ITE HCMC 2026 Set to Become Vietnam’s Largest International Travel Expo

Trav Buzz News, 15th Aug 2026

20th edition to bring together 520+ exhibitors, 260 international buyers and 21,000+ B2B appointments

HO CHI MINH CITY: With less than three weeks to go, preparations are complete for the 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026), scheduled from 27–29 August 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).

Held under the theme “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations,” the milestone edition is expected to be the largest in the Expo’s history, reaffirming ITE HCMC’s position as one of Vietnam’s leading international tourism trade platforms.

The 2026 edition is expected to bring together more than 520 exhibitors and brands, 34 provinces and cities, 260 international hosted buyers from over 40 countries and territories, around 600 international delegates, 50 high-level delegations, more than 21,000 pre-scheduled B2B appointments, approximately 30,000 visitors and 60 international media outlets.

Strong Business Focus

A major attraction of ITE HCMC continues to be its Hosted Buyers Programme, which brings qualified international tourism buyers with genuine business requirements to Vietnam.

The 260 hosted buyers include representatives from major global travel and tourism organizations such as TUI Group, DERTOUR, American Express Global Business Travel, Flight Centre Travel Group, Trip.com Group, Luxury Escapes, DidaTravel, FCM Travel India, BCD Meetings & Events, HelmsBriscoe, MCI Group and several others.

The business programme will include a Buyers-Sellers Speed Dating session on 26 August, followed by B2B Business Matching on 27 and 28 August. More than 21,000 appointments have been pre-scheduled based on buyer and seller requirements.

For the MICE sector, the High-Level Tourism Forum – “Shaping the Future of MICE Tourism: Innovation, Sustainability and Global Connectivity” will bring together industry leaders and representatives from organizations including GSTC, TCEB, PATA, Mastercard and Google.

Tourism Diplomacy and Industry Dialogue

A key highlight will be Ho Chi Minh City’s hosting of three Tourism Ministers’ Meetings covering the CLV, ACMECS and CLMV cooperation frameworks.

The Expo will also feature forums on destination branding, artificial intelligence, medical tourism, sustainable tourism and tourism technology, alongside a Google session and a tourism startup investment programme featuring Korean startups.

ITE HCMC 2026 will further expand its public-facing programme with cultural performances, culinary experiences, destination promotions, travel offers and local products.

The Expo’s 20th anniversary marks a significant transformation from its early years. From around 3,200 B2B appointments in its initial period, the event has grown to more than 21,000 scheduled meetings, highlighting its increasing importance to Vietnam’s international tourism business ecosystem.

With its largest-ever exhibition, international buyer programme, MICE focus, government-level tourism dialogue and extensive media participation, ITE HCMC 2026 is poised to create new connections, partnerships and opportunities for Vietnam and the global tourism industry.