The 20th edition of the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) is scheduled from 27 to 29 August 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Organised under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the event operates with the collaboration of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism. The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company co-organise the event
under the theme ‘Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations’. Since its inception in 2005, this Expo marks its 20th iteration.
Participation and Hosted Buyers Programme
ITE HCMC 2026 will feature more than 520 exhibitors and host 260 international buyers. These buyers represent regions including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Oceania. The number of B2B appointments has grown more than eight-fold compared to early editions, largely due to a dynamic hosted buyers programme that is exclusive to Vietnam’s tourism events.
Pre-scheduled B2B Activities
The event will include a Buyers-Sellers Speed Dating session on 26 August. B2B Business Matching will take place on 27 and 28 August, with
approximately 21,000 business-to-business appointments pre-arranged. International buyers and media will also have access to organised pre- and post-event tours to enhance networking and industry engagement.
International Organisations and Partners
Three regional Tourism Ministers’ Meetings of Mekong subregional co-operation frameworks are planned concurrently with the Expo, emphasizing Ho Chi Minh City’s role as a regional tourism hub. International organisations attending the event include UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Major corporate participants are Google, Mastercard, EuroCham, and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
Tourism Forum and Public Program
On 27 August, the Expo will host a Tourism
Forum themed ‘Shaping the Future of MICE Tourism: Innovation, Sustainability and Global Connectivity’. The forum will convene government and tourism industry leaders alongside representatives from GSTC, TCEB, PATA, Mastercard, and Google to address trends including artificial intelligence, destination branding, medical tourism, and tourism technology start-ups. Throughout the event, thematic workshops, presentations, and networking activities will be available. A public-facing program will present artistic performances, cultural exchanges, culinary events, and interactive consumer activities.
Pham Huy Binh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, notes the 20th anniversary highlights the Expo’s increased scale, quality, and status. The concurrent hosting
of Tourism Ministers’ Meetings and thematic forums underscores the event’s focus on future tourism trends and the region’s commitment to cooperative development.
