Speaking at the April 22 programme, Truong Thi Minh Kieu, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of District 5 said the district will launch a street for gold and silver trading on April 27, besides a well-known street for traditional herbal medicine.

Gold and silver businesses have been developed since the 1980s along several roads of the district, such as Nhieu Tam, Nghia Thuc and Bui Huu Nghia where the unique culture of silver craft villages in the Sai Gon - Cho Lon area is preserved.

District 5 plans to turn Nguyen Trai street into a fashion world for tourists. 

Statistics by the municipal Department of Tourism show that tourism contributes an average of about 80 trillion VND to the city annually, accounting for 9 percent of the Gross Regional Domestic Product.

The southern economic hub hopes to welcome 7 million international tourist arrivals and 25 million domestic visitors to earn 120 trillion VND in revenue this year.

Many things need to be done to fulfill these goals, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Bui Ta Hoang Vu said, suggesting that not only authorities but also local travel agencies and residents play a role in helping the city become a more appealing destination.

Local authorities should work to ensure social security and food safety, particularly by reducing pickpocketing and robbery.

The city has focused their tourism promotion efforts on several overseas markets, for example, Russia, Japan and India.

At a meeting on plan to develop tourism on April 21, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen said the city will develop its signature tourism products and host at least one festival every month.

It has considered hosting an annual festival for Viet Nam’s “ao-dai” in March or organising a flower street during Tet holiday.