VietNamNet Bridge – The city government will organize many year-end events to attract tourists such as the Shopping and Tourism Program, Consumption Promotion Fair, Culinary Festival and so on.

According to the HCMC Tourism Promotion Center, the city tourism department and the tourism association will hold the Shopping and Tourism Program in December. The event will feature special promotions and new services for visitors with the participation of nearly 500 organizations and agencies such as shopping centers, markets, travel firms, hotels, health care and food services.

The Consumption Promotion Fair 2014 will take place from December 28 to January 3, 2015 at Phu Tho Stadium in District 11 with more than 400 booths of garment, food, cosmetics, handicraft and leather companies.

The annual culinary festival Delicacies from Around the World will be held on December 1-4 at September  23 Park in District 1. Some 60 restaurants and hotels in Vietnam representing 20 countries and territories will introduce delicious dishes and unique culinary features to locals and tourists. Besides familiar events, over 60 kinds of Vietnamese traditional cakes will be presented by over 100 chefs in the festival.

The ceremony to welcome first tourists of the New Year will take place on January 1, 2015 in Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

HCMC expects 4.4 million international arrivals this year, up 7% compared to 2013. The number of international visitors in January-October is estimated at 3.5 million, rising 8% year-on-year. The total tourism revenue is estimated at VND72.7 trillion, increasing 5% compared to same period last year.

SGT/VNN