Megacity HCMC targets Horse Year visitors
From the beginning of
January 2026, Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry has been working with the
local travel business community to plan for welcoming tourists during the Lunar
New Year of the Horse 2026.
TIn particular, many businesses in the industry have prepared their product and
service supply chains well in advance and expect to take advantage of the
opportunity to increase revenue during the holiday season.
Prioritize key markets
Market observations show that travel businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have
proactively developed and introduced a diverse range of short-day tours, city
tours, night experience tours, culinary tours, and tours connecting Ho Chi Minh
City with neighboring localities. These businesses not only design tour
itineraries suitable for the domestic market but also focus on key international
markets such as Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe, which tend to have
shorter stays, combining urban sightseeing, culinary experiences, shopping, and
participation in activities celebrating the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse
2026).
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Dung from Viet Lux Travel said that from very early
on, Viet Lux has worked with its network of domestic and international suppliers
to prepare a wide range of products and services, as well as build stimulus
packages for customers. In particular, for Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Lux will
launch several distinctive tourism products in late 2025 and early 2026.
For the international market, the company has developed many products to welcome
the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. Among them is the "Foreigners Celebrating
Tet in the Mekong Delta" product line, and it is expected that in January 2026,
Viet Lux will welcome 6 groups of tourists to participate in the Mekong Delta
region. The program for foreign tourists to experience the Lunar New Year has
been maintained and developed annually for many years, but this year's
"Foreigners Celebrating Tet in the Mekong Delta" has received much positive
feedback and tour bookings from the international market.
In the restaurant and hotel sector, Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Hien of Kim Do Hotel in Ho
Chi Minh City, said that the hotel is busy and excitedly preparing products and
services to welcome guests to Ho Chi Minh City before, during, and after the
Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. Kim Do Hotel's advantage lies in its location
right on Nguyen Hue Street, so every year during the Lunar New Year, it welcomes
a large number of guests who come to experience its products and services after
visiting the Nguyen Hue Flower Street in the city.
"With the aim of ensuring excellent service for the number of guests staying at
Kim Do Hotel in particular, as well as for groups visiting Ho Chi Minh City in
general, the hotel is currently actively developing additional accommodation and
culinary services. For example, in front of the hotel, Kim Do Hotel is permitted
to operate a food service to offer an increasing variety of local dishes to not
only international tourists, but also overseas Vietnamese and domestic guests.
In addition, Kim Do also has entertainment programs such as lion and dragon
dances, and a festival celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026,
showcasing the rich Vietnamese identity for guests", said Hien.
To date, travel agencies and accommodation establishments in Ho Chi Minh City
have implemented measures to improve the quality of their products and services
to ensure effective tourism stimulus during this year's Tet holiday and to
guarantee safety in the tourism sector. Simultaneously, these businesses are
also focusing their product and service development on two main fronts: ensuring
product and service quality development, along with effective communication and
promotion in key markets.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, the tourism industry
never takes a break during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), and preparations
are always underway to serve the potential surge in tourist numbers during peak
periods. Travel agencies in Ho Chi Minh City are preparing new products and the
best tour programs to meet the demand for the upcoming Tet holiday in 2026. A
quick report from several travel agencies indicates that booking airline tickets
is currently difficult, demonstrating the high demand for travel during this
year's Tet holiday.
Advantages of a "megacity" tourism space
According to experts, 2026 marks a significant milestone as Ho Chi Minh City
affirms its position as a "megacity" after the consolidation process,
transforming itself into a key economic, cultural, and tourism center of the
region. The city has the advantage of attracting large groups of tourists.
Besides its urban tourism space, Ho Chi Minh City currently possesses areas for
industrial park investment, high-end beach and resort tourism… In this new
space, the city can fully accommodate large groups of tourists, and one of the
key goals of the tourism industry this year is MICE tourism (Meetings,
Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).
Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism organized a ceremony to
welcome the first group of tourists to Ho Chi Minh City in early 2026. This was
both an annual welcoming event and a commitment to being a "safe, friendly, and
attractive" destination. Through this, the city's tourism industry aims to fully
convey the spirit of "openness, youthfulness, vibrancy, enthusiasm, and a
forward-looking perspective" to international friends, creating momentum to
boost domestic and international tourism growth from the very beginning of the
year.
Statistics show that during the 2026 New Year holiday, Ho Chi Minh City's
tourism revenue reached VND 2,632 billion. The number of visitors to tourist
areas and attractions reached 1,240,000; international visitors reached 75,726;
and hotel occupancy reached approximately 75%. In addition, revenue from food,
shopping, and entertainment activities increased significantly, contributing to
a favorable start for tourism in 2026. These positive signs motivate businesses
to prepare and be ready to serve during the 2026 Lunar New Year (Year of the
Horse); and allow Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry to strive for high
revenue.
Regarding the plan for the Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration in 2026, the Ho Chi
Minh City Department of Tourism, said that, as in previous years, the department
will continue to implement previous programs. However, with a new space and a
new status, Ho Chi Minh City will develop higher quality and more distinctive
programs. Programs spearheaded by the City's Department of Tourism will have
fixed dates so that not only domestic but also international tourists are aware
of and participate in the city's activities during the annual Lunar New Year.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism organizes tourist
information booths, providing visitors with publications introducing unique
inner-city tours and routes, "Culinary Passports," and souvenir gifts. The
Department also promotes tourism by displaying souvenir products that reflect
Vietnamese cultural values; and providing information on promotional programs
and discount vouchers from airlines and partner businesses.
Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry hopes to collaborate with the travel
business community to welcome visitors, especially international tourists, with
friendliness and a memorable experience; contributing to making the city a top
favorite destination and a vibrant, unmissable journey for all tourists in 2026.
Saigon Tours - Travel services in Ho Chi Minh City in are thriving and diverse, reflecting
the city’s role as Vietnam’s economic and cultural hub. Visitors can choose from
short-day tours, city tours, night experiences, culinary tours, and excursions
connecting Ho Chi Minh City with nearby provinces. These are tailored for both
domestic and international tourists.
