The 20th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2026) hosted its High-Level Tourism Forum from August 27 to 29, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.
Forum Focus and Participation
The Tourism Forum component of ITE HCMC 2026 drew 300 delegates from government, tourism ministries, ASEAN tourism ministers, diplomatic missions, and industry experts. Under the theme “MICE Tourism in the New Era: Sustainability – Connectivity – Opportunity,” the forum prioritized
the development of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.
Leadership and Key Discussions
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister of Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vice-chairman Nguyen Loc Ha chaired and moderated the forum sessions. Discussions addressed major shifts in the MICE market, the integration of sustainable development practices, adoption of technology, enhancement of policy frameworks, and the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening Vietnam’s regional competitiveness.
Vietnam’s Strategic MICE Ambitions
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra expressed Vietnam’s aim to transition from being solely a host for large events to becoming an active global MICE
industry contributor focused on greener, smarter, innovative, and sustainable practices. She proposed that the Mekong sub-region and Southeast Asia move from fragmented competition toward co-creating a regional MICE ecosystem structured on three key pillars. Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh urged coordinated focus on four priorities across ministries, sectors, and local authorities to support this goal.
Leaders stressed the necessity of transforming the forum’s initiatives into concrete policies and actionable programs to drive effective development in the sector. The deputy prime minister emphasized regional collaboration with the statement that advancement requires collective effort.
ITE HCMC 2026 attracted participation from over 500
businesses and brands representing more than 45 countries and territories, alongside 34 provinces and cities across Vietnam, reinforcing the event’s role in promoting tourism and MICE growth nationwide.
