In 2026, Ho Chi Minh City continues to promote the diversification of tourism products, exploiting the strengths of rivers and the depth of urban culture and history to enhance the attractiveness of destinations.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Kim Toan - Director of Thuong Nhat Company, the owner of Saigon WaterBus and WaterGO, said that the Saigon River plays a special role in the formation and development of the city.
Mr. Toan said that without the Saigon River, it would be difficult to have a Saigon city like today, because it is the river that has opened the way for residents to explore, live and develop. Therefore, river exploitation programs are not only simply transportation or tourism but also associated with environmental value, landscape, identity and urban identity.
The Saigon River is both an economic space and a cultural space, contributing to shaping the image of Ho Chi Minh City. We are always striving to develop more programs and products on the river to meet the needs of people and tourists, and at the same time, effectively exploit the special value of this river" - Mr. Toan said.
In the inner-city tourism segment, Mr. Tran The Dung - General Director of Vietluxtour Company said that the business has prepared a rich product line for 2026. Tours such as Saigon Commando, Saigon Memories - Cho Lon, Saigon Past and Present and most recently Tan Dinh Imprint have been deployed and promoted throughout.
According to Mr. Dung, inner-city cultural and historical products receive positive feedback from the market. The number of visitors increasing not only in the international segment but also from other localities to Ho Chi Minh City to experience the depth of culture and history is increasing. The trend of learning about urban identity is forecast to continue to increase.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, in 2026, the city will continue to implement the Tourism Development Project to 2030, focusing on improving product quality and diversification, focusing on typical products of the big city. Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry aims to welcome about 11 million international visitors, 50 million domestic visitors, with total tourism revenue estimated at about 330,000 billion VND.
