Ho Chi Minh City tourism surges on back of immersive visitor experiences

Ho Chi Minh City has capitalised on immersive tourism experiences to drive visitor numbers to new highs this year. The strategy appears to have paid dividends, with the city welcoming more than 8.5 million foreign tourists during the first three quarters of 2026, according to tourism authorities.

Domestic tourism also flourished, with nearly 40 million Vietnamese visitors exploring the city during the same period. Combined, these figures represent a significant boost to the city's economy, generating over 280 trillion VND, equivalent to approximately 10.8 billion USD, in tourism revenue.

The strong performance underscores Ho Chi Minh City's growing appeal as a destination for experiential tourism. City officials have prioritised developing attractions and activities that offer visitors deeper cultural engagement and memorable interactions with local communities and heritage sites.

The results suggest Vietnam's largest city is successfully positioning itself as a premier tourism hub in Southeast Asia, drawing visitors seeking authentic and immersive travel experiences beyond conventional sightseeing.