The 20th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2026) included a High-Level Tourism Forum focused on MICE industry development, held from August 27 to 29, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and gathered around 300 delegates, including senior government officials, ASEAN tourism ministers, diplomatic representatives, and global tourism experts.
Forum Leadership and Key Discussion Points
The Forum operated under the theme ‘MICE Tourism in the New Era: Sustainability – Connectivity – Opportunity.’ It was chaired
and moderated by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, and Vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha. Discussions concentrated on market shifts within the MICE sector, sustainable practices, integration of technology, policy framework development, and public-private partnership initiatives to enhance Vietnam’s position as a competitive MICE destination in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam’s Strategic Ambitions for the MICE Sector
Vietnam declared its intention to transition from a regional event location to an active influencer in shaping the global MICE industry towards sustainability, innovation, and smart technologies. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized this goal,
urging collaboration for the advancement of a greener and smarter MICE sector that supports wider regional integration and competitiveness.
Regional Cooperation and Policy Implementation
The Forum called for constructing a regional MICE ecosystem across the Mekong sub-region and Southeast Asia, aiming to move from fragmented competition to coordinated development aligned along three core pillars. Vietnamese ministers urged relevant ministries and local governments to prioritize four key focus areas to support this vision. Leaders highlighted the necessity of converting the Forum’s strategies into implementable policies and programs to ensure tangible progress.
ITE HCMC 2026 hosted over 500 businesses and brands from more than 45 countries and
territories, alongside participation from 34 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam. The Deputy Prime Minister underscored collective progress, stressing that advancing the MICE industry requires unified efforts within the region.
