HCMC, HANOI SEE SHARP TOURISM REVENUE RISE IN JAN-AUG

Tourists take a cyclo ride in downtown HCMC – PHOTO: DAT THANH

HCMC— HCMC and Hanoi City saw strong growth in tourist arrivals and revenue in the first eight months of 2025, official data showed.

HCMC welcomed nearly 5.2 million international visitors, up almost 50% from the same period in 2024, the city’s Department of Tourism said. Domestic tourist arrivals exceeded 25 million, a 7.5% increase, reported local media.

Tourism revenue soared by 31.2% from a year earlier to VND161.9 trillion, which represents 62.3% of the city’s full-year target.

The city also reported strong performance during the four-day National Day holiday in early September, attracting around 1.45 million visitors and generating VND4.14 trillion in revenue. Hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 87%, supported by promotions across lodging and travel services.

The southern metropolis has 7,211 tourism businesses, including 1,815 travel agencies, 5,396 lodging facilities with 92,468 rooms, and 9,540 licensed tour guides.

In the capital city of Hanoi, total tourist arrivals reached 21.6 million in the January-August period, generating VND85.8 trillion in revenue.

August alone saw 3.18 million visitors, up 27.5% year-on-year, including 709,000 international travelers — 500,000 of whom stayed overnight — and 2.47 million domestic tourists. Monthly revenue totaled VND12 trillion.

During the same National Day holiday, the capital attracted 2.08 million visitors, triple the number from the same period last year. International arrivals exceeded 80,000, up 35%, with most travelers coming from China, South Korea, India, Taiwan, the U.S, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Holiday tourism revenue reached VND4.5 trillion, jumping nearly 80% year-on-year.

Hotel occupancy surged, with many three- to five-star hotels reporting 100% occupancy on the September 1 peak. Across the city, the average room occupancy rate hit 83%, up more than 22 percentage points from last year

Hanoi now has more than 3,700 lodging facilities offering over 71,200 rooms, including 30 five-star hotels and serviced apartment complexes.

Source: The Saigon Times