CAN THO TARGETS TOURISM REVENUE OF VND22 TRILLION BY 2030

Foreign tourists sample local specialties at a resident’s home on Son Islet in Can Tho City - PHOTO: NGOC KHUYEN

HCMC – By 2030, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho looks to attract around 18 million visitors and generate tourism revenue of VND20–22 trillion as it seeks to make tourism a key economic sector contributing at least 10% of the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP).

The strategic target is outlined in a newly issued resolution by the Can Tho City Party Committee on accelerating tourism development.

The roadmap is divided into two phases. In 2026–2030, the city aims to maintain annual tourism revenue growth of more than 10%, with international visitors accounting for 10–15% of total arrivals. Looking ahead to 2035, the city expects its green tourism economy to contribute 10–15% of GRDP.

To mobilize resources for implementation, Can Tho plans synchronized investment in tourism-supporting infrastructure, including regional transport networks, ports and terminals, accommodation facilities, information technology platforms, and financial and healthcare services.

In terms of tourism products, the city intends to shift toward higher value-added segments, focusing on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), river-based ecotourism, cultural and spiritual tourism, and community-based tourism.

To support investment flows and broader participation from economic stakeholders, the city’s People’s Council will review and refine regulations while introducing tailored policy mechanisms. Priority will be given to promoting community tourism models and encouraging green tourism startups to enable local residents to participate more actively in the tourism value chain.

The city’s confidence in accelerating growth is supported by recent performance. According to local authorities, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, Can Tho welcomed more than 3.44 million visitors, equivalent to 28% of its annual target. Of that total, more than 192,000 were international arrivals, generating estimated tourism revenue of around VND3.1 trillion.

Source: The Saigon Times