Ho Chi Minh City will increase entrance fees to historical sites and museums.

(CLO) The draft resolution of Ho Chi Minh City proposes adjusting the entrance fees to historical sites and museums to be closer to the national average.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports is seeking feedback on a draft resolution regulating entrance fees for historical sites and museums under its management. The resolution aims to innovate operations, improve service quality, and increase the financial autonomy of units within the museum and historical site system.

Students visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Photo: hcmc-museum.edu.vn

Previously, at the end of 2025, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued a document requesting a review of the resolutions of the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City and the People's Councils of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces that had been issued (before the reorganization), and to report and advise the City People's Committee to submit to the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City for promulgation a unified fee and charge rate in the city.

Currently, the entrance fees at museums and historical sites managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports are as follows: War Remnants Museum and Ba Ria - Vung Tau Museum: 40,000 VND/person/visit; Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, Ho Chi Minh City History Museum: 30,000 VND/person/visit.

The Bach Dinh historical site charges 15,000 VND/person/visit; the Con Dao Prison National Special Historical Site and Con Dao Museum charge 50,000 VND/person/visit.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, the Ton Duc Thang Museum, the Southern Women's Museum, and the Binh Duong Museum currently do not charge an entrance fee.

Notably, this draft resolution of Ho Chi Minh City proposes adjusting entrance fees to be closer to the national average.

Specifically, the group of key museums and historical sites are expected to apply an entrance fee of VND 60,000 per person per visit, including: the War Remnants Museum, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum, the Binh Duong Museum (Phu Loi Prison historical site; Tran Van Ho ancient house), the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Museum, and the Con Dao Prison National Special Historical Site. The Bach Dinh historical site is expected to apply a fee of VND 30,000 per person per visit.

For museums that currently do not charge an entrance fee, a fee of 20,000 VND per person per visit is expected. The Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh City Branch, and the Ton Duc Thang Museum will continue to waive the entrance fee for people coming to offer incense and flowers to President Ho Chi Minh and President Ton Duc Thang.

Regarding fee exemptions and reductions, these will include free admission for children under 6 years old, people with severe disabilities, and poor households; and a 50% reduction for students, the elderly, people eligible for social welfare programs, people with severe disabilities, near-poor households, and People's Artists and Distinguished Artists.

According to data from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, from 2021 to 2025, the system of museums and historical sites that charge entrance fees welcomed over 8.3 million visitors, generating total revenue of over 277 billion VND. Each year, approximately 500,000 visitors receive fee exemptions or reductions under current policies.

Tourists visit the Bach Dinh historical site. Photo: Q. Hung

According to the management's assessment, the current revenue level reveals many limitations when compared to the general price level and operating costs. Revenue from entrance fees is insufficient to meet the needs for operational innovation, especially in the context of museums gradually implementing financial autonomy.

According to calculations, after adjustments, revenue from entrance fees could increase by approximately 40% compared to 2025, equivalent to an additional more than 36 billion VND. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports proposes a mechanism to retain 100% of the fee revenue for the relevant units. Revenue from entrance fees will partially supplement the costs of preserving, repairing, restoring, and managing the units' facilities, invest in professional development, and gradually reduce dependence on the state budget.

Source: https://congluan.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-se-tang-phi-tham-quan-di-tich-bao-tang-10339825.html