ITE HCMC 2026, the 20th edition of the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo, will take place from 27 to 29 August 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The event, themed ‘Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations,’ is expected to be the largest edition since its inception in 2005, showcasing a significant expansion in scale and participation.
Exhibitor and Buyer Participation Scale
The exposition will feature more than 520 exhibitors and 260 international buyers representing regions including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Oceania. A robust hosted buyers programme, unique in Vietnam, is driving
a growth in B2B appointments eight times higher than in early years. Scheduling includes 21,000 business-to-business meetings through Buyers-Sellers Speed Dating on 26 August and B2B Business Matching sessions on 27 and 28 August.
Organisational Framework and Leadership
ITE HCMC 2026 is organised under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Joint organisers include the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, with organisational support from the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company. Pham Huy
Binh directs the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.
Concurrent Ministerial Meetings and International Partners
The event will host three concurrent Tourism Ministers’ Meetings for Mekong subregional cooperation frameworks, enhancing its diplomatic significance. International organisations participating include UN Tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau. Corporate partners associated with the event include Google, Mastercard, EuroCham, and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
Thematic Forums and Public Engagement
On 27 August, the Tourism Forum titled ‘Shaping the Future of MICE Tourism: Innovation, Sustainability and Global Connectivity’ will bring together government and tourism leaders alongside representatives from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Thailand
Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Mastercard, and Google. The expo’s public-facing programme features artistic performances, cultural exchanges, culinary experiences, and interactive activities for direct consumer participation.
Pham Huy Binh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated that the event not only marks a time milestone but reflects growing maturity in scale, quality, and standing. He highlighted the importance of hosting the Mekong subregional Tourism Ministers’ Meetings and thematic forums addressing trends such as artificial intelligence, destination brand management, medical tourism, and tourism technology start-ups.
