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 attracted nearly 48,000 visitors, making it the largest edition since its inception in 2005.
Organization and Theme of ITE HCMC 2026
ITE HCMC 2026 was conducted under the theme “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations,” aiming to connect diverse stakeholders in the tourism sector including authorities, international organizations, travel and MICE businesses, buyers, media, content creators, and the general public. The expo was directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Joint organization responsibilities were held by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, while implementation was managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company.
Record Business Meetings and Participant Diversity
More than 21,000 business-to-business meetings were conducted during the expo, a record in its history. The event expanded international participation and served as a regional platform aligning global travel businesses with Vietnam’s tourism opportunities. Participants included government officials, tourism professionals, buyers, media representatives, and industry content creators.
Key Program Topics and High-Level Forum
ITE HCMC
2026 addressed subjects such as MICE tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and artificial intelligence, medical tourism, innovation, and enhanced international market connectivity. The High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism gathered over 400 government, industry, and business representatives, including Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, facilitating dialogue on Vietnam’s tourism development in the new era.
Mekong Subregion Ministerial Meetings and Bilateral Engagements
For the first time in Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC concurrently hosted tourism ministerial meetings and Senior Officials’ Meetings of the CLV, ACMECS, and CLMV groups. These meetings elevated cooperation on regional connectivity, sustainable tourism development, and market expansion. City leaders conducted bilateral discussions
with the Cambodian Minister of Tourism’s delegation, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines on institutional cooperation and destination promotion.
Familiarization Tours and Public Engagement
Sixteen familiarization and press-trip itineraries introduced more than 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives, and content creators to cultural, heritage, culinary, urban, resort, golf, green, and ecological tourism offerings in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby southern Vietnam destinations. The public program combined tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, OCOP products, and cultural performances, facilitating direct connections between tourism businesses and consumers and stimulating
travel demand.
Future Plans and Expo Background
Founded in 2005, ITE HCMC remains Vietnam’s leading annual international travel expo and a pivotal tourism trade platform in the Mekong subregion. Following the 2026 event’s success, the 21st edition of ITE HCMC is scheduled from September 9 to 11, 2027, again at the SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to continue fostering international travel-trade connections and business opportunities for Vietnam’s tourism sector.
