The 20th edition of the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) will be held from August 27 to 29, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The event is projected to be the largest since the Expo’s inception in 2005, with participation from over 520 exhibitors and 260 international buyers representing regions including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
Organisers, Venue, and Hosted Buyers Programme
ITE HCMC 2026 is hosted at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) under the theme ‘Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations’. The event operates under the direction of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Joint organisers include the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company as co-organisers.
A hosted buyers programme will bring 260 high-level international buyers to the event, a unique offering in Vietnam’s travel expo calendar. The programme significantly increases business-to-business (B2B) interactions and enhances the scale and quality of the Expo’s networking opportunities.
B2B Schedules, Ministers’ Meetings, and Forums
ITE HCMC 2026 will facilitate 21,000 prescheduled B2B appointments, marking an increase of
more than eight times compared to earlier editions. The event will open with Buyers-Sellers Speed Dating on August 26, the day before the Expo’s Opening Ceremony. B2B Business Matching sessions are set for August 27 and 28.
Simultaneously, Ho Chi Minh City will host three Tourism Ministers’ Meetings representing Mekong subregional cooperation frameworks. International participants include UN Tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Corporate partners such as Google, Mastercard, EuroCham, and the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) will also take part.
A Tourism Forum on August
27 will focus on innovation, sustainability, and connectivity in MICE tourism. Representatives from GSTC, TCEB, PATA, Mastercard, and Google will join government and industry leaders in addressing topics including artificial intelligence, destination brand management, medical tourism, and tourism technology startups.
Public Engagement and Cultural Activities
The Expo will include a public-facing programme with artistic performances, cultural exchanges, culinary events, and interactive activities designed to engage consumers. The public programme aims to enhance cultural understanding and provide immersive experiences alongside the business events.
Official Statements and Event Significance
Pham Huy Binh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, described ITE HCMC 2026 as a milestone representing growth in
the event’s scale, quality, and industry standing. He emphasized that the Expo’s timing is significant as it convenes important Mekong regional Tourism Ministers’ Meetings and thematic forums that explore key future trends in tourism.
