Foreign tourists on a cyclo tour in Chợ Lớn (China town) in HCM City’s District 5. — Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — HCM City welcomed 17 million visitors in the first six months of this year, including 4.3 million foreign visitors, up 10 percent year-on-year, according to the city’s Department of Tourism.
Tourism receipts were estimated at VNĐ73 trillion (US$3.13 billion) in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 17 per cent.
In the last six months of this year, the department will continue to diversify and improve tourism products and services, said Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, deputy director of the department.

It will encourage more farmer households in Cần Giờ and Củ Chi districts to develop eco-tourism and agro-tourism models, Hoa said.

Many agro-tourism models attract thousands of visitors, including Green Noen in An Nhơn Tây Commune and Hải Thanh Koi Farm in Trung An Commune in Củ Chi District and Vàm Sát ecological tourist site in Cần Giờ District. 

Travel fair

The 15^th edition of ITE HCMC, the country's largest international travel event, is scheduled to take place from September 5-7 at the Saigon Exhibition Convention Centre.

The annual event is a platform for industry players to showcase the latest tourism products, innovations and services, and offer networking opportunities with thousands of buyers and visitors from all around the world.

It is expected to attract hundreds of exhibitors, including airlines, hotels, resorts, travel agencies, representatives of local and international tourism promotion agencies from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, India, Bhutan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, and Germany.
The fair also features a series of conferences on Việt Nam-Russia tourism cooperation, Việt Nam-Middle East tourism cooperation, Việt Nam–Korea tourism cooperation, HCM City-Mekong Delta tourism connection, and smart tourism development in HCM City.

The event will be organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with city's People’s Committee and Department of Tourism.

Last year, the fair attracted 270 exhibitors and brands from 40 countries and territories and more than 30 localities across the country, and 30,000 trade visitors. —VNS