ITE Ho Chi Minh City 2026, Vietnam’s premier international travel expo, held from August 27 to 29 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), marked its 20th anniversary with record attendance and industry participation. Nearly 48,000 visitors attended this largest edition in the event’s history.
Participation in ITE HCMC 2026 included 1,200 exhibitors representing more than 40 countries. This diverse international presence expanded the expo’s role as a key platform connecting global tourism businesses with Vietnam’s travel market.
Business Engagement and Thematic Focus
The expo generated over 21,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings, reinforcing its significance for trade connections in tourism. Key themes addressed included MICE
tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and AI, medical tourism, innovation, and enhancing international market connectivity. The SECC venue facilitated extensive networking and knowledge sharing among participants.
Ministerial Meetings and Government Involvement
Concurrent with ITE HCMC 2026, the event hosted the CLV, ACMECS, and CLMV tourism ministerial meetings and Senior Officials’ Meetings, advancing regional cooperation on connectivity and sustainability within the Mekong subregion. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra attended the High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism, alongside over 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives, and industry leaders.
Official engagements included meetings between Ho Chi Minh City leaders and delegations from Cambodian Ministry of
Tourism, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines. The event was directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, organized by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, and executed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center with C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company.
Visitor Engagement and Regional Promotion
Sixteen familiarization and press-trip itineraries introduced over 400 government and industry participants to cultural, heritage, culinary, urban, resort, golf, green, and ecological tourism
options in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding southern Vietnam destinations. These programs supported product development and positioned the city as a gateway to the region.
The public program at ITE HCMC combined tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, OCOP products, and cultural performances, providing a direct platform for tourism businesses to engage consumers and stimulate travel demand.
Future Event and Industry Position
Following two decades of promoting Vietnam’s tourism sector internationally, ITE Ho Chi Minh City announced the dates for its 21st edition, scheduled for September 9 to 11, 2027 at the SECC. The event continues to serve as Vietnam’s leading annual international travel
expo, connecting destinations, buyers, sellers, travel professionals, and media partners through business matching and strategic partnerships supporting inbound and outbound tourism across the Mekong subregion.
