The 20th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2026) commenced on August 27, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lasting three days through August 29, the event hosts more than 520 exhibitors alongside 260 international buyers representing over 40 countries and territories.
Exhibitors and Participants Across Countries and Industries
The expo brings together tourism promotion agencies and businesses from 34 Vietnamese provinces and cities, alongside major companies in travel, accommodation, aviation, transport, and tourism technology sectors. International participants include representatives from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Bhutan, Russia’s St. Petersburg, and
Nicaragua. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada also took part in promoting Vietnam’s tourism offerings.
Official Statements on Expo’s Growth and Vision
Nguyen Loc Ha, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, described the expo’s 20th anniversary as a crucial milestone marking a new development phase focused on enhancing the quality of connections and cooperation between partners. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong emphasized that ITE HCMC has evolved from a traditional trade promotion event into an international travel expo and a key annual gathering for the tourism industry.
Business-to-Business Networking and Appointments
More than 21,000 business-to-business appointments were
scheduled as part of ITE HCMC 2026, facilitating extensive networking between the 260 international buyers and Vietnamese tourism businesses. This platform enables vendors to showcase their products, establish partnerships, and explore new market opportunities.
Tourism Trends and Public Engagement
The expo spotlighted emerging tourism sectors including green and digital tourism, waterway and metro tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions), medical tourism, and cultural and rural tourism experiences. Vietnamese destinations such as Da Nang, Hoi An, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc were prominently displayed. The JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort, developed by Sun Group, was the only Vietnamese hotel featured among notable hotels. ITE
HCMC 2026 was open to the public from the afternoon of August 27 through August 29, featuring cultural performances, culinary showcases, OCOP products, and promotional programs.
Airport Infrastructure Expansion
Da Nang International Airport is expanding its Passenger Terminal T1 with a project budget exceeding 9.9 trillion VND (about 379 million USD). The upgrade aims to increase annual passenger capacity to 14 million, including 10 million domestic and 4 million international passengers.
Regional Tourism Cooperation and Industry Development
ITE HCMC functions as Asia-Pacific’s established forum for tourism cooperation, policy dialogue, and knowledge sharing. The event enhances collaboration between tourism management agencies, businesses, airlines, and service providers, positioning Ho Chi Minh
City and other Vietnamese destinations as competitive players in the global tourism market.
