On August 10 in Sydney, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism collaborated with Vietnam Airlines to organize a tourism promotion program connecting Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, and Australia. The event, attended by representatives from management agencies, industry associations, airlines, and travel operators and partners from both countries, serves as a key activity in a promotion campaign running from August 8 to 13.

During the program, Ho Chi Minh City presented its updated destination profile following boundary expansions, featuring a diversified ecosystem ranging from urban, cultural, and culinary tourism to leisure retreats, MICE, and large-scale events. The promotional space offered interactive tourism maps, cultural performances, and experiential activities.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the initiative aims to penetrate deeper into Australia’s distribution network, integrating Vietnamese travel products into local itineraries. A major highlight was the B2B networking session, where Vietnamese travel businesses, including Saigontourist Group, BenThanh Tourist, Vietravel, BestPrice, Lyra Cruise Collection, The Grand Ho Tram, and the Pho Museum, directly engaged with Australian partners to secure commercial contracts.

Within the program framework, the municipal Department of Tourism plans to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), Luxury Escapes, and Intrepid Travel.

These deals focus on destination marketing, market connectivity, product development, and mutual visitor exchanges. Notably, partnering with Luxury Escapes targets the high-end leisure market, while collaboration with Intrepid Travel opens access to responsible and experiential travel segments.

Rather than relying solely on traditional sightseeing tours, Ho Chi Minh City aims to tailor products to various Australian market segments, thus offering combinations of urban experiences with beach resorts, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage across Vietnam.

Conversely, Australia has long been a popular destination for Vietnamese travelers seeking leisure, family reunions, education, and nature exploration. Enhanced air connectivity and expanded corporate partnerships are expected to further stimulate travel demand between both nations.

By targeting long-stay and high-spending visitors, Ho Chi Minh City seeks to establish a stable source of Australian tourists in the coming years while reinforcing its position as Vietnam's primary gateway for international arrivals.

Vietnam outpaces Thailand and Singapore in attracting Australian tourists

VOV.VN - Vietnam continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for Australian travelers, ranking as the second most popular country in Southeast Asia for visitors from Australia and surpassing both Thailand and Singapore.