role in the industry.

At the seminar " Saigontourist Group - Development Strategy to 2035: A Golden Opportunity for Transformation, Breakthrough and Development" held on February 6, 2026, leading domestic and international economic and tourism experts affirmed that Saigontourist Group is facing a "golden moment" for comprehensive restructuring with specific, immediate actions needed to consolidate and develop the group's leading role in the industry.

The program took place against the backdrop of Vietnam's tourism industry entering a new growth cycle, while Ho Chi Minh City was strongly implementing specific mechanisms and policies according to Resolution 98 of the National Assembly, creating a space for development and breakthrough experimentation for leading businesses. It was attended by over 100 delegates, including leaders from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, leaders from Ho Chi Minh City, and leading domestic and international scientists and tourism experts.

A "gigantic" heritage and a "once-in-a-thousand-years" opportunity.

At the seminar, experts unanimously agreed that Saigontourist Group possesses a foundation that few tourism corporations in the world can match. This includes an ecosystem of over 100 hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, entertainment venues, tourism training schools, exhibition and conference centers, golf courses, cable television, etc., all meeting international standards and located in prime locations in the city center.

Associate Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City) commented: "From the perspective of resource theory (RBV), Saigontourist Group holds rare and inimitable assets. Its 50-year-old brand, associated with heritage hotels like Rex, Majestic, and Continental, is not only a physical asset but also a cultural value and a national symbol."

The 5-star Rex Saigon Hotel belongs to Saigontourist Group.

Beyond its brand heritage, Saigontourist Group's financial foundation is a crucial "strategic support." This is an important resource that allows the group to confidently invest in technology, human resources, and new growth models in the coming decade.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Tran Hoang Ngan, a member of the 15th National Assembly and a member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, believes that Saigontourist Group is facing three important institutional springboards to create breakthroughs. Firstly, there is Resolution 79 of the Politburo on the requirement for state-owned enterprises to become pioneering forces, innovators, and leaders in economic sectors. This opens up a completely new mission and development space for leading state-owned enterprises like Saigontourist Group.

Secondly, there is Resolution 80 of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture. The resolution clearly states that culture is an endogenous resource, a key economic sector, placed on par with politics, economics, and society, and will contribute approximately 7% of GDP by 2030 and 9% by 2045. This opens up vast development opportunities for experiential tourism, creative tourism, and cultural tourism – areas where Saigontourist Group has many advantages to participate in and lead.

Thirdly, Resolution 260 of the National Assembly amends and supplements Resolution 98 on special mechanisms for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. This resolution adds many important mechanisms to remove bottlenecks in the city's development, particularly in the tourism and service sector.

The quality of products and services provided by Saigontourist Group is consistently highly rated by customers.

These three institutional pillars, combined with the internal strength of Saigontourist Group's 50 years of development, will form a strategic springboard for the Corporation not only to grow but also to transform its role – from an operating enterprise to a leading force in the tourism, service, and cultural ecosystem of the city and the nation – towards a modern, sustainable, and efficient direction.

Immediate actions needed for Saigontourist Group to position itself as a leader in the industry.

Speaking at the seminar, Associate Professor Tran Hoang Ngan emphasized three urgent requirements that Saigontourist Group needs to act on immediately in the coming period.

Firstly, the Corporation must decisively innovate and transform with efficiency as its highest goal. It must carry out comprehensive restructuring, accepting the "pain" of boldly cutting inefficient investment areas, focusing resources on key projects, avoiding waste, and creating momentum for genuine breakthroughs.

Secondly, as a key state-owned enterprise in Vietnam's tourism economy, Saigontourist Group not only pursues economic growth but also fulfills political and national security responsibilities. Therefore, the Corporation needs to proactively utilize and effectively exploit specific mechanisms and policies, while actively proposing appropriate policies, sharing difficulties, and creating conditions for the private sector to develop alongside it, thereby contributing to improving labor productivity and the overall competitiveness of the tourism industry.

Thirdly, it is necessary to develop technology and digital infrastructure in parallel with human resource development, considering the transformation of governance on a digital platform as a mandatory requirement. Besides attracting and recruiting new talent, he particularly emphasized the importance of retaining existing high-quality personnel – those who are knowledgeable, committed, and capable of long-term involvement in the organization's transformation process.

Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan also affirmed that this enterprise needs to persistently persuade and propose specific mechanisms regarding land, taxes, and governance similar to what Ho Chi Minh City has done. Beyond scale and identity, Saigontourist Group needs to proactively maximize the role of its unique institutional framework to become a "foundation for implementing" new development mechanisms and policies. When political tasks are clearly separated from business operations, the Corporation will operate according to market standards, transparently manage resources, and create sufficient financial space for reinvestment, innovation, and leading the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa - Chairwoman of Saigontourist Group

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Party Secretary and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Saigontourist Group, stated: "In the context of global tourism shifting strongly towards in-depth experiences, technology application, and green development, we recognize our responsibility not only to grasp the trend but also to lead this transformation in Ho Chi Minh City and spread it nationwide. Saigontourist Group is ready to change to enter a new phase of development. We are not complacent with what we have achieved, nor satisfied with our current position. We choose to ask ourselves challenging questions, listen to feedback, absorb external knowledge, and dare to commit to a long-term vision."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa (second from the left) - Chairwoman of Saigontourist Group at the Vietnam-Laos Investment Promotion Conference in December 2025.

By 2035, Saigontourist Group aims to be not only a leading tourism enterprise, but also a leading corporation in Vietnam's tourism ecosystem – greener, smarter, and more sustainable. This is the aspiration and responsibility that Saigontourist Group is ready to undertake."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nhung-viec-can-lam-ngay-de-saigontourist-group-dot-pha-tang-truong-dan-dat-nganh-du-lich-tp-hcm-196260210143128305.htm