At the meeting, Duoc emphasised the “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation” between Vietnam and Cambodia, and reaffirmed Ho Chi Minh City’s commitment to nurturing and promoting bilateral cooperation, especially with the capital city of Phnom Penh.

He also shared Ho Chi Minh City’s new development direction following its administrative merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces, expanding its development space to become an international mega-city and a leading economic, industrial, and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. Tourism remains a key pillar in the city’s comprehensive growth strategy, he said.

Minister Hak praised the professional organisation and effective promotion of ITE HCMC 2025, describing the event as an ideal platform for Cambodia to deepen tourism cooperation with Vietnamese localities and businesses.

He noted that in 2024, Cambodia welcomed over 6.7 million international visitors, including 1.35 million from Vietnam. The Minister expressed his desire to learn from Ho Chi Minh City’s experience in developing urban tourism, road tourism, and regional connectivity to boost the bilateral flow of tourists.

Both host and guest agreed to continue strengthening collaboration in tourism, including joint promotion efforts, expanding business connections, and facilitating easier travel for tourists from both countries.

The HCM City leader expressed his belief that the tourism industries of Vietnam and Cambodia would grow robustly, contributing significantly to the enduring friendship between the two countries.

HCM City hosts first-ever event series connecting tourism, trade and integration

VOV.VN - The 19th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City, the 2025 Export Forum, and Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 opened on September 4 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), marking the first-ever event series that connects the three key pillars of tourism, trade, and international integration in a unified platform.