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| ITE HCMC 2026 |
Celebrating two decades of connecting Vietnam with international tourism markets, ITE HCMC 2026 will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, or SECC, under the theme “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations”.
The 20th anniversary edition is expected to be bigger, more international and more strategically focused than ever, positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a major gateway for tourism across Vietnam and the Mekong region.
For travel industry professionals looking for international tourism trade shows in Asia, Vietnam tourism events in 2026, MICE opportunities, hosted buyer programs and new business connections, ITE HCMC 2026 promises to be an important date on the regional travel calendar.
A Twenty-Year Journey Connecting Vietnam With the World
ITE HCMC has evolved over two decades from a regional tourism exhibition into an international tourism promotion platform connecting Vietnamese destinations and businesses with global markets.
The 2026 edition represents a significant milestone in that journey.
Directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the event is being implemented through the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, together with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and partners.
The expo goes beyond traditional exhibition activities.
It provides a meeting place where tourism authorities, destination organisations, airlines, hotels, tour operators, MICE specialists, technology companies, international buyers and media can exchange ideas and develop commercial relationships.
That emphasis on meaningful connections is at the heart of the 2026 theme.
“Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations”
The theme captures two important ambitions for the future of tourism.
“Vibrant Connections” reflects an increasingly interconnected tourism industry in which technology, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and human relationships work together to connect destinations and businesses.
“Global Destinations” reflects the ambition to strengthen the international profile of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam while providing a platform through which destinations throughout the country can reach overseas markets.
The official ITE HCMC 2026 announcement describes the expo as a platform for creating connections between management agencies, tourism businesses and international partners while supporting the industry's movement towards smart, green and sustainable tourism.
This makes the 20th edition particularly relevant at a time when travellers are increasingly seeking meaningful experiences, sustainable destinations, personalised travel and digitally connected services.
A Major International Tourism Trade Event
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| ITE HCMC 2026 |
The event is also expected to welcome 34 cities and provinces from Vietnam, providing an opportunity for destinations throughout the country to showcase their tourism products to international markets.
International participation is equally significant.
The expo is expected to welcome 260 high-quality hosted buyers from more than 32 countries and territories, alongside more than 30,000 visitors.
The official launch information also anticipates approximately 20,050 B2B meetings, creating a substantial environment for direct business discussions between Vietnamese tourism businesses and international buyers.
The scale demonstrates why ITE HCMC has become an important meeting point for the tourism industry in Vietnam and the wider Mekong region.
Asia’s Best Trade Show Recognition
The growing international reputation of ITE HCMC has been reinforced by its success at the World MICE Awards.
ITE HCMC was named Asia's Best MICE Tradeshow in both 2024 and 2025, making the consecutive awards an important recognition of the expo's growing stature within the Asian business events and tourism industry.
The World MICE Awards lists ITE HCMC as the winner of Asia's Best MICE Tradeshow for both years.
For exhibitors and hosted buyers, this recognition provides additional evidence of the expo's importance as a professional tourism business platform.
The Hosted Buyers Program
One of ITE HCMC's major attractions for the international tourism industry is its Hosted Buyers Program.
The program is designed to connect carefully selected international buyers with Vietnamese and regional tourism suppliers.
Hosted buyers include senior professionals involved in travel product development, tour operations, MICE, luxury travel, corporate travel and special-interest tourism.
For suppliers, these meetings can provide access to decision-makers who are actively looking for destinations, accommodation, experiences and travel products.
For buyers, the program provides an opportunity to discover new Vietnamese tourism products and establish relationships with suppliers across Vietnam and the Mekong region.
This business-matching focus is one of the reasons ITE HCMC has developed beyond a conventional tourism exhibition.
A Gateway to Vietnam's Diverse Destinations
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| ITE HCMC 2026 |
ITE HCMC provides a national platform where these destinations can be presented to international travel professionals.
Ho Chi Minh City itself is a powerful tourism gateway.
The city combines a dynamic modern economy with historic architecture, Vietnamese cuisine, cultural attractions, shopping, nightlife, river experiences and an increasingly sophisticated business events sector.
Beyond the city, visitors can discover the Mekong Delta, the beaches of southern Vietnam, the heritage towns of central Vietnam and the spectacular landscapes of the country's north.
For international buyers, ITE HCMC provides an efficient way to explore the diversity of products available across the country.
A Strong Focus on MICE Tourism
Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions remain an important component of Ho Chi Minh City's international tourism strategy.
ITE HCMC brings together MICE organisers, meeting planners, hotels, destinations and specialised tourism businesses, creating opportunities to develop new business events partnerships.
The expo's focus on international buyers is particularly valuable for the MICE sector, where relationships, destination knowledge and direct communication are essential when developing future events.
Ho Chi Minh City already has the infrastructure and business environment to attract conferences, corporate meetings, incentive groups and exhibitions, while surrounding destinations can provide opportunities for pre- and post-event experiences.
Green and Smart Tourism Takes Centre Stage
ITE HCMC 2026 is also looking beyond traditional tourism growth.
Sustainability, smart destination management, green infrastructure and technology are expected to feature prominently during the event.
The High-Level Tourism Forum will examine subjects including smart destination management, green infrastructure, renewable energy and circular business models.
These discussions are increasingly important as destinations around the world look for ways to grow tourism while protecting natural resources, reducing environmental impacts and improving the visitor experience.
Technology will also play an increasingly important role.
