The city’s tourism sector will expand its operations to potential markets such as Norway, Sweden, India, Indonesia and South Africa, in addition to the key markets of the US, Canada, France, Japan, China and ASEAN.

The Tourism Department and the Tourism Association will work with domestic airlines to conduct campaigns abroad to highlight the country’s history and traditional culture, and actively participate in international tourism fairs and forums.

A series of tourism promotion activities will be held in the country’s major cities, namely Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue, Da Lat, Nha Trang and Can Tho, to attract more local visitors to HCM City.

In addition to improving the quality of service, the city will begin to run a series of new tours that combine tourism with high-quality medical check-ups and treatment, spas and traditional therapies.

In the first half of 2008, HCM City welcomed nearly 1.5 million foreign tourists, a year-on-year rise of 16 percent. The figure is expected to reach 3 million by the end of the year.

The US ranks first in visitor numbers, followed by Canada, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Singapore, China and Malaysia.

The city earned around VND14.6 trillion from tourism during the reviewed period, up 40 percent from last year.

HCM City boasts many historical sites and fascinating architectural works like the Chu Chi tunnels, Thong Nhat Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Giac Lam Pagoda.