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 nearly 48,000 visitors and featured participation from 1,200 exhibitors, establishing it as the largest edition in the expo’s history under the theme “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations.” The event generated more than 21,000 business-to-business meetings.
Event Organization and Key Participants
ITE HCMC 2026 was directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and
the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism co-organized the expo. On-ground implementation was managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company, alongside several relevant agencies and partners.
Focused Programs and High-Level Attendance
The event’s program covered a broad spectrum including MICE tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and artificial intelligence, medical tourism, and international market connectivity. The High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism convened over 400 government, industry, and business representatives, with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra in attendance.
Ministerial Meetings and Tourism Diplomacy
Simultaneously, ITE HCMC 2026 hosted tourism ministerial meetings for the CLV, ACMECS, and
CLMV groups, along with their Senior Officials’ Meetings, promoting regional cooperation on connectivity and sustainable tourism development. Ho Chi Minh City officials conducted bilateral meetings involving the Cambodian Minister of Tourism, and representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines. These discussions centered on institutional collaboration, international networking, and tourism promotion.
Familiarization Trips and Public Engagement
Sixteen familiarization and press-trip itineraries introduced more than 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives, and content creators to tourism experiences across Ho Chi Minh City and nearby destinations in southern Vietnam, including cultural, heritage,
culinary, resort, golf, green, and ecological tourism products. The public program presented an array of tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, OCOP products, and cultural performances designed to stimulate travel demand and provide tourism businesses with direct consumer engagement opportunities.
Background and Future Dates
Founded in 2005, ITE HCMC is Vietnam’s premier annual international travel expo and a prominent tourism trade platform in the Mekong subregion. It facilitates business matching, market insights, and partnerships to support inbound and outbound tourism. The 21st edition of ITE HCMC is scheduled from September 9 to 11, 2027, again at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City.
