The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo, ITE HCMC 2026, was held from August 27 to 29 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Marking the 20th anniversary of ITE HCMC, which began in 2005, the event focused on promoting tourism destinations, facilitating international tourism-industry exchanges, and matching businesses.
20th-Anniversary Event Presented as the Largest Ever
Official announcements and materials from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism described the event as the largest international travel expo since its launch. More than 520 exhibitors and brands, representatives from 34 Vietnamese provinces and cities, and 260 international buyers from more than 40 countries and territories were scheduled to participate.
The theme of the event was “Vibrant Connections – Global Destinations.” Alongside exchanges among international tourism-industry professionals and B2B meetings, the expo was open to the general public, offering tourism, cultural, and culinary experiences, tourism products, promotions, and performances.
The 20th-anniversary and “largest ever” descriptions are based on official announcements, but the detailed results must be considered according to the timing of each tally.
Were 30,000 Visitors and 21,000 Meetings Actual Results?
Official materials released before the event cited approximately 30,000 visitors, around 600 international delegates, and more than 21,000 pre-booked B2B meetings as projected or planned figures. However, as of August 30, 2026, these figures are not confirmed numbers of visitors or completed meetings after the event concluded.
Therefore, the information currently confirmed is as follows:
- ITE HCMC 2026 was actually held from August 27 to 29.
- Official announcements stated that more than 520 exhibitors and brands and 260 international buyers participated.
- Approximately 30,000 visitors and more than 21,000 meetings were figures projected and planned before the event.
- The final visitor count and the actual number of completed meetings and contracts have not yet been confirmed through official post-event reporting.
Programs Open to the General Public
The event was open to the general public from the afternoon of August 27 through August 29. On-site offerings included tourism, cultural, and culinary experiences, tourism products, promotions, and performances. However, promotional terms may vary by participating business, so it is difficult to generalize them as benefits available to all visitors or travelers from a particular country.
Scope Confirmed Through Official Materials
This report was compiled by cross-checking the event’s official website, materials from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and independent media coverage. As of the verification date of August 30, 2026, no official post-event tally of the final visitor count, completed meetings, or contract value had been confirmed.
Sources checked:
- ITE HCMC official website: https://itehcmc.travel/ (checked August 30, 2026)
- ITE HCMC event overview: https://itehcmc.travel/introductory-information-regarding-ite-hcmc-2026-vibrant-connections-global-destinations/ (checked August 30, 2026)
- ITE HCMC official press release: https://itehcmc.travel/press-release-ite-hcmc-2026-enters-the-final-countdown-ready-to-host-vietnams-largest-international-travel-expo-to-date/ (checked August 30, 2026)
- Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/Pages/chi-tiet.aspx?url=%2Fite-hcmc-2026-huong-toi-ky-hoi-cho-du-lich-quoc-te-lon-nhat-tu-truoc-den-nay.htm (checked August 30, 2026)
- Nhan Dan: https://en.nhandan.vn/international-travel-expo-2026-opens-in-ho-chi-minh-city-post165995.html (checked August 30, 2026)
- TTG Asia: https://www.ttgasia.com/2026/08/13/ite-hcmc-2026-set-for-biggest-edition-in-20-year-history/ (checked August 30, 2026)