Ranked 2nd globally for engagement
Conducted periodically by Gensler over many years, the "City Pulse" survey is a large-scale, highly reliable study in the fields of urban design and resident behavior research.
In 2025, the survey will expand to 65 cities on 6 continents with more than 33,000 participants, of which Ho Chi Minh City is one of the representatives of the Asia- Pacific region.
Unlike rankings that only measure satisfaction or infrastructure quality, "City Pulse 2025" focuses on emotional factors, such as belonging, pride and desire to stay, to assess the level of "resident retention" of cities.

Ho Chi Minh City ranks 2nd globally in terms of resident engagement (Photo: Nam Anh).
Notably, Ho Chi Minh City scored high not in traditional criteria, but in 5 outstanding emotional factors: Not feeling bored when living in the city, feeling like being "at home", being proud of your city, feeling that this is a place where you can stay for a long time, and the level of attachment deepens over time.
61% of Ho Chi Minh City residents say they have little or no intention of leaving, an impressive number that reflects the harmony between residents and the city.
Where residents want to live long term is where visitors want to return
Sharing about Ho Chi Minh City being in the top cities that retain residents, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism - said that Ho Chi Minh City is not only a place to work or travel, but has become a place worth staying, living and inspiring for a long time.
"A city that retains its residents is a place that has the ability to retain tourists, especially long-term visitors, international experts, and young people who travel globally," he said.
Mr. Hoa acknowledged that the survey results are a solid foundation for the tourism industry to transform, from exploiting short-term trips to positioning tourism as part of life experiences.
"Tourism is associated with urban quality of life, that is tourism associated with culture, living space and real experiences," he emphasized.

After expanding its boundaries, Ho Chi Minh City has more opportunities to develop tourism (Photo: Nam Anh).
The Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism also added that just a few years ago, Ho Chi Minh City was still considered a "transit destination" on the Vietnam tourism map. However, repositioning efforts after the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the appearance and feelings of tourists about Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Hoa said that in recent times, Ho Chi Minh City has continuously upgraded the destination experience through many solutions. These include the development of walking streets, culinary spaces, products associated with local heritage and culture...
The city also applies digital technology, providing electronic tourism maps and online information platforms; Investing in a series of festivals and events such as: River Festival, Ho Do, Lantern Festival, international marathon...
Ho Chi Minh City also pilots night tourism models and public-private partnerships in culture and sports, and proactively hosts national and international events, thereby strongly promoting the image of a dynamic, modern and unique urban area.
In particular, according to the development orientation after the administrative boundary merger, Ho Chi Minh City will play the role of a center for organizing and connecting inter-regional destinations.

A peaceful scene in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Nam Anh).
According to Mr. Hoa, the expansion of Ho Chi Minh City's boundaries will turn Binh Duong and the old Ba Ria - Vung Tau into satellite areas that support ecology, resorts and the tourism industry. This model allows tourists to not only visit but also "try living" in an open, convenient and unique urban space.
"HCMC is gradually becoming a place to stay long-term, not just a short-term destination. This is the core advantage for sustainable tourism development," Mr. Hien Hoa affirmed.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/tphcm-lot-top-2-thanh-pho-giu-chan-cu-dan-nhat-the-gioi-20250801192556086.htm
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