Conditions on Political Security, Social Security and Tourism Development Policies


Financial Tower 68 floors, 262m high. This building has two special features: its appearance is like a lotus bud, a symbol of Vietnam and a helipad located on the 50th floor (191m high), extending 22m out of the building structure, can receive helicopters from 2 to 10 seats. In addition, the building has a special location on the 47th floor, which is reserved for tourists to observe the city. Residents and visitors can go up here to see the city landscape at a height of nearly 200m (fee applies). The building is considered a symbol of the dynamism of Ho Chi Minh City in the period of economic integration.

The ancient structures have become heritages, the city continues to be new and modern with new buildings such as Diamond Plaza, Bitexco building... Old and new always exist together to create a very unique nuance in this land and those are also the attractions for domestic and foreign tourists to visit and take pictures.

Performing arts

In Ho Chi Minh City, water puppetry has become a unique traditional art form and an indispensable spiritual food for many audiences. Behind the curtain, the artists stand in the water and flexibly control the puppets. With funny performances reflecting the life and activities of Vietnamese farmers, water puppetry has brought many surprises and admiration to the audience.

Many unique and attractive performances imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity, with bilingual English - Vietnamese interpretation, make tourists watch with fascination and applaud in admiration. Many tourists enjoy the show, but feel it is too fast and leave with regret. International tourists coming to Vietnam love to watch water puppetry, so the tour cannot be without water puppetry.

Not only water puppetry, the shows at the circus combined with land puppetry for tourists visiting the city are also quite attractive. Circus is a visual art, expressed through action, so tourists from all countries can watch and understand, so each night's performance usually attracts 300 - 500 guests, including some travel companies that order to bring guests to see the circus on their tours. Cong Circus


23-9 Park is located in the city center, in the Western Quarter of Pham Ngu Lao ward, always attracting a large number of foreign visitors.

2.2.2. Conditions on political security, social safety and tourism development policies

In recent years, with the favorable economic and political context, the focused direction of the City Party Committee and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the role of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development has been promoted, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism industry has promoted its proactiveness, dynamism and creativity in advising and proposing the implementation of a series of solutions to develop tourism in the area. Thereby, it has achieved many outstanding achievements.

The administrative reform, creating a healthy and equal business environment for enterprises is focused on by the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry through strengthening post-inspection. A highlight is the coordination between the Department of Culture - Sports & Tourism with the Department of Planning and Investment, 24 districts in reviewing enterprises in the area to guide enterprises to operate in accordance with regulations and promptly detect and handle some enterprises operating illegally. Special attention is paid to socialization, the role of enterprises is increasingly affirmed, contributing positively to the development of the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry.

2.2.3. Conditions on infrastructure and facilities serving tourism

(i) Infrastructure conditions

The increasingly developed infrastructure system helps Ho Chi Minh City attract more than 50% of international tourists to Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City has Tan Son Nhat International Airport as the main gateway to receive international tourists by air, Saigon Port is a sea passenger port that receives a large number of international tourists by sea. In addition, the road traffic system is increasingly upgraded and expanded, making it more convenient and easier to receive tourists in Ho Chi Minh City.


(ii) Conditions on material and technical facilities of the accommodation system

With more than 600 hotels, from high-end hotels managed by leading international corporations such as Accor, Furama, Mariot or Starwood... to state or private hotels, all have a history of operation with services that have been praised by heads of state and high-ranking businessmen, and have been awarded many awards and titles for high quality by international tourism organizations. And the main feature is that the hotels are all professional, from facilities and equipment to services and service style. Each hotel often chooses a unique impression: Caravelle is an excellent business hotel, Rex is a "Vietnamese House", Majestic with its classic Western elegance, Bong Sen impresses with its "buffer" cuisine... Even small hotels create a style such as dedicated, friendly service like in a family, or services that meet all the small requests of guests. Ho Chi Minh City's hotel industry can be proud when compared with other countries in the region.

Market system

Speaking of night markets, anyone who is currently in Saigon or has traveled far away will think of Ben Thanh Market. Because Ben Thanh Market is a cultural symbol of the city, a destination for international tourists and also the central market of Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1914, after 100 years, Ben Thanh Market has continuously developed in terms of trade, today the market has become a market for tourists from far away.

