Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) Following the expansion of its administrative divisions, Ho Chi Minh City's function as a regional tourism center and international gateway has become increasingly prominent, with its advantages in infrastructure connectivity, market reach, and tourism development potential continuing to be released. Among these advantages, deeply exploring the green tourism potential of special economic zones and coastal areas has become a key strategy for the city to reshape its regional and international tourism landscape, injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of the tourism industry.
Nguyen Van Manh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the Con Dao Special Economic Zone in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that Con Dao is not only a sacred symbol of Vietnamese patriotism and revolutionary heroism, but is also growing into a distinctive tourist destination with national and international influence. It boasts unique historical and cultural heritage, pristine island ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and distinctive local customs, laying a solid foundation for promoting sustainable economic and tourism development. He emphasized that developing sustainable tourism based on local advantages is not only a development need for Con Dao, but also a responsibility to history, nature, and future generations. In the future, Con Dao will continue to consolidate its integrated tourism positioning of "history, culture, and ecology," creating a model for sustainable tourism development nationwide and even regionally. Besides the Con Dao Special Economic Zone, Can Gia commune is considered a "potential stock" for coastal tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City. Experts point out that Can Gia not only possesses superior natural conditions but also boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage—traditional salt-making villages, pristine coastal fishing villages, internationally renowned seafood resources, and a complete system of revolutionary historical sites, providing a solid foundation for developing distinctive tourism products. Currently, Can Gia is entering a period of development opportunities, with key infrastructure projects accelerating: the Penang-Can Gia MRT project, which started construction at the end of 2025, is expected to be operational in 2028, and the Can Gia Bridge is planned to be completed and open to traffic in 2029. These infrastructure projects will create important conditions for the local area and tourism industry to align with green and sustainable trends and develop diversified tourism products.
Focusing on the goal of upgrading the tourism industry, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has outlined its development blueprint for 2026: It plans to receive 11 million international tourists and 50 million domestic tourists, achieving tourism revenue of 330 trillion VND (equivalent to 89.2 billion RMB), thus solidifying its position as a regional tourism hub with tangible development results. (End)
