Ho Chi Minh City wins 3 important categories at 

World MICE Awards Gala Ceremony

On the evening of September 4, 2024, Ho Chi Minh City hosted the World MICE Awards Gala Ceremony. At this prestigious event, Ho Chi Minh City was honored with major accolades, winning in all three key categories: Asia’s Best MICE Destination, Asia’s Best Incentive Destination, and ITE HCMC (Vietnam) as Asia’s Best Trade Show.

Outshining numerous competitors, Ho Chi Minh City has achieved the title of Asia’s Best MICE Destination for the fifth consecutive year. This is also the first time the city has hosted the prestigious World MICE Awards Gala Ceremony. This accolade highlights Ho Chi Minh City’s capability to provide modern infrastructure, coupled with its rich history and cultural diversity, establishing it as an exceptional venue for international MICE events.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated that the city has prioritized MICE tourism as one of four key areas for investment and growth. This award not only highlights Ho Chi Minh City’s excellence and attractiveness as a premier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) but also strengthens the city’s position on the global stage. 

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa highlighted, “This award recognizes our commitment to positioning Ho Chi Minh City not only as a leading tourist destination but also as a central hub for travel in Asia. It reflects our dedication to sustainable tourism that integrates seamlessly with cultural, social, and environmental values.” 

Alongside being named “Asia’s Best MICE Destination,” Ho Chi Minh City was also honored as “Asia’s Best Incentive Destination.” This recognition underscores the city’s strong position in the MICE tourism sector. However, it also calls for continued efforts to improve quality, diversify offerings, emphasize distinctive products and destinations, strengthen branding, and advance sustainable tourism development. 

Significantly, this is the first time ITE HCMC has been honored as “Asia’s Best Trade Show.” This recognition is particularly meaningful as the expo strives to establish itself as one of the most influential travel fairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Over 17 editions, ITE HCMC has continually refined its organization and professionalism. This progression highlights the crucial role of trade promotion in expanding international tourism markets to Vietnam. It also provides valuable opportunities for businesses across diverse sectors—including aviation, hospitality, travel, tour operations, and tourism management—to connect and showcase their services on a global stage. 

ITE HCMC 2024, themed “Sustainable Travel – Creating Future,” articulates the strategic vision for Vietnam’s tourism sector and Ho Chi Minh City, emphasizing sustainable development. This vision asserts that tourism should not only deliver economic benefits but also align with cultural, social, and environmental values, pursuing green and net-zero objectives. The theme’s focus on “Creating Future” signifies a strategic commitment to innovation and creativity in tourism practices, ensuring the preservation and enhancement of cultural, historical, and natural assets while advancing sustainability. 

ITE HCMC 2024 will officially open on the morning of September 5, 2024, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

On September 3, 2024, in Manila, Philippines, the World Travel Awards honored Ho Chi Minh City with three significant accolades: Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2024, Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination 2024 and Asia’s Leading City Tourist Board 2024.

According to statistics, in the first eight months of 2024, Ho Chi Minh City received over 3.4 million international visitors, representing a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. Domestic tourism also saw growth, with more than 23 million visitors, up 6.7% year-on-year. The estimated revenue reached over 123 trillion VND, reflecting a nearly 15% increase from the previous year. From 2022 to 2025, the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City has collaborated with various partners to implement the MICE tourism program. Key activities include developing and issuing the “Ho Chi Minh City MICE Tourism Policy,” creating tour programs for exploring the city, and establishing a MICE task force. By 2030, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a leading destination in Asia, characterized by its image as an “Open – youthful – vibrant – exciting – future-oriented” city.