In the first quarter of 2013, the number of foreign tourists to Ho Chi Minh City was estimated at more than 1 million, a year-on-year rise of 8 percent and 25.6 percent of the year's target, announced the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Of the figure, number of foreigners arriving by air posted 830,000, a year-on-year rise of 5 percent. The city earned tourism revenue of more than VND20.6 trillion, a year-on-year rise of 20 percent.
Currently, the city is carrying out programs to attract tourists, especially foreign tourists, of which those to improve the quality of tourism products and develop new tourism products are attached particular importance. The city also focuses on developing river tourism.
The city's Department of Transport has submitted to the city's people committee an infrastructure development plan for river tourism. Accordingly, from now to 2015, it will invest at least VND22 trillion in repairing, upgrading and building 45 ports and wharfs to provide services for river tourism.