In 2004, Ho Chi Minh City organized a grand festival called “Saigon Tet Festival” right in the city center, with Nguyen Hue, Le Loi, and Dong Khoi avenues as the focal points of the festival. In particular, Nguyen Hue avenue was the main highlight with the role of both a flower street and the city’s first walking street with a scene of old Saigon and today’s Saigon… and Saigon night market also started from there – that is, Ben Thanh night market. The night food and souvenir shopping area on the street only about 200 meters long right at the East gate of Ben Thanh market was also formed.


Cho Lon is currently a residential area located in District 5 and a part of the border area of ​​Districts 6, 8, and 11. During the day, Cho Lon is bustling with buyers and sellers. At night, Cho Lon is equally bustling with bright lights and crowded with diners.

Specialized streets

Besides the market, Saigon also has specialized streets.

If you want to buy common wooden furniture, please go to Ngo Gia Tu street. But for more high-end, fashionable wooden furniture, you have to go to the shops on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street.

Curtain, bed sheet, and pillow street on Le Van Sy and Ly Thai To streets - Dien Bien Phu; wedding decoration street at the end of Nguyen Dinh Chieu street...

Nguyen Thong Food Street specializes in canned goods, but for foreign wine, you have to go to Hai Trieu Street. Ta Uyen Street specializes in roast meat. As for fruit, Le Thanh Ton, Tan Dinh and Yet Kieu are famous.

The clothing street stretches along Cao Thang and Nguyen Dinh Chieu streets, while the shoe street is concentrated on a section of Tran Huy Lieu street in District 3.

Antiques are concentrated on Le Cong Kieu street, souvenirs on Dong Khoi, Le Loi and Le Thanh Ton areas, traditional medicine on Trieu Quang Phuc area, votive offerings on Luong Nhu Hoc street, worship items on Nguyen Chi Thanh and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets...

Supermarkets and shopping malls

Although it has only appeared in the last few years, supermarkets have shown great attraction because of the rich food and consumer goods, diverse types, each item can have up to dozens of different brands, making it easy to choose goods, guaranteed quality and affordable prices, especially sold at a fixed price, so it is convenient for busy people who do not have time to go to the market to check prices. In hot weather, shopping in an air-conditioned supermarket is also less tiring. Most supermarkets have a play area specifically for children.

Shopping malls are not as popular as supermarkets, and often sell high-end consumer goods, especially imported goods from famous brands in the world.


world, expensive jewelry or exquisite souvenirs. In contrast to markets and supermarkets where goods are abundant, shopping malls often choose goods more refined than quantity, and display them more luxuriously and attractively.

This system of markets - supermarkets - shopping centers serves tourists day and night (but only until 10pm).

Shopping spots

Night shopping is also a new tourism trend nowadays. Saigonese or domestic tourists from the provinces often go to supermarkets at night. Foreigners on business trips only visit the city for a short time, so they take advantage of the night to go shopping for “Saigon gifts”… Most tourists consider night shopping as a form of entertainment, and also to explore the night-time shopping activities of Saigonese.

The goods are rich, colorful, and of all types, from everyday items to famous specialties from all over the country, from domestically produced goods to prestigious international brands in the world. The stores are often beautifully decorated, especially the handicraft and fashion stores, each store is like a small work of art.

Saigonese still believe in "Buy with friends, sell with partners", so they spontaneously create many business districts with the same products, making it easy for customers to see and choose. The shops are next to each other, so to keep customers, sellers often do not haggle too much. Some shops sell at fixed prices. However, you still have to be careful about price and quality, especially when shopping in the market.

Attractions - entertainment

The system of museums, theaters, cultural houses, and French architectural works are attractive tourist destinations. With more than 300 years of formation and development, Ho Chi Minh City has many ancient architectural works such as: Xa Tay Palace, Opera House, Post Office, a system of ancient pagodas (Giac Lam Pagoda, Ba Thien Hau Pagoda, To Dinh Giac Vien Pagoda...), a system of ancient churches (Duc Ba, Huyen Sy...)...

