On the afternoon of March 25, Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Culinary Association, held a seminar titled “Developing the Night Economy – A Driver for Ho Chi Minh City’s Growth.”
Experts estimate that the night economy accounts for 45 percent to 70 percent of tourism service revenue; however, Vietnam has not effectively leveraged this potential.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel and the Vietnam Culinary Culture Association, said that the lack of nighttime products is a major bottleneck for the tourism sector.
Currently, most tourism activities operate between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., generating approximately 30 percent of the total revenue. In contrast, the period from 6 p.m. to around 2 a.m. could generate up to 70 percent of service revenue but remains underdeveloped.
The key challenge is changing mindsets and introducing robust policies to motivate both residents and businesses to engage. With the right support and fewer barriers, the night economy could emerge as a major driver of tourism growth.
According to Mr. Vo Viet Hoa, Director of International Tourism and Head of International Product Development at Saigontourist Travel Services Company, noted that international tourists, especially MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) and leisure groups, show strong demand for nighttime experiences. However, the market needs a safe, convenient and well-structured ecosystem, with clear branding, transparent pricing, and seamless integration into tour packages.
He proposed bundling services into integrated experience packages, linking river tours, cultural-culinary experiences, and entertainment-shopping clusters to maximize value.
