Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen security for tourists

Ho Chi Minh City plans to establish a tourist information and support office at the end of this year to provide information, advice and support for tourists, especially those encountering problems like robbery and illegal soliciting.
Foreign tourists get help from local volunteers to cross a busy street in downtown HCMC - PHOTO: DAO LOAN
HCMC Chairman Le Hoang Quan has approved a scheme proposed by the City’s Department of Tourism to form such a tourist help office. Two pilot information stations are expected to go up on September 23 at Park next to the landmark Ben Thanh Market and Bach Dang Wharf Park in District 1.
The stations, which would be open from 7:30 a.m to 10 p.m, are where tourist-related issues like robbery, illegal soliciting and overcharging can be handled. Visitors can also seek information and advice about quality tourism products and services at these stations.
The tourist information and support office is scheduled to come on stream in December. The cost of setting up the two stations is estimated at VND4.9 billion (US$220,000). The scheme will be piloted for a year before the city government weighs expanding it to Districts 3 and 5.
The HCMC Tourism Department said the city is really in need of such an office because the city attracts millions of visitors a year but they often have a hard time looking for trustworthy information about tourism products and services, and feel a lack of security in the city.