Ho Chi Minh City promotes tourism in the US

In October, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco, California coordinated to organize a series of activities to promote tourism in the US.

The first activity was the Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City tourism promotion program, which took place at the San Francisco Cultural and Arts Center, California on October 13. The promotion delegation was led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, and more than 11 representatives of Vietnamese airlines, travel agencies, and hotels attended. The program also had nearly 100 travel agencies in the state of California.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism introduced new destinations and tourism products of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, including products suitable for the US market, and introduced tourism projects in need of investors. Businesses of the two countries also met and connected directly.

Businesses meet and exchange during a promotional program held in San Francisco, California. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism

Ms. Hoa shared that the program has special significance as it was held right after the two countries issued a Joint Statement to elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership, in which tourism is one of the 10 areas identified for promotion and cooperation. The Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry hopes that this promotion activity will open up many opportunities to increase tourist traffic between the two countries in the coming time.

Ms. Hoa affirmed that with the new visa policy, Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular always want to welcome the Vietnamese community and American tourists to "experience and feel the changes" of Vietnam. Traveling to Ho Chi Minh City is now convenient as it is a connecting point to other provinces and cities, with many direct flights to countries around the world.

Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Consul General of Vietnam in San Francisco, California, hopes that through the promotion program, the number of American tourists to Ho Chi Minh City will have significant growth because this is an attractive, dynamic destination, with rich cuisine "suitable to American tastes" and still preserving traditional cultural and historical values.

Ms. Anne Benjaminson, Deputy Consul General of the US in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the promotion program provides opportunities for direct connection between tourism businesses and partners between the two countries, thereby serving customers faster, limiting the need to go through intermediaries due to the lack of information in the past. It is expected that promotion activities in the US will continue for the next 3 years to develop a sustainable market.

Vietnamese delegation performs traditional musical instruments in a tourism promotion program in San Francisco. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism

Also in the first program of the series of activities, the Vietnamese delegation brought to California souvenirs associated with each tourist destination, performed traditional musical instruments, tea and coffee specialties, and organized a conical hat painting activity.

After the program in San Francisco, from October 17 to 19, the delegation will participate in the IMEX America 2023 fair at the Mandalay Bay resort, Las Vegas. The image of Ho Chi Minh City will be promoted at the fair.

According to the National Tourism Administration, Vietnam welcomed more than 7.8 million international visitors in the first 8 months of the year. American tourists are in the top 3 markets sending the largest number of visitors to Vietnam, with nearly 503,000 arrivals, after Korea (2.2 million) and China (950,000). In 2022, when China has not yet opened its doors, American tourists will be second, after Korea.

Data from the National Tourism Administration shows that in 10 consecutive years before the pandemic (2010-2019), the number of American visitors to Vietnam always ranked 4th or 5th in the top 10 largest tourist sending markets and continuously increased every year.

According to the General Statistics Office’s 2022 Statistical Yearbook, in 2019, American visitors spent an average of $1,710 in Vietnam, ranking third after visitors from the Philippines and Belgium. American visitors also tend to travel longer and often bring family members along.

Bich Phuong

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