HCM City (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City is advancing into a dynamic mega-urban hub, with its tourism sector accelerating digital transformation to showcase the city’s identity, people and distinctive cultural and culinary attractions.
Promoting cooperation to digitalise friendly destinations
Following its goal of building a friendly destination, the municipal Department of Tourism is rolling out a range of local stimulus programmes, with a focus on bringing the city’s signature attractions closer to domestic and international visitors through digital platforms.
Most recently, the department signed a cooperation agreement with Grab Vietnam to step up destination promotion and reinforce the city’s appeal as a premier choice for both domestic and foreign travellers. Under the agreement, the two sides will harness digital platforms to deliver a more seamless, convenient and secure travel experience, while accelerating digital transformation and injecting fresh momentum into the city’s tourism industry.
As a key step in digitalising information and boosting online engagement between authorities and the public, the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Conservation Support Fund and TikTok Vietnam to launch a campaign promoting the city’s 168 wards, communes and special zones. The partnership develops a digital communication strategy, an online authorities–people engagement channel, a network of local cultural and tourism content creators, and strengthen collaboration on digital transformation, cultural industry, and digital economy.
Nguyen Cam Tu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Centre, said each TikTok account will showcase a locality with its own story and character, forming 168 distinct perspectives that together paint a vibrant picture of the city’s urban life, culture, cuisine and hidden delights.
To position tourism as a key economic sector, Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, urged the Department of Tourism to strengthen closer coordination among local agencies and businesses to develop signature tourism products, enhance destination appeal, and better the quality of services.
Relevant units are tasked with actively implementing a media cooperation programme to promote the city’s 168 localities, further amplifying Ho Chi Minh City’s image.
The city’s tourism sector needs to strengthen destination promotion and leverage technology to provide residents and visitors with faster access to information and an improved service experience, thus creating opportunities for businesses to showcase new products, connect with markets, and develop a friendly, safe, and sustainable tourism environment, Dung said.
Strengthening authority–business connections to boost tourism
Alongside developing friendly and digitalised destinations, the municipal tourism sector is enhancing solutions that connect government, businesses, and local communities in its green and sustainable tourism strategy.
Doan Van Du, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tan Son Nhat ward, emphasised that travel businesses should invest in infrastructure and services to support local tourism development.
HCM City has implemented the “one locality, one tourism product" model, with 22 localities already offering signature products. This initiative provides a crucial foundation to extend development across all 168 wards, communes, and special zones, turning each area into a distinct destination or home to its own tourism product.
Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist, said the city is set to develop a connected intra-regional tourism network from 2025 to 2030, serving its 14 million residents while attracting more domestic and international visitors with new products and tours.
According to Agoda’s online travel search data from September to November, demand for family travel to Vietnam from the region and globally rose 30% compared to last year. Notably, HCM City ranked fourth in the country for its rich cuisine, modern entertainment options, and day trips to the Mekong Delta.
Some tourism and travel companies believe that alongside quality itineraries, continuously innovating, promoting signature tourism products, and focusing on digital and green tourism will help position the southern metropolis as an attractive destination on Asia’s travel map./.
