HCM City welcomed nearly 130 tourists from the US on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Mỹ Phương

HCM CITY — HCM City welcomed nearly 130 tourists from the US on Friday under a tour organised by Citslinc International Inc in collaboration with Asia Life and Beauty Travel and Tour Services Co., Ltd, the first large group to visit the southern city in two years.

Most of the visitors are businesspeople from American trade associations and enterprises who are coming to HCM City for the first time.

As scheduled, the visitors, will stay at Mường Thanh hotel in Phú Nhuận District, as well as enjoy food at Rex Hotel Restaurants and Bars and Indochina Queen Rivercruiser.

During their trip, they will also visit Việt Nam National Museum of History, Củ Chi Tunnels, Bến Thành market, and the Mekong Delta region, and join activities in the framework of the 8th Áo Dài Festival in 2022 in HCM City.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dương Anh Đức highly valued the active preparation of the municipal Department of Tourism for the tourism resumption plan when Việt Nam has reopened its borders for foreign visitors after two years.

He said that with the local potential and advantages, and support of visitors, the city's tourism sector would soon recover, and affirm the position of the southern hub as one of the attractive destinations for tourists in Việt Nam.

“We are striving to build a safe and convenient destination for tourists. All in the view of turning HCM City into one of Asia’s leading dynamic tourist city, where visitors can experience the different values of cultural heritages, lifestyle of a smart city, that inspire and excite in every journey,” Đức said.

He said the city was developing ‘signature’ products so that tourists arriving in HCM City could discover an Oriental city on the path of modernisation and international integration but still managing to keep its own characteristics and identity.

Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, director of the city Department of Tourism, said tourism and hospitality businesses and travel agents are fully geared to welcome back foreign tourists after almost two years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

International travel markets are rebounding and tourists are returning in large numbers to the city, she said.

The city’s popularity with tourists is helping speed up the tourism sector’s recovery, she added.

As part of efforts to project itself as a vibrant and safe destination, the city is set to run a programme called ‘Welcome to HCM City’ from April to September. — VNS