Artificial intelligence, data, digital platforms and other emerging technologies are reshaping how travellers search, book and experience destinations.
ITE HCMC 2026 provides an opportunity for the Vietnamese tourism industry to explore how these technologies can support more efficient, personalised and sustainable tourism.
Tourism Cooperation Across the Mekong Region
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| ITE HCMC 2026 |
The 2026 program includes international tourism meetings involving the Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam cooperation framework, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam framework.
This regional approach reinforces Ho Chi Minh City's role as a meeting point for tourism development across mainland Southeast Asia.
For international travel businesses, this creates opportunities to consider multi-country itineraries and broader regional travel products.
Vietnam can therefore function not only as an individual holiday destination but also as part of wider Southeast Asian travel programs.
Heritage Experiences Beyond the Exhibition Floor
ITE HCMC 2026 will extend beyond the exhibition halls through a program of destination experiences.
Pre- and post-event familiarisation tours are planned for international buyers and media, allowing participants to experience Vietnamese destinations directly.
These heritage experience journeys are designed to showcase products including waterway tourism, rural ecotourism and distinctive craft villages.
For travel professionals, experiencing a destination personally can provide valuable insight that cannot be gained from a brochure or presentation.
It also allows international media and content creators to discover stories and experiences that can introduce Vietnam to audiences around the world.
A Growing International Media Presence
International media will form another important part of the 2026 expo.
The official announcement identifies participation from 60 press and media agencies together with internationally recognised KOLs and travel bloggers.
Their presence can help amplify the destination stories presented during the expo, reaching potential travellers far beyond the exhibition venue.
In an era when destination inspiration is increasingly influenced by digital content, travel media and social platforms, this international exposure is an important part of Vietnam's tourism promotion strategy.
Travel Fun Expo Day
ITE HCMC 2026 is not designed exclusively for industry professionals.
Travel Fun Expo Day will provide a public-facing tourism experience featuring promotional travel products and opportunities for cultural exchange.
This creates an important bridge between the tourism industry and consumers, allowing visitors to discover destinations, travel products and special offers while experiencing the international atmosphere of the expo.
Why ITE HCMC 2026 Matters to Travel Businesses
- For Vietnamese tourism businesses, ITE HCMC provides a direct pathway to international markets.
- For overseas buyers, it provides access to a broad range of Vietnamese suppliers and destinations.
- For destinations, it provides international exposure.
- For hotels, resorts and airlines, it creates opportunities to develop new commercial partnerships.
- For MICE professionals, it provides a forum for discovering venues, suppliers and incentive destinations.
- For media, it provides access to tourism stories, industry leaders and emerging destinations.
- And for Ho Chi Minh City, the event strengthens its position as a major international tourism and business events hub.
ITE HCMC 2026 at a Glance
Event: 20th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC 2026Theme: “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations”
Dates: 27 to 29 August 2026
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, SECC
Address: 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Expected exhibitors: More than 500
Expected Vietnamese destinations: 34 cities and provinces
Expected hosted buyers: 260 international buyers
Expected international markets: More than 32 countries and territories
Expected visitors: More than 30,000
Expected B2B meetings: Approximately 20,050
ITE HCMC 2026 has also expanded its international positioning, with the official event website describing the expo as the Mekong's largest travel event and highlighting its role in connecting Vietnam and the wider region with global tourism markets.
When and Where Is ITE HCMC 2026?
ITE HCMC 2026 will take place from Thursday 27 August to Saturday 29 August 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
The official visitor schedule provides different access periods for hosted buyers, registered trade visitors and the general public across the three days.
This makes it important for visitors to check their eligibility and the official event schedule before planning their attendance.
A Significant Date on the Asian Tourism Calendar
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| ITE HCMC 2026 |
International travellers are seeking new destinations, businesses are looking for new markets and tourism authorities are increasingly focused on sustainability, technology and resilient growth.
ITE HCMC 2026 brings these priorities together under one roof.
Its 20th anniversary is more than a celebration of longevity. It represents two decades of building connections between Vietnam and the international travel industry and establishes a platform for the next chapter of tourism development.
With more than 500 exhibitors expected, hundreds of international hosted buyers, thousands of business appointments and more than 30,000 visitors, the scale of ITE HCMC 2026 reflects the growing importance of Vietnam within the Asian tourism landscape.
For anyone involved in tourism, travel, MICE, hospitality, destination marketing or international travel media, ITE HCMC 2026 is an event to watch.
The message of the 20th edition is clear: stronger connections can create new destinations, new partnerships and new opportunities.
And in Ho Chi Minh City, those connections are set to come alive from 27 to 29 August 2026.
ITE HCMC 2026
Website: https://itehcmc.travel/
General enquiries: info@itehcmc.travel
Exhibitor enquiries: exhibitor@itehcmc.travel
Hosted buyer enquiries: buyer@itehcmc.travel
Media enquiries: media@itehcmc.travel
Visitor enquiries: visitor@itehcmc.travel
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Event dates: 27 to 29 August 2026
For specific enquiries, the official event information also lists Ms Pham Thi Phuong Linh, Deputy Head of the International Tourism Cooperation and Promotion Division at the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, on 0903 252 364 and ptplinh.sdl@tphcm.gov.vn.
For more information, registration details, exhibitor opportunities and the latest announcements, visit the official ITE HCMC website.
For more travel inspiration read the daily online "The Holiday and Travel Magazine" https://theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com/
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