The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) was held from August 27 to 29, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It became the largest edition in the event’s history with nearly 48,000 visitors and over 1,200 exhibitors representing 40 countries and territories, generating more than 21,000 business-to-business meetings across the three-day event.
Event Organization and Key Themes
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 jointly organized the expo. Implementation was managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company. The event focused on themes including Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and artificial intelligence, medical tourism, and international market connectivity. The High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism included more than 400 government officials, industry leaders, and business representatives, with attendance by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra.
Regional Tourism Diplomacy Meetings and Bilateral Engagements
For the first time, ITE HCMC hosted ministerial meetings and senior official sessions for three Mekong subregion groups: Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam
(CLV), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam (CLMV). These meetings advanced regional cooperation on connectivity, sustainable tourism, and market development. During the expo, city leaders conducted bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with delegations including the Cambodian Minister of Tourism, representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines, focusing on expanding institutional cooperation and tourism promotion.
Familiarization Trips and Public Engagement
Sixteen familiarization and press-trip itineraries featured over 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives, and content creators. These trips showcased cultural, heritage, culinary, urban, resort, golf, ecological,
and green tourism products in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby southern Vietnam destinations. The public program presented tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, One Commune One Product (OCOP) items, and cultural performances. These activities supported tourism product development and positioned Ho Chi Minh City as a gateway to the region, while providing direct engagement opportunities between tourism businesses and consumers.
Historical Context and Future Dates
Founded in 2005, ITE HCMC is Vietnam’s leading annual international travel expo and a prominent platform in the Mekong subregion for connecting sellers, buyers, travel professionals, and media partners. The 2026 edition marked its 20th anniversary and expanded its
international outreach and influence. The next edition, ITE HCMC 2027, is scheduled for September 9 to 11, 2027, again at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
