Ho Chi Minh City, March 5 -- The Ho Chi Minh City tourism sector's robust growth is increasingly intertwined with the expanding role of overseas Vietnamese (OVs), who are helping draw international visitors and promote the image of a dynamic, compassionate metropolis.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, during the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 2026, total tourism revenue reached 12.15 trillion VND (over 463 million USD), up 42.9% year-on-year. The city recorded 4.32 million visitor arrivals, a rise of 35%, including 170,000 international arrivals, up 51.7%.

Inbound travel during the holiday period saw strong growth in urban sightseeing, cultural and culinary experiences, and inter-regional tours, trends that ali...