Diverse events, international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City increased by more than 30%

The number of international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City in the first 5 months of 2024 is estimated at more than 2.28 million, an increase of nearly 32% over the same period last year.

The first Ho Chi Minh City River Festival attracted more than 210,000 domestic and international visitors - Photo: QUANG DINH

Tourists to Ho Chi Minh City increase sharply

On May 29, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that in the first 5 months of 2024, the number of international visitors to the city continued to grow strongly at nearly 32%, estimated at 2.28 million arrivals. Meanwhile, the number of domestic visitors was nearly 14 million, reaching 36.8% of the 2024 plan. The bustling tourist population contributed to bringing high revenue to the city's tourism industry, up nearly 14%. Accordingly, the total revenue in the first 5 months of this year reached nearly 76,000 billion VND, reaching 40% of the yearly plan. To increase tourist attraction and position destinations, Ho Chi Minh City is making efforts to invest in a number of festival events to become the city's brand events.

This summer, the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City River Festival will be held from May 31 to June 9 on a larger scale and longer duration than the first time, which is considered a notable highlight.

Not only focusing on the Nha Rong Wharf area or Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, this year's series of activities will be distributed in many locations such as Nha Rong Khanh Hoi area - Saigon port, Bach Dang Wharf park, Saigon riverside park, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal area, Viet Star Wharf (District 7), Binh Dong Wharf (District 8), Suoi Tien cultural tourism area, and other tourist areas and destinations in Thu Duc city as well as throughout the city's districts.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that the activities for the upcoming festival are ready. In particular, preparations for water sports are being vigorously implemented.

Hundreds of athletes perform water sports

The 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Open River Swimming Tournament , 1km distance, amateur and professional, includes teams from Thu Duc city, districts, and teams from provinces and cities, and invites amateur athletes. Up to now, there have been 8 districts, 3 provinces, 10 amateur clubs and 378 athletes participating. The Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tournament includes teams from Thu Duc city, districts, and teams from provinces and cities, and invites international athletes to participate in the tournament. Other sports activities include flyboarding, sailing, jet skiing, kite surfing, etc. Up to now, there have been 8 districts, 2 schools, 3 provinces and 9 clubs with 192 athletes registered to participate.

As planned, the opening ceremony of the two tournaments will start on the morning of June 1 and the closing ceremony on June 2 at Bach Dang Wharf, District 1. In coordination with the Department of Tourism, there will be many water sports activities such as windsurfing, flyboarding, jet skiing, windsurfing, sailing, sup, paragliding, etc. combined with artistic lighting that will take place on the evenings of June 8 and 9 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Gathering more than 550 athletes to compete and more than 100 athletes from clubs to perform. Also at Bach Dang Wharf Park, the Cultural Space, Arts, and Folk Games will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on May 31, June 1, June 7, and June 8. It is expected that there will be performances of national cultural heritage, performances of cultural heritages of the nation that have been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity: Quan Ho singing, Xoan singing, Then singing, Ca Tru, Thai Xeo (North), Hue royal court music, Central Highlands gongs, Nghe Tinh Vi Dam folk songs, Bai Choi (Central), and typical regional art forms: Cham, Khmer... Art performance program of Don Ca Tai Tu . This is an activity to honor the art of Don Ca Tai Tu in the South, which has always had a lasting vitality, and has its own characteristics of the city's people towards this art form. Experiencing traditional folk games in a simulated space, recreating some forms of communal activities through traditional folk games typical of the region and suitable for the framework of the river festival, specifically: Dancing with bamboo poles, blindfolded balloon and gong hitting, crossing the monkey bridge to fish and pick fruit, decorating piggy banks, eating squares, creating art with coconut leaves. The space to display art kites and instructions on making kites are designed in a folk form, eye-catching, and impressive to viewers.

The 2nd Ho Chi Minh City River Festival in 2024 is implemented under the direction of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, by the City Department of Tourism, the City Department of Culture and Sports in coordination with departments, branches, districts and towns of Thu Duc City.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/da-dang-su-kien-khach-quoc-te-den-tp-hcm-tang-hon-30-2024052916021085.htm