Ho Chi Minh City is expanding its tourism development with unique products, from helicopter tours of the city to nighttime and adventurous tourism activities.
Two new stops added to the aerial tour of Ho Chi Minh City.
In accordance with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee's directive on accelerating the implementation of key tasks and solutions, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism continues to pilot the "Viewing the City from a Helicopter" product at two locations: Vung Tau ward and Ho Tram ward.
Simultaneously, the city is promoting the development of unique night-time tourism products such as visiting museums at night combined with enjoying art performances, experiencing the zoo at night, or engaging in adventurous sports activities like flyboarding and paragliding…
Ms. Tran Phuong Anh ( Hanoi ) shared that she had previously experienced a helicopter tour of Ho Chi Minh City and found it very impressive. “Initially, I was a little worried because I had never flown on a small plane before, but once it took off, the feeling was completely different. Looking at the city from above, it seemed much wider and more beautiful. If they opened similar tours in Vung Tau or Ho Tram, tourists would love it because they could enjoy the sea views and have a new experience that isn't available anywhere else in the country,” Ms. Phuong Anh said.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Duy (residing in Di An) was particularly impressed with nighttime tourism activities. He believes that night tours are making Ho Chi Minh City an ideal destination more than ever... whether it's strolling along the river, taking a boat trip, or watching outdoor art performances, it's all very enjoyable.
Previously, Ho Chi Minh City piloted a tourism product offering aerial views of the city from a helicopter. (Photo: TT)
According to representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the industry aims to welcome 8.5-10 million international tourists and 45-50 million domestic tourists in 2025. The city is strongly innovating its tourism promotion and marketing activities, while simultaneously developing high-quality tourism products suitable for each tourist season. The goal is to enhance the tourist experience, extend the length of stay, and increase the average spending of visitors.
Regarding the domestic market, the tourism industry focuses on exploiting the Mekong Delta and its surrounding areas, targeting tourists with moderate to high spending power. As for the international market, the city prioritizes markets with existing flight connections and visa exemptions, while also expanding to nearby and emerging markets with high growth rates such as the Middle East and India.
Institutionalizing new tourism models
Following the merger, Ho Chi Minh City has a great opportunity to redesign its tourism product structure, creating a seamless chain of experiences from above and below the water.
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With proper connectivity, Ho Chi Minh City can create unique itineraries that blend the city, the sea, and nature, establishing a distinct identity unlike any other locality. The city needs to accelerate the digitalization of its promotional activities, connect tourist behavior data, and invest heavily in nighttime service infrastructure.
A modern tourist city cannot afford to go to sleep early. When the night-time economy and experiential tourism are developed systematically, Ho Chi Minh City will truly become a leading tourism hub in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Nguyen Van My, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lua Viet Company
From a travel perspective, Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel Company, believes that the city has the necessary conditions to move from the pilot phase to institutionalizing new models such as high-altitude tourism, adventure tourism, and the night-time economy.
"Today's tourists are not just looking for places to visit, but for experiences to remember. Helicopter tours or nighttime museum visits perfectly meet that need, offering both experiential elements and creating a distinctive image for the city," Mr. Vu said.
Ho Chi Minh City is developing more extreme sports activities such as flyboarding and paragliding... Photo: TT
According to Mr. Vu, there is a need for policies to support businesses in connecting and sharing operating costs so that new products do not remain at the experimental stage. At the same time, selling tours as a cluster of experiences instead of individual services will help increase value, extend the length of stay, and boost spending.
Dr. Ma Xuan Vinh, lecturer at the Faculty of Culture and Tourism, Saigon University, believes that Ho Chi Minh City needs to integrate the night-time economy model, high-altitude tourism, and adventure tourism into its urban development planning and overall tourism strategy.
The city should promptly establish a clear legal framework, implement controlled pilot models, and move towards stable institutionalization to reassure businesses and encourage long-term investment. Alongside this, it should promote public-private partnerships and attract professional investors through tax incentives, land allocation, and development rights.
Dr. Vinh also emphasized that human resources are a key factor. All products require very high service and safety standards. The city needs to invest in in-depth training for tour guides, technical staff, rescue personnel, pilots, and standardize operating procedures.
Investment is needed to build a specialized marina.
Ho Chi Minh City possesses exceptional potential for developing luxury river and beach tourism. This potential stems from three key factors.
First of all, Ho Chi Minh City is home to a rapidly growing middle and upper class, creating a huge demand for high-end tourism products such as luxury cruises.
The dense network of rivers connecting the Saigon River, the Dong Nai River, and suburban ecological zones provides ideal conditions for developing short-day cruise tours.
As the country's largest international air gateway and tourism transit hub, Ho Chi Minh City can connect cruise products with resort tours in Vung Tau, Can Gio, Con Dao, or even expand to regional destinations such as Phnom Penh or Singapore.
To gain a competitive advantage, Ho Chi Minh City needs to focus on developing unique and high-class products, including inner-city and riverside cruise routes combining culinary experiences, nighttime sightseeing, and historical site visits; developing eco-tourism and resort cruise tours connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Can Gio, Vung Tau, and the Mekong River. Simultaneously, it should invest in building a specialized marina in or near the city center, integrating various amenities and services.
Investment is needed to build a specialized marina.
Ho Chi Minh City possesses exceptional potential for developing luxury river and beach tourism. This potential stems from three key factors.
First of all, Ho Chi Minh City is home to a rapidly growing middle and upper class, creating a huge demand for high-end tourism products such as luxury cruises.
The dense network of rivers connecting the Saigon River, the Dong Nai River, and suburban ecological zones provides ideal conditions for developing short-day cruise tours.
As the country's largest international air gateway and tourism transit hub, Ho Chi Minh City can connect cruise products with resort tours in Vung Tau, Can Gio, Con Dao, or even expand to regional destinations such as Phnom Penh or Singapore.
To gain a competitive advantage, Ho Chi Minh City needs to focus on developing unique and high-class products, including inner-city and riverside cruise routes combining culinary experiences, nighttime sightseeing, and historical site visits; developing eco-tourism and resort cruise tours connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Can Gio, Vung Tau, and the Mekong River. Simultaneously, it should invest in building a specialized marina in or near the city center, integrating various amenities and services.
Mr. DANG HIEU TRUNG, General Director of Focus Travel Group
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Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/tp-hcm-phat-trien-them-san-pham-du-lich-doc-dao-1019764.html
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