With more than 8.48 million visitors in 2018, the city’s tourism industry has reached 106% of the year’s plan, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period in 2017. In terms of accommodation services, the city has received more than 2.66 million visitors, up by 21.7% in comparison with the same period of last year. Particularly, international tourists reached over 363,800, an increase of 19.2% compared to the same period in 2017. The total revenue reached to 3,785 billion VND, up by 30.6% over the same period, constituting 108% of the year plan. The city’s tourism industry has a significant increase in accommodation and revenue - important criteria for assessing the tourism attractiveness of a city or a country. The above result is an effort not only for the tourism industry but also for the city political system, especially since the Resolution No.03 of the city Party Committee on tourism development has issued important decisions. Since then, Can Tho tourism has been constantly innovating, investing in improving the quality of tourism products, organizing festival and events, focusing on human resource training, developing new methods and actively promoting and advertising tourism.

To improve the quality of tourism products system, Can Tho City has built a system of typical tourist sites at the city level and at the Mekong Delta level based on specific criteria, regulations and strict assessment of the Can Tho City Tourism Association and Mekong Delta Tourism Association. Accordingly, in 2018, Can Tho has one more typical tourist destination at the Mekong Delta level, bringing the total number of typical tourist destinations at the Mekong Delta level in Can Tho up to 6. Moreover, Can Tho has 12 typical tourist destinations at the city level after being approved by the Can Tho City Tourism Association with 3 new tourist sites. Up to now, the city has 32 tourist gardens, orchards (up 9 spots against last year), 19 homestays and a community tourist site in Son Islet. In 2018, there are 59 active travel enterprises (increasing by 5 enterprises compared to 2017), with 271 tourist accommodation establishments with over 7,100 rooms. The system of tourism facilities is developed quite synchronously. Tourism businesses gradually affirm their important role in promoting the growth of this smokeless industry.

Can Tho tourism is currently developing stably with clear orientation. Tourism products are more and more abundant and diverse. Furthermore, river tourism, MICE tourism, eco-tourism, community tourism in association with historical-cultural relics are being promoted. Promoting, advertising, connecting and cooperating activities in tourism development deeply increase into key tourism markets throughout the country. Awareness of all levels, sectors and the whole society about the position, role and importance of the tourism industry is raised, creating a foundation to boost tourism development. With this momentum, Can Tho tourism industry continues to set out several crucial contents needed to be implemented in 2019 in order to promote the efficiency and achieve the set goals and orientations, developing tourism industry into a spearhead economic sector.

Urban and river tourism with diverse products is the main development orientation of Can Tho tourism: MICE, eco-tourism, urban and river tourism, associated with historical - cultural relics and festivals. The city tourism industry in 2019 continues to coordinate with districts to survey and build indigenous products and promote the characteristics of the Mekong Delta region, especially the river tours. Furthermore, the city actively organizes events and festivals with unique cultural identities to attract tourists to stay in Can Tho longer. On the other hand, the city continues to monitor the progress, urge the implementation of the Project "Conservation and development of Cai Rang Floating Market". Departments, agencies and divisions will coordinate closely to assist City People's Committee to actively invite potential investors to invest in key tourism projects in the list of projects calling for investment in Can Tho city; improve the training and education of human resources for tourism to gradually meet the demand of tourism development in the integration period.

In 2019, Can Tho continues to effectively implement the Program of promoting and advertising tourism in Can Tho city in the period of 2018-2020, orientation to 2030; step-by-step professionalize the promoting and advertising activities at major programs, events and festivals in and outside the city; continue to encourage the application of information technology in tourism promotion and boost the effectiveness of promotional activities associated with products and markets; at the same time, research and survey the tourism market to develop tourism types and products according to the need of each customer, to increase the length of stay and expenditure of tourists. Furthermore, the local tourism industry continues to promote connection and establish attractive new tours in provinces and cities that have signed cooperation on tourism development, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang... as well as top domestic and international travel destinations.