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. This edition was the largest in the event’s history.
ITE HCMC 2026 facilitated more than 21,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings and brought together a diverse group of participants, including tourism authorities, international organizations, travel and MICE enterprises, buyers, media representatives, content creators, and the public.
The event, themed “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations,” addressed key industry topics such as MICE tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and artificial
intelligence, medical tourism, innovation, and expanding international market connectivity. The High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism convened more than 400 attendees, including Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and government, industry, and business leaders.
Concurrent with the expo, the CLV, ACMECS, and CLMV tourism ministerial meetings and their Senior Officials’ Meetings were held in Ho Chi Minh City. These gatherings focused on enhancing tourism cooperation and connectivity in the Mekong subregion, positioning the city as a central platform for regional tourism diplomacy.
Officials from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
held bilateral discussions with the Cambodian Minister of Tourism delegation, as well as representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines. These meetings concentrated on institutional cooperation, destination promotion, and tourism development strategies.
As part of the program, sixteen familiarization and press-trip routes introduced over 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media, and content creators to cultural, heritage, culinary, and urban experiences in Ho Chi Minh City. The trips also showcased resort, golf, green, and ecological tourism offerings in nearby southern Vietnam, supporting local product development and
promoting the city as a gateway to the region.
The public segment of the event featured tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, OCOP goods, and cultural performances designed to stimulate demand and provide tourism businesses with direct channels to consumers.
Founded in 2005, ITE HCMC is Vietnam’s leading annual international travel expo and a key platform in the Mekong subregion connecting destinations, travel professionals, buyers, and media. The next edition, ITE HCMC 2027, is scheduled for September 9 to 11, 2027, at the SECC in Ho Chi Minh City.
