Breakthrough from international promotion leverage
According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, in the first 8 months of 2026, the city is estimated to welcome 7.77 million international visitors (up 38.5% compared to the same period, reaching 70.6% of the annual plan) and 35.5 million domestic visitors (reaching 71% of the annual plan). Total tourism revenue is estimated to reach 259.69 billion VND, up 48.8% and reaching 78.7% of the year's target. In August alone, Ho Chi Minh City's tourism revenue is estimated to reach 22,230 billion VND with more than 4.4 million domestic and foreign visitors.
The above positive results are the foundation for the city to continue to expand its market, attract international visitors and improve the competitiveness of the destination, typically the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Mart (ITE HCMC 2026) which will take place at the end of August (August 27 - 29). It is expected to gather more than 260 international buyers, more than 500 units and brands, and more than 21,000 trade appointments, ITE HCMC 2026 continues to affirm its role as an important B2B international connection platform for Vietnamese tourism.
This year's fair also elevates the level with the International Tourism Ministers' Conference and expands the space for cultural and artistic experiences, hunting for promotional tours for the public throughout the 3 days of taking place.
According to Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, at this year's fair, in addition to continuing to improve quality through the number of international buyers, expected B2B transactions and the number of participating businesses, the event also clearly shows the international appeal of ITE HCMC.
Assessing the opportunities from the event, Mr. Tran The Dung - General Director of Vietluxtour Travel Company shared that ITE HCMC 2026 is not only a cultural rendezvous but also a strategic step for businesses to promote a unique inbound product line and affirm the position of a professional MICE organizer. With a space combining the beauty of Ben Thanh Market, Trang An and the Mekong Delta, the unit expects to maximize the B2B cooperation network with partners from Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.
Maintaining attraction with a series of international festivals and races
After the heat of ITE HCMC 2026, Ho Chi Minh City continues to maintain a vibrant atmosphere with a series of large-scale cultural and sports events in the last months of the year, creating a lever to exceed tourism targets.
The highlight is the 6th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week in 2026, expected to take place from December 4th to 12th with the theme "Vibrant Festival Season - Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City Fest". The event aims to introduce a diverse tourism product ecosystem, expand the experience space and spread activities to each ward, commune, and special zone in the area.
At the same time, the 9th Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon Techcombank (taking place from June 4 - 12) is expected to gather 20,000 - 23,000 domestic and international athletes, contributing to promoting the destination's image, products and tourism services of the city. These will be important activities contributing to maintaining the attractiveness of the destination and promoting tourism demand in the last months of the year.
