Despite fluctuations in fuel prices and airfares that have affected consumer spending, as well as mounting competitive pressure as countries roll out stimulus packages and ease visa policies, the city’s tourism sector has continued to post positive results in both visitor numbers and revenue.

The city welcomed an estimated 746,326 international visitors in September alone, up 3.48% from the same month last year. The nine-month figure represents 77.4% of its target of 11 million international visitors for 2026.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism showed a different trend. Ho Chi Minh City received an estimated 4.07 million domestic visitors in September, up 0.22% year on year. The September figure raised the number of its nine-month international arrivals to 39.57 million, down 5.2% from a year earlier and equivalent to 79.1% of the annual target.

Tourism revenue was estimated at VND23 trillion in September, bringing the nine-month total to VND282.696 trillion, up 43.4% year on year. Of the three main tourism indicators, revenue recorded the highest rate of progress towards the annual target.

In recent months, Ho Chi Minh City has stepped up tourism promotion and marketing activities, including the 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo, which attracted more than 520 exhibitors and generated around 21,000 business appointments.

The 12th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival also helped promote the city’s cultural heritage and destination image. The metropolis has additionally developed new tourism products, including helicopter tours offering aerial views of the locality.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said the results reflected the effectiveness of recent investments in improving tourism products and services and developing human resources. In the fourth quarter, the local tourism sector will continue working toward meeting or exceeding its annual targets, contributing to the city’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.

The department plans to complete the city's tourism development scheme through 2030 and mechanisms to support new tourism products. Ho Chi Minh City is also scheduled to hold its sixth tourism week and ninth international marathon, promote the destination in Singapore, and participate in tourism promotion activities under the 2026 programme of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO).

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