In the last months of 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry recorded positive signs of recovery in both visitors and revenue, creating favorable momentum for the peak period of New Year's Day and 2026. According to the plan, the city aims to welcome 10 million international visitors, 50 million domestic visitors and achieve a total revenue of VND 290,000 billion this year.
Estimated data from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism shows that in November, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed about 780,000 international visitors; in the first 11 months of the year, the total number of international visitors reached 7.37 million, reaching 73.79% of the target for the whole year.
Domestic visitors in November reached 4.2 million, bringing the total number of domestic visitors in the first 11 months of the year to 37.28 million, reaching 74.6% of the target. Tourism revenue in November is estimated at VND28,470 billion, bringing total revenue in 11 months to VND233,566 billion, reaching 80.5% of the target for 2025.
From the perspective of travel businesses, Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing - Communications Director of Vietluxtour Company, said that the tourism market at the end of 2025 and the preparation period for the 2026 New Year in Ho Chi Minh City will recover quite strongly, with an estimated growth rate of 15 - 20% compared to the same period last year, depending on the market.
"HCMC is always a key source market and the largest tourism center in the country. With its position as an economic - cultural locomotive and a wide aviation network, Ho Chi Minh City is qualified to become the "urban tourism capital of Southeast Asia" in the period of 2026-2030" - Ms. Bao Thu discussed with Lao Dong Newspaper.
Travel businesses expect the city to focus on 3 strategic orientations, including strongly developing the urban - cultural - event tourism model; upgrading river tourism and night tourism products; increasing infrastructure investment, expanding flight routes and diversifying products for each customer segment.
At the end of the year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism also actively implemented domestic and international tourism promotion activities. In mid-November, a Vietnam - Europe tourism promotion program in Denmark was organized, aiming to promote the image of a friendly, attractive and safe destination of Ho Chi Minh City to the Danish and European markets.
At the end of November, at Lai Chau Tourism - Culture Week 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism organized a booth to promote tourism, display handbags, souvenirs, Con Dao Bang Seed OCOP products and many other typical products, attracting a large number of visitors to visit and learn.
It is expected that in December, Ho Chi Minh City will organize a Tourism Week to introduce and promote the city's destinations. Through a series of experiential tourism - sports - music events, the city hopes to stimulate domestic and international tourism, while creating opportunities for businesses to introduce products, services and promotional programs at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.
It can be seen that these activities not only help Ho Chi Minh City consolidate its position as a major tourism center of the country but also open up opportunities for sustainable development, building a tourism ecosystem closely connecting airlines, services and destinations.
