Hosted buyers and media professionals for ITE HCMC 2025 were feted with traditional Vietnamese flavours at the Van Thanh Tourist Area in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, 2nd September.
The event is one of the precursors to the global travel and tourism conference which takes place at the Saigon Expo and Convention Centre on Thursday, 4the September.
A representative for the Ho Chi Minh City tourism department cited the conference theme Sustainable Travel: Vibrant Experience as they shared the city government's vision of a future where travel not only inspires discovery and connection, but also honours culture, preserves the environment, and empowers local communities.
A timely occasion
What made the event especially memorable was that it was held on the 80th anniversary of Vietnamese independence.
As such, it also celebrated the Vietnamese travel and tourism sector which is a notable contributor to the national economy as it makes up nine percent of the gross domestic product on average annually.
Following the opening salvo, guests explored the venue grounds where they enjoyed the cuisine of southern Vietnam and observed demonstrations of traditional craft-making.
The evening ended with a fireworks display set against the Ho Chi Minh City skyline, dominated by the towering Landmark 81.
