Ho Chi Minh City seeks unique tourism gifts

Souvenirs tell the City's story

According to the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, in the first eight months of 2026, the City is estimated to welcome approximately 7.77 million international visiting arrivals and 35.5 million domestic ones, with total tourism revenue reaching nearly 259,700 billion VND.

With the increase in visitors, diversifying products to serve tourists has become an increasingly clear requirement. Souvenirs are not just items bought after a trip but can also become a way to promote the destination.

A well-designed product can preserve memories of Ho Chi Minh City while telling the story of the city's culture, history, architecture, and people.

Ms. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the contest aims for products that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also have a story, identity, applicability, and practical production potential.

According to the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, as the city's tourism space expands, diversifying products, enhancing experiences, and increasing tourist spending require distinctive products that can create a lasting impression on the destination.

According to Ms. Hoa, creativity needs to be aligned with market demands so that an idea can become a product and reach tourists.

Three Spaces for Creativity

The contest is divided into three categories. Category A is for gifts serving conferences, seminars, festivals, and cultural-tourism events. Category B is for souvenirs serving domestic and international tourists. Category C focuses on brand promotion products and partner enterprises.

Participants include organisations and individuals, both domestic and international, who are legally residing, studying, or working in Vietnam. The organisers encourage designers, artisans, artists, architects, lecturers, students, businesses, and the creative community to participate.

Products must reflect the identity of Ho Chi Minh City through cultural, historical, architectural, or human elements. Besides aesthetics, products need to be producible, transportable, and commercializable. The use of sustainable, environmentally friendly materials and the promotion of local handicraft values are also encouraged.

Ho Chi Minh City seeks unique tourism gifts.

The top prize for Category A is 80 million VND, Category B is 70 million VND, and Category C is 50 million VND. Besides the first prize, each category also has second, third, and consolation prizes.

The organisers will accept submissions from August 21 to October 21, 2026. The award ceremony and product exhibition are expected to take place in December.

Notably, after the contest, outstanding products will be guided towards completion, promotion, production connection, and gradually integrated into the city's tourism, promotion, foreign affairs, and events activities.

For Ho Chi Minh City, the goal of the contest is not just to add another list of souvenirs. More importantly, it is to find products distinctive enough that when seen, tourists can remember the City.

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