Ho Chi Minh City welcomed about 382,000 foreign visitors in January, up 12 percent over the same period last year, according to the municipal Culture, Sport and Tourism Department.

During the first month of the year, the city’s tourism sector earned 7.9 trillion VND (376.2 million USD), a rise of 17 percent against last January.

This year, the sector targets 4.4 million foreign visitors, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent and equivalent to 55 percent of the country’s total.

It will focus on developing waterway tourism and introducing this product at big events both at home and abroad.

In 2013, foreign arrivals to HCM City is estimated at 4.1 million, increasing 8.1 percent over 2012 and reaching 100.2 percent of the set target.

Total tourism turnover valued at almost 82 trillion VND (3.8 billion USD), accounting for 43 percent of the country’s figure.

Source: VNA