HCM City welcomed around 1.65 million visitors during the New Year holiday. - VNA Photo

HCM CITY – The number of tourists visiting HCM City during the New Year holiday (December 30 - January 1) was around 1.65 million, up 3.1 per cent year-on-year, according to the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Overnight visitors to the city reached around 225,700, up 5 per cent year-on-year. International tourists reached over 46,500, up 86.1 per cent.

The holiday saw tourism revenue of VNĐ6.4 trillion (US$263 million), up 7.7 per cent.

According to HCM City’s tourism and travel agencies, foreign visitors to HCM City went up significantly, especially premium tourists from Europe, the US and Australia.

Meanwhile, most domestic tourists chose to travel inside the city, return to their hometowns or go to eco-tourism areas on their own to relax with family and friends since plane tickets are costly and the holiday is near the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.

The People’s Committee and People's Council headquarters welcomed 45 tour groups with around 2,500 international and domestic visitors, the highest number since their opening in April 2023.

Tourism and travel agencies launched over 100 attractive tourism products in the city, focusing on each district's unique tourism strengths, as well as tours linked with nearby provinces and new products like waterway tourism and night tourism.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also collaborated with the Cần Giờ District People’s Committee to announce the expansion of the Thiềng Liềng Community Tourism Area.

The Suối Tiên Amusement Park organised various attractive activities such as a performance of the Sơn Tinh – Thuỷ Tinh legend, circus shows, and music shows, among others.

Đầm Sen Park held street performances, ice shows, and music shows with countdowns for fireworks to welcome the New Year. 

At the end of 2023, Gigamall Shopping Center introduced the Van Gogh exhibition, creating a new space to enjoy paintings for domestic and foreign tourists. – VNS