Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City will host the 20th edition of the International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) from August 27 to 29 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). More than 520 exhibitors and 260 international buyers from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Oceania are expected at Vietnam’s largest international travel expo since its inception in 2005.
Directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC 2026 is jointly organized by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department
of Tourism, with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company as co-organizers. The theme for this 20th edition is “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations.” The hosted buyers programme, unique in Vietnam, will facilitate 21,000 B2B appointments, including Buyers-Sellers Speed Dating on August 26 and B2B Business Matching on August 27 and 28. Pre- and post-tours are arranged for international buyers and media representatives.
Government and Industry Engagements
Three Tourism Ministers’ Meetings linked to Mekong subregional cooperation frameworks will be held simultaneously. International organizations including UN Tourism, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Sustainable Tourism
Council (GSTC), and Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) will participate. Global corporate partners Google, Mastercard, EuroCham, and the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) will also be involved. The Tourism Forum on August 27 will focus on “Shaping the Future of MICE Tourism: Innovation, Sustainability and Global Connectivity,” covering topics such as artificial intelligence, destination brand management, medical tourism, and tourism technology start-ups.
Public Engagement and Cultural Programs
A public-facing program includes artistic performances, cultural exchanges, culinary experiences, and interactive activities engaging travelers and consumers. These events emphasize Vietnam’s tourism diversity beyond the business segments.
Expo Growth and Strategic Importance
Pham Huy Binh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department
of Tourism, said: “The 20th anniversary of ITE HCMC 2026 is not simply a milestone in time; it also reflects the Expo’s growing maturity in terms of scale, quality and standing. Over the three days of the event, Ho Chi Minh City is honoured to host the Tourism Ministers’ Meetings of Mekong subregional co-operation frameworks, while also bringing together a series of thematic forums addressing the trends shaping the future of tourism, including artificial intelligence (AI), destination brand management, medical tourism and tourism technology start-ups.” Growth in B2B appointments is attributed to the dynamic hosted buyers programme. The event reinforces
Ho Chi Minh City’s role as a hub for tourism cooperation and innovation in Southeast Asia within broader Mekong initiatives.
