Ho Chi Minh is embracing its moment as a cultural hot spot in Southeast Asia, just 50 years after the country's reunification, which will be celebrated in April 2025 (Photo: CNTraveller/Anan Saigon)

According to CNTraveller, this southern Vietnamese metropolis has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism powerhouses, shattering pre-pandemic records by a healthy margin, and there’s no better time to visit than in 2025. Exactly 50 years after the Fall of Saigon ended the Vietnam War in 1975, Ho Chi Minh City – still referred to locally as Saigon – is set to unveil several grand events, exhibitions, and celebrations commemorating half a century of national reunification.

Those travelling domestically will be able to take advantage of Tan Son Nhat Airport’s Terminal 3, opening in 2025; then there’s the HCMC Metro, which, despite numerous delays, is rumored to finally offer its inaugural rides sometime next year. And that’s not to mention the forthcoming renovation of the city’s iconic Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel and the numerous others slated to open soon, including IHG's Hotel Indigo and the Kengo Kuma-designed Kempinski Saigon River.

Beyond urban and tourism infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City shines brightest as one of Southeast Asia’s cultural epicenters – a regional hub of commerce, dining, and fashion.  

The city, known during the French colonial era as the “Pearl of the Orient”, retains much of its old-world charm, from bustling markets to rustic street vendors hawking hu tieu noodle soup and banh mi sandwiches, said CNTraveller.