The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair (ITE HCMC 2026) has the theme "Vibrant connection, global destination". This is the 20th organization of the event, marking an important step in development not only of the fair but also of the tourism industry of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in the process of international integration.
According to Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, ITE HCMC 2026 is expected to gather more than 520 exhibition units, 34 domestic localities and 260 high-end international buyers from more than 32 countries and territories, an increase of about 10% compared to 2025.
Notably, the fair is expected to create about 20,050 B2B Meetings, contributing to promoting direct connections between Vietnamese and international tourism businesses.
ITE HCMC 2026 is not only a trade fair, but also a meeting point connecting visitor flows, products, trends and international tourism cooperation opportunities," Mr. Hoa emphasized.
This year's fair has a clear strategic orientation in the context of the global tourism industry shifting towards green, smart and sustainable. Accordingly, the theme "Vibrant Connection" shows a borderless tourism ecosystem, where digital technology and artificial intelligence are integrated to create flexible and effective connections between management agencies, businesses and international partners.
Regarding market strategy, Vietnam's tourism industry currently has about 55% of visitors from Northeast Asia, 20% from Southeast Asia and 6% from Australia, India. On that basis, ITE HCMC 2026 will focus on promoting cooperation in key markets such as Northeast Asia, Western Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, Australia and India.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism - said that this agency has coordinated with Ho Chi Minh City from early on to orient and elevate the event.
We not only sell tour and route products but also sell the image of Vietnam's tourism brand," Ms. Hoa Mai affirmed.
In addition to trade connection activities, this year's fair also has many professional events such as a high-level tourism forum on smart destination management, green infrastructure; ministerial-level conferences within the framework of the Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam Cooperation Summit (CLMV), Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategic Tourism Ministers' Meeting (ACMECS); and destination survey programs for businesses and international press.
ITE HCMC also continues to affirm its prestige when it was honored as the "Best Trade Fair in Asia" at the World MICE Awards for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.
With increasingly expanding scale and clear development orientation, ITE HCMC 2026 is expected to create a strong boost for Vietnamese tourism, contributing to improving competitiveness and destination position in the international market.
The Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Mart (ITE HCMC 2026) will take place from August 27 to 29, 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).
