Ho Chi Minh City plans festivals to attract tourists

A fashion show at the 2017
Ao Dai Festival last March in HCM City
(Photo sodulich.hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

A slew of cultural, art, cuisine and tourism events are scheduled in the next few months to attract more tourists to HCM City, according to the Department of Tourism.

Speaking at a meeting with the city’s People’s Committee last Friday (May 5), the director of the department, Bui Ta Hoang Vu, said his department would organise the Southern Land Cuisine Festival from May 24 to 28 at Dam Sen Park and the Southern Fruit Festival in June at Suoi Tien Theme Park.

The first Fashionology Festival would be held in October on Nguyen Hue Street in the downtown area, he said.

The festival will feature a 3D mapping fashion show themed “Sai Gon in the past and present,” street art performances, an exhibition and online shopping programmes.

It is expected to attract 50 local and foreign fashion designers and fashion companies and involve more than 200 models.

Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said tourism authorities need to strengthen links with travel agents and tour operators to make these festivals reach visitors.

The department should expand the scale of its annual cultural, cuisine and art events and arrange more special traditional music and art performances at such festivals, he said.

In March the annual Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) Festival attracted huge crowds of both locals and foreigners.