Cambodia and the authorities of Ho Chi Minh City have pledged to organise a Familiarisation Trip (FAM) to explore the tourism potential between the two countries. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for the private sectors of both sides to meet directly and cooperate in jointly promoting the tourism potential of each nation more broadly.
This commitment was made during a September 4 meeting between Minister of Tourism Huot Hak and Nguyễn Văn Được, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Hak expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for initiating efforts to strengthen and expand tourism cooperation between the city and Cambodia. The goal is to boost both domestic and international tourist visits to both countries.
“Both countries possess unique and complementary tourism potential that can support each other in attracting visitors from all around the world,” he said.
He also extended an invitation to the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and other meeting participants to visit Cambodia for a FAM tour of the country’s tourism sector.
The tourism ministry stated that through this meeting, both parties agreed to organise FAM tours, and also committed to jointly promoting the tourism potential of Cambodia and Vietnam more widely — both to their own populations and to a global audience.
Khiev Thy, president of the Angkor Tour Guide Association, told The Post that during this time of global political and economic uncertainty, tourists from neighbouring and regional countries are especially important.
He noted that Vietnam is a large country with a high population and many international tourists. Therefore, if Cambodia can establish strong cooperation and widespread promotion in Vietnam, it could significantly benefit the Kingdom’s economy and tourism sector.
He added that once the expressway connecting Phnom Penh to the Vietnam border (Bavet City) is completed, it will become a key factor in boosting trade and tourism exchanges between the two countries.
According to the tourism ministry, in the first seven months of 2025, Cambodia received 3.71 million international tourists — a 0.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Vietnamese tourists totalled 714,614, a 5.7% decline. Vietnamese tourists accounted for 19.3% of all international arrivals.
