As Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector continues to sustain growth momentum, it is shifting strongly from post-merger recovery to development acceleration, with a focus on restructuring destination spaces to offer diverse tourism models and attract more domestic and international visitors.
Ha underscored the pivotal contributions of Japanese firms, which have long supported local socio-economic progress through major infrastructure projects, industrial zones and workforce training courses. To date, Japanese companies have invested more than 15 billion USD in over 2,200 projects, reflecting sustained confidence and commitment to the market.
Ho Chi Minh City is mobilising its entire political system to intensify the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, aiming to join the national effort to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” removed.
Sustainable rice export strategies were the focus of a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 10, where the Import–Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade assessed both the challenges and opportunities facing Vietnam’s rice exports in 2026.
Vietnam has the capacity, ambition and technological foundation to join the group of leading sustainable coastal urban nations in the coming decade, experts said at a dialogue on "advancing to the sea with ESG++ megacities: breakthroughs through green technology", held on December 9 in Hanoi by the Vietnam Institute for Real Estate Studies (VIRES).
The Vietnam International Bakery Show 2025 (VIBS 2025) serves as a key trade promotion platform for the bakery industry in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Ho Chi Minh City has readied necessary infrastructure, personnel, and investors for the operation of its International Financial Centre (IFC), slated to be inaugurated on December 19, Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS), has said.
Following its goal of building a friendly destination, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is rolling out a range of local stimulus programmes, with a focus on bringing the city’s signature attractions closer to domestic and international visitors through digital platforms.
By 2030, HCM City targets completion of three key routes: Metro Line 2’s Tham Luong–Ben Thanh and Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem sections, plus the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh urban railway.
HCM City will host high-altitude fireworks displays at three sites - the Saigon River Tunnel entrance in An Khanh ward, the New City’s centre in Binh Duong ward, and Tam Thang Square in Vung Tau ward, along with a low-altitude show at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Binh Thoi ward.
The city’s total GRDP value for 2025 is estimated at 2.74 quadrillion VND (103.93 billion USD), accounting for 23.5% of national GDP. GRDP per capita is projected to reach 8,066 USD. Foreign direct investment inflows are expected to total 8.16 billion USD, representing a 21.1% increase year-on-year.
Following administrative boundary adjustments and the allocation of 20% of land reserves in commercial housing and urban development projects for social housing, HCM city has secured more than 1,400 hectares of land for this purpose.
The Vietnam International Baby Products and Toys Expo (IBTE) 2025 will take place from December 18-20 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.
Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc revealed that nearly 30 international financial heavyweights are preparing to set up operations as early as December 2025, signalling strong early investor confidence in the city’s financial centre ambitions.
According to the Saigontourist travel service company, about 75% of the 1,400 passengers disembarking chose tours in HCM City.
The three-day gathering, one of Vietnam’s flagship international academic events in 2025, is seen as a landmark for the country’s growing data science ecosystem as it is pushing digital transformation, innovation in AI, and data-driven policymaking.
The event offers a panoramic view of modern consumer trends, technology, and design through dedicated zones for food and smart consumer goods, as well as household electrical and electronic appliances.
The event marked the beginning of the largest-scale shopping and tourism stimulus programme at the end of the year.
The 2025 Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Global Summit opened on December 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together more than 600 urban leaders, technology experts and international investors.
With its extensive activities, the IGHE 2025 is expected to deliver strong business prospects and deepen industry-wide connections.
Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and both countries are working towards the target of 25 billion USD in bilateral trade this year. Thailand is also among the top ten investors in Vietnam, with registered capital exceeding 13.7 billion USD.
The people of Vietnam, including those in Ho Chi Minh City, always stand by the people of Cuba in every step of their development journey.
Municipal leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to cutting red tape and shortening processing times. The city recently issued a decision reducing timelines for eight administrative procedures in the investment sector, including shortening the issuance of investment registration certificates from 10 to 8 days and cutting procedures for capital contributions and share acquisitions from 15 to 8 days.
Con Dao National Park in Ho Chi Minh City protects more than 1,725 marine species, over 1,000 hectares of coral reefs, and 300 hectares of seagrass beds.
The performance brought together 5,000 students performing in person at the Saigon Riverside Park in An Khanh ward, and another 55,000 students joining online from more than 150 schools across the city.