Southern tourist destinations gear up for National Day holiday
In HCM City, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports announced a wide variety of activities, including a special live-broadcast performance on the evening of September 2 at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street (Saigon ward), the new Central Park (Binh Duong ward), and Thuy Van Square (Vung Tau ward). Firework displays will also light up the city at multiple locations that night.
HCM City (VNA)🍌 – The four-day upcoming National Day holiday is expected to draw crowds nationwide, with southern localities stepping up facilities, services, staffing, and safety measures to welcome visitors.
Impressive experiences await
Tourism authorities in many southern localities expect increased holiday travel, though not a surge, as many visitors will head to Hanoi for the 80th National Day military parade and march or choose central beaches and overseas trips.
A wide range of cultural and artistic events have been planned across localities to create a festive atmosphere.
Tourist attractions, historical and cultural sites stand ready to welcome visitors. In HCM City, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports announced a wide variety of activities, including a special live-broadcast performance on the evening of September 2 at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street (Saigon ward), the new Central Park (Binh Duong ward), and Thuy Van Square (Vung Tau ward). Firework displays will also light up the city at multiple locations that night.
Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, noted that the city now offers a wider tourism space following its merger with former Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau provinces. Attractions range from the central wards of Saigon, Ben Thanh and Cho Lon to seaside and island destinations in Vung Tau ward, and Long Son, Ho Tram, and Thanh An commune, and Con Dao special zone, as well as traditional craft villages and orchards in Tan Uyen, Lai Thieu and Chanh Hiep wards.
The city currently has more than 3,200 accommodation establishments, including numerous 1- to 5-star hotels, fully capable of catering to large visitor flows, including MICE groups (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).
Can Tho city, the hub of the Mekong Delta, will host special art performances broadcast live from three venues – Tay Do Park (Hung Phu ward), Xa No Park (Vi Tan ward) and the 5A Urban Area (Phu Loi ward) – along with fireworks displays.
Tourists in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho (Photo: VNA)
With an expanded tourism space now covering former Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces, Can Tho expects strong demand for tours spanning eco-tourism, orchards, river islets, cultural and spiritual sites.
Further south, Ca Mau province is highlighting its cultural, historical and eco-community tourism assets. At the Ca Mau ECO tourist site in Tran Van Thoi commune, visitors can explore forest villages recreated from wartime, enjoy activities such as “A Day as a U Minh Ha local”, experience traditional farming and fishing, cook signature dishes, and spend the night in a tranquil forest setting with folk music performances.
Safe, civilised and friendly tourism
Localities are not only rolling out cultural and artistic events and unique tourism products but also training and upgrading staff skills to ensure visitors enjoy the best possible experience.
In August, the HCM City Department of Tourism held training on fire safety and food hygiene for 350 representatives from hotels, tourist service providers, and Michelin-listed restaurants, aiming to improve service quality and ensure a safe, civilised tourism environment.
Ca Mau province has also asked tourism businesses to strengthen safety and service quality ahead of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.
Director of the Ca Mau provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Quoc Thanh, stressed strict compliance with security and safety rules, especially for activities that may affect visitors’ health, and banned the use of unregistered or unsafe vehicles. Operators were also urged to avoid overcharging, ensure sufficient staff support, and promptly address visitor concerns.
At the same time, the province is promoting community-based and cultural tourism, heritage visits, and “return-to-the-roots” tours to showcase Ca Mau as a safe and attractive destination./.
Around 50 stalls will introduce specialties of the northern mountainous region, from forest vegetables and smoked meats to sticky rice, herbal liquors, and handmade brocades.
In July alone, HCM City’s tourism revenue hit 22.4 trillion VND (985 million USD), up 45.6% year-on-year, bringing the total for the first seven months of 2025 to 140.3 trillion VND, up 29.9% and reaching 54% of the year’s target.
Hanoi’s tourism sector has activated a package of 80 new tourism offerings to showcase its cultural heritage while celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
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A highlight of the event will be the B2B networking session “Buyers Meet Sellers”, held throughout the two days to connect travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, and service providers.
Renowned for its unspoiled beauty — from pristine white-sand beaches to a refreshing climate and dozens of picturesque islets — much of the island’s potential had remained untapped.
Since 2011, the title “Vietnam Tourism Ambassador” has been conferred on several distinguished figures, each of whom has played a part in carrying the country’s image onto the global stage.
The operation of the cultural train, Metro Line 2A, and bus routes not only eases traffic congestion but also opens new opportunities to explore Hanoi in a modern, eco-friendly way.
The initiative seeks to foster linkages between tourism products across different regions while preserving and showcasing ethnic cultural identities. It also aims to enhance Lam Dong’s tourism brand in both domestic and international markets, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development.
As part of the programme, around 250 international guests enjoyed destination and culinary experiences across the city from September 4 to 8, creating memorable impressions of the southern hub.
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The National Day holiday highlighted Vietnam’s growing appeal as a safe and adaptable destination, laying a positive foundation for the year’s final months.
The four-day holiday, which began from August 30, not only brought huge revenues to the tourism sector but also boosted domestic consumption, with strong demand for dining, shopping, and travel.
A series of major trade and tourism connectivity events opened on September 4 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring Vietnam International Sourcing (VIS) 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Export Forum, and the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2025.
As the host of the grand parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day and the Exhibition on national achievements, Hanoi welcomed more than 2.08 million visitors during the holiday, triple the figure from the same period in 2024.
The 12th Tourism Promotion Organisation for Global Cities (TPO) General Assembly, which is taking place in HCM City, encourages environmentally friendly solutions, climate-conscious practices, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Hanoi received around 2.08 million visitors during the four-day National Day holidays from August 30 to September 2, three times higher than the figure in the same period last year, the municipal Department of Tourism reported.
Vietnam’s national tourism strategy to 2030 identifies golf tourism as a priority to enhance competitiveness. With natural advantages, growing infrastructure, and cross-sector cooperation, Vietnam is poised for a breakthrough. Long-term success, however, depends on diversified products and top-tier experiences that secure Vietnam’s place on the global golf map.
This year, demand for historical, heritage, and experiential tourism in Tuyen Quang province is expected to rise among both domestic and international travellers. Travel companies have responded by developing new tours and routes to serve visitors.
Phu Quoc special zone in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang is cementing its position as a prime destination for visitors in Vietnam and the world, expecting to welcome more than 7 million tourist arrivals this year.
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