First day of The International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2015

Traditional Dancers

The Saigon Exhibitions & Convention Center (SECC) came alive yesterday with the first day of  The International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2015. This annual event is celebrating its 11th anniversary and is being held from the 10 - 12 September 2015.

The day commenced with the Official Ribbon Cutting ceremony, where tourism officials from each of the countries that make up the Mekong Tourism Alliance cut red ribbons with large scissors at the entrance to the Exhibition Hall.

Vietnam Booth

Inside the Hall were colourful exhibition booths showcasing tourism features of the Mekong Tourism Alliance countries, other countries, resorts, hotels, airlines and tourist attractions. Some of these booths presented craft works, traditional costumes, music and dances. 

The booths presented the perfect opportunity for the "sellers" sitting in the booths to present their tourism products to the many "buyers" and "media" from countries around the world who came to HCMC especially for ITE.

A delicious buffet lunch was served in the foyer for all those present.

Press Conference

Late afternoon the International Media people gathered in the La Scala Ballroom of The Reverie Hotel, a newly opened 6 Star Hotel in HCMC.  A series of interesting talks under the banner of "New Policies and Offerings of Vietnam Tourism" were given by various tourism officials. These included:

• Opening Speech - H.E. Dr Ha Van Sieu, VNAT Vice Chairman,
• New Policies and Offerings of Vietnam Tourism, Mary McKeon, VNAT,
• New Products and Services of Vietnam Airlines, Mr Do Khoi Nguyen,Deputy General Manager, Sales and Marketing Department, Vietnam Airlines,
• Tourism Offerings of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

Traditional Dancers

This was followed by a Q&A session, at which several interesting questions were asked and responded to. One of the questions was about the extension of the Vietnam 15 day free visa program to Australia and New Zealand. It was heartening to hear that this is one avenue being explored to encourage more tourists from Australia and New Zealand to visit Vietnam.

All the Press Conference delegates and participants then moved to the adjoining room where they enjoyed a delicious Gala Dinner accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music and dance performances.

Gala Dinner

The delicious meal consisted of:

• Fresh spring rolls, pork, mint mustard leaves,
• Raw papaya, lobster salad,
• Sea cucumber an abalone, porcini mushroom soup,
• Henkell steamed tiger prawns, snow mushroom, wolf berries,
• Deep fried garoupa fish, sweet-sour sauce,
• Wok-fried American beef, onion, capsicum,
• Wok-fried egg noodle, seafood,
• Mango sago pudding, fresh fruit.

The Gala Dinner concluded with some people heading off to the late night function on the Roof garden of the historic Rex Hotel.