Along with economic development and improved living standards, entertainment activities are increasingly receiving more attention to meet people's needs for relaxation and rest.


city ​​people after stressful working hours. The development of tourism has created the need to serve tourists, which has also contributed to enriching this service sector.

It can be seen that the city's entertainment activities are quite diverse and always have innovation, creativity, and the quality of service is constantly improved. Entertainment venues have quickly grasped the world's modern entertainment technologies, from thrilling games, virtual games, underwater games, laser lighting techniques to variety shows originating from strange lands such as dolphin circus, whale circus... Even cafes, karaoke bars, bars, and discotheques are constantly upgrading their sound and lighting equipment, creating their own style and atmosphere.

In addition, there is a trend of returning to nature and promoting national culture. Along with the expansion of the inner city, there have been a number of new parks and tourist areas with green and airy spaces, with folk architecture and decoration, which are interesting places to rest and relax.

Sports facilities are quite diverse, with recent developments including swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling, golf and many health clubs.

2.3. Current status of night tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City

2.3.1. Ho Chi Minh City's target night tourism market

The source of tourists participating in night tourism activities in Ho Chi Minh City is very diverse, including both domestic and international tourists.

For the domestic tourist market, the city's tourism industry focuses on the market for tourists who are looking for relaxation, entertainment, weekend getaways, shopping, family travel, incentives, business travel, and other specialized tourism such as: ecology, sports, medical treatment, health care, beauty, etc.

For the international tourist market, the city's tourism industry focuses on exploiting the international tourist market near: Northeast Asia (Japan, China, Korea), Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand); increasing exploitation of the high-end tourist market from Western Europe (France, Germany, UK, Netherlands), Northern Europe, North America (USA, Canada) and Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine), Pacific (Australia,


New Zealand); continue to promote new markets: Middle East, India; and promote and develop the youth tourism market within the lower Mekong region.


Chart 2.1: Groups of tourists participating in night tourism activities in the city

Ho Chi Minh City


TOURISTS

DOMESTIC 42%

TOURISTS

INTERNATIONAL 58%


(According to author's survey)


The author's survey results show that 42% of domestic tourists participating in night tourism activities in Ho Chi Minh City are mainly tourists under 30 years old; 58% of night tourists in Ho Chi Minh City are international tourists, aged from 30 to 60. They are tourists from the US, UK, Russia, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. This is a source of visitors that brings in large revenue for the city's tourism industry.


Table 2.2: Results of tourism activities in Ho Chi Minh City during the period

2009 - 2013



Year

Total international visitors

(million views)

Increase compared to the same period last year

last (%)

Total tourism revenue

(billion VND)

Increase compared to the same period last year

last (%)

2009

2.6

-7

35

13

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Conditions on Political Security, Social Security and Tourism Development Policies



2010

3.1

20

41

17

2011

3.5

12.9

49

19.5

2012

3.8

8.5

71.2

25.3

2013

4.1

8.1

83.1

17

(Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City)


2.3.2. Promoting night tourism image in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is the country's major economic, political and cultural center. The total number of international visitors to the city in 2013 is estimated at 4,109,000, up 8.1% over the same period, reaching 100.2% of the 2013 plan, accounting for 55% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam. Total tourism revenue in 2013 is estimated at VND83,191 billion, up 17% over the same period, reaching 100% of the plan, accounting for 44% of Vietnam's total tourism revenue.

To achieve that result, one of the important reasons is that in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry has strengthened tourism promotion and advertising with many diverse and effective forms in the direction of innovation and professionalism.

Events, typically the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair, are a good opportunity to promote the image of local tourism through the attraction brought by the event itself, encouraging tourists to participate and experience the unique and attractive cultural features of the destination. And also through participating in activities at domestic and international tourism fairs and exhibitions, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism brand has become increasingly closer to tourists.

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center has effectively deployed and implemented many activities to promote the image of the destination, launched in key and potential markets in the world such as: attending the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 in Laos; MITT Tourism Fair in Russia; coordinating with Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association to organize a Road Show to promote the city's tourism in the Middle East market, ATM Tourism Fair in Dubai (UAE), HCMC Expo Fair

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