Ho Chi Minh City Expands Tourism to Attract Record Visitors
For years, the itinerary for a visitor to Ho Chi Minh City was predictable: a morning at the War Remnants Museum, a photo in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and a frantic evening bartering at Ben Thanh Market. But as we step into March 2026, the script has been rewritten.
Driven by a bold mandate to diversify, Ho Chi Minh City is shifting its focus from “quantity” to “quality.” The goal is not just to bring people in, but to give them a reason to stay longer, spend more, and see the city through a different lens. Here is how the city is diversifying its soul to captivate the world in 2026.
The Saigon River is the city’s oldest highway, yet for decades, it remained underutilized as a tourism asset. In 2026, that has changed. The municipal Department of Tourism has launched a series of “Waterway Tourism” products that range from the luxurious to the local.
