The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) took place from August 27 to 29, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The event recorded its largest turnout with close to 48,000 visitors and facilitated more than 21,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings, confirming its status as Vietnam’s foremost international travel exposition.
Organizers and Government Involvement
ITE HCMC 2026 was directed by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism partnered with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism to
jointly organize the event. Its execution was managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company along with other relevant agencies and partners.
Focus on MICE Tourism, Sustainability, and Innovation
Operating under the theme “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations,” the expo concentrated on sectors including MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology including artificial intelligence, medical tourism, and international market connectivity. The High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism convened over 400 government officials, industry leaders, and business stakeholders and featured Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra as a key attendee. The forum
served as a platform for policy discussion and cooperation opportunities to advance Vietnam’s tourism sector.
Regional Tourism Diplomacy and International Engagement
ITE HCMC 2026 also hosted the CLV, ACMECS, and CLMV tourism ministerial meetings and their Senior Officials’ Meetings, marking the first time Ho Chi Minh City served as the venue for such coordinated regional tourism discussions. City officials engaged in bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with delegates from Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines. Discussions focused on institutional partnerships, international network expansion, destination promotion, and
tourism development strategies.
Public Programs and Familiarization Trips Supporting Tourism Growth
The expo offered 16 familiarization and press-trip itineraries for more than 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives, and content creators. These tours showcased cultural, heritage, culinary, and urban experiences within Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding resort, golf, green, and ecological tourism destinations. The public-facing segment featured tourism products, travel deals, regional cuisine, OCOP-certified products, and cultural performances, providing direct engagement between tourism businesses and consumers to stimulate travel demand and product development.
Next Edition and Historical Context
The 21st edition of ITE HCMC is scheduled for September 9 to 11, 2027 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City. Founded in
2005, ITE HCMC has grown as a major tourism trade platform within the Mekong subregion, promoting inbound and outbound tourism through business matching, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships connecting global markets with Vietnamese destinations.
