The sunset tour along the Sai Gon River.

According to travel firm Saigontourist, high-class hotels all provided discounts of between 30 and 55% for booking rooms  in the first quarter of this year.

Nguyen Hong Quang, Deputy Director of Rex Hotel Saigon, said that special programs for culinary services have also been offered to attract guests. 

“Our À la carte menu has been discounted by 25%. We have offered combos worth 13 USD, or 50% discount, for afternoon lunches. There are also  ‘Buy one, get one free’ promotions. We want 5-star hotels to be an option for middle-class guests, not just high-end customers,” said Quang.

Big tourist areas including ‘Mot thoang Viet Nam’ (A glimpse of Vietnam) in Cu Chi district have participated in the strategy to stimulate domestic tourism demand and introduced numerous promotions for city dwellers.

Another  holiday package that has piqued the interest of HCMC citizens is the sunset cruise along the Saigon River.

The tour used to serve foreigners and those from other provinces. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the guests have mainly been domestic tourists.

Indochina Junk Company has designed an affordable tour  from just 4 USD  per person, including a drink and a snack.

An Son Lam, Indochina Junk director, said, “Many people in Ho Chi Minh City have supported our sunset tour along the river. They admitted that they were born and grew up in HCM city, but this was the first time they had experienced a tour of this kind."

"When the COVID-19 pandemic is over, we hope our waterway tours remain popular amongst the residents of the city, so we can have an even larger number of customers than before.”

Ngoc Khuyen, a resident in Hoc Mon district, has organized a family music night on the cruise after experiencing a tour by the Indochina Junk.

“The Saigon River tour allowed me to experience the beautiful sunset and the romantic view of Ho Chi Minh City at night. After the trip, I decided to organize a family music night on the cruise. Many of my friends have asked me about the tour and where to buy the tickets,” said Khuyen.

HCMC residents experience a double-deck bus tour around the city offered by Anh Viet Company.

Alongside the cruise  along the river, Anh Viet Company is also discounting half of its price for a double-deck bus tour around Ho Chi Minh City.

The route passes familiar locations in the city including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Nguyen Hue Street, and Saigon Municipal Opera House.

“I have lived in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time and visited many places here, but watching the city from the bus at a moderate height gives me a different feeling. Ho Chi Minh City seems more beautiful,” HCMC resident Gia Huy told us about his experience of the service. 

The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel is one of dozens of accommodations in Ho Chi Minh City to introduce the domestic tourist stimulus program.

Truong Ngoc Y, a resident in district 12, said she was very satisfied with the service offered by the Myst Dong Khoi during the Lunar New Year 2021.

“I choose the Myst Dong Khoi Hotel because of its beautiful design and luxury service. I know a room at the hotel used to  cost no less than 170 USD a night. But now, it costs only half of the amount. I think hotels should increase promotion programs and advertisements so that the locals can enjoy a mini-break closer to home,” said Ngoc Y.