HCM City (VNA) – The four-day upcoming National Day holiday is expected to draw crowds nationwide, with southern localities stepping up facilities, services, staffing, and safety measures to welcome visitors.
Impressive experiences await
Tourism authorities in many southern localities expect increased holiday travel, though not a surge, as many visitors will head to Hanoi for the 80th National Day military parade and march or choose central beaches and overseas trips.
A wide range of cultural and artistic events have been planned across localities to create a festive atmosphere.
Tourist attractions, historical and cultural sites stand ready to welcome visitors. In HCM City, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports announced a wide variety of activities, including a special live-broadcast performance on the evening of September 2 at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street (Saigon ward), the new Central Park (Binh Duong ward), and Thuy Van Square (Vung Tau ward). Firework displays will also light up the city at multiple locations that night.
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, noted that the city now offers a wider tourism space following its merger with former Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau provinces. Attractions range from the central wards of Saigon, Ben Thanh and Cho Lon to seaside and island destinations in Vung Tau ward, and Long Son, Ho Tram, and Thanh An commune, and Con Dao special zone, as well as traditional craft villages and orchards in Tan Uyen, Lai Thieu and Chanh Hiep wards.
The city currently has more than 3,200 accommodation establishments, including numerous 1- to 5-star hotels, fully capable of catering to large visitor flows, including MICE groups (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).
Can Tho city, the hub of the Mekong Delta, will host special art performances broadcast live from three venues – Tay Do Park (Hung Phu ward), Xa No Park (Vi Tan ward) and the 5A Urban Area (Phu Loi ward) – along with fireworks displays.
With an expanded tourism space now covering former Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces, Can Tho expects strong demand for tours spanning eco-tourism, orchards, river islets, cultural and spiritual sites.
Further south, Ca Mau province is highlighting its cultural, historical and eco-community tourism assets. At the Ca Mau ECO tourist site in Tran Van Thoi commune, visitors can explore forest villages recreated from wartime, enjoy activities such as “A Day as a U Minh Ha local”, experience traditional farming and fishing, cook signature dishes, and spend the night in a tranquil forest setting with folk music performances.
Safe, civilised and friendly tourism
Localities are not only rolling out cultural and artistic events and unique tourism products but also training and upgrading staff skills to ensure visitors enjoy the best possible experience.
In August, the HCM City Department of Tourism held training on fire safety and food hygiene for 350 representatives from hotels, tourist service providers, and Michelin-listed restaurants, aiming to improve service quality and ensure a safe, civilised tourism environment.
Ca Mau province has also asked tourism businesses to strengthen safety and service quality ahead of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.
Director of the Ca Mau provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Quoc Thanh, stressed strict compliance with security and safety rules, especially for activities that may affect visitors’ health, and banned the use of unregistered or unsafe vehicles. Operators were also urged to avoid overcharging, ensure sufficient staff support, and promptly address visitor concerns.
At the same time, the province is promoting community-based and cultural tourism, heritage visits, and “return-to-the-roots” tours to showcase Ca Mau as a safe and attractive destination./.
