Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector earned VND6,550 billion ($268 million) plus in the first three days of the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet), up 4% year-on-year.
According to municipal Department of Tourism, the increase was due to the attractiveness of cultural, entertainment and culinary activities in the city and the national holiday lasting for up to eight days (February 7-14).
The department estimates the number of international tourists visiting HCMC in the first three days of Tet at 75,000, up 15.4% year-on-year.
The surge in international arrivals featured mainly cruise passengers and upmarket tourists from Europe, the U.S., Australia and Japan, it says.
To promote Tet tourism this year, the city organized many festivals and entertainment programs. These included the Vietnamese New Year Festival 2024, organized by the municipal Tourism Department and the Culinary Culture Association of Vietnam (VCCA), in collaboration with the Trade Department and other city agencies.
A four-day event featuring the Tet traditions of the southern, northern and central regions at Le Van Tam Park in District 1 saw the participation of 30 provinces and cities. It attracted more than 90,000 visitors.
As usual, Saigon Tourism Corporation coordinated with various state agencies to turn Nguyen Hue in District 1 into a flower street. Themed "Spring of Love, Tet of Reunion," the February 7-14 event attracted the participation of foreign diplomatic agencies.
The Tet Book Street festival is also held from February 7-14 on Le Loi street, District 1.