OF THE ITE HCMC 2025 & TPO 2025 EVENT SERIES

In the context of Ho Chi Minh City officially operating a two-tier government system and targeting double-digit economic growth, tourism has been identified as one of the key growth engines. It plays a vital role in shaping the city into a “global mega-city.” The ripple effects from the 19th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2025) and the 12th General Assembly of the Global City Tourism Promotion Organization (TPO 2025), held from September 3–6, 2025, have provided a major boost, laying a solid foundation for the city’s tourism sector to break through by year’s end and opening up promising prospects for 2026.

1. Scale and International Profile

With the theme “Sustainable Travel, Vibrant Experiences,” ITE HCMC 2025 affirmed its position as Vietnam’s leading and most prestigious international tourism event and the largest in the Mekong subregion. The event achieved remarkable numbers:

• Over 550 high-level international guests from 41 countries and territories.

• 41 high-level delegations, including Ministers, Mayors, and international city leaders, along with 15 diplomatic missions in Ho Chi Minh City (up 412.5% compared to 2024).

• 256 international buyers from 32 countries and territories (up 16.5% from 2024).

• Participation from over 30 leading global travel corporations from Oceania, Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

• Over 500 exhibiting units and brands (up 4% compared to 2024) across 402 booths (up 25% compared to 2024).

• All 34 provinces and cities of Vietnam participated, 28 of which had exhibition booths.

• 46,100 visitors, including 35,550 trade visitors and 10,555 public visitors (up 77.3% compared to 2024).

• 20,050 business meetings between international buyers and exhibitors, with nearly 50% resulting in signed agreements (up 75% compared to 2024).

• Media coverage reached a record level: over 3,900 news articles and images in domestic and international media (up 44.4% compared to 2024) and more than 400 digital posts and video clips, attracting over 3.1 million engagements (up 158.3% compared to 2024).

2. Professional Activities Generating Strong Impact

Nine forums, conferences, and thematic seminars were held, drawing over 2,500 delegates, including nine international speakers and 33 domestic experts and speakers.
The standout event was the High-level Tourism Forum “Shaping the Future of Tourism: Towards Digital and Green Transformation”, which attracted more than 300 delegates, focusing on digital and green transformation solutions, competitiveness enhancement, and international cooperation expansion.

Famtrip and Presstrip programs for international buyers and media directly promoted Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism products, generating strong ripple effects.
The public opening from September 4–6, 2025 was lively, drawing tens of thousands of participants, with many booths selling out tour packages on-site.

3. Broad Impact and International Achievements

Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector proudly received the TPO Best Tourism Marketing Award 2025 for the campaign “Find the Right Essence, Touch the Right Feeling”, underscoring its creative and effective promotional capacity.

For the first time, the model of an “International Tourism–Economic Week” was launched, connecting ITE HCMC with three other major international events (TPO 2025 General Assembly; Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 – International Supply Chain Connection; and Ho Chi Minh City Export Forum 2025). This created a multidisciplinary cooperation space across tourism, trade, logistics, and export.
It also generated a powerful boost to attract international visitors through multiple commercial contracts, media campaigns, and the presence of major travel corporations—expanding the development space for MICE tourism, business tourism, and tourism linked to international supply chains.

Vietnam hosted for the first time the General Assembly of the Global City Tourism Promotion Organization. Organized in Ho Chi Minh City during major national celebrations, the event elevated the city’s political standing and international image.

The success of the event series not only reaffirmed Ho Chi Minh City’s international position but also embodied a “one arrow, multiple targets” strategy—stimulating not only tourism but also economic, trade, and innovation growth.