Renny Mirna Jostein, who was in charge of the group’s tour program, said that most members were visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time. They were impressed by the urban atmosphere, the city’s dynamism, the friendliness of local residents, and the range of engaging tourism experiences on offer. She added that the group would continue to choose Viet Nam as a destination in the coming years, prioritizing other regions to gain a broader understanding of local cultures.
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Members of a MICE group take part in a team-building activity organized by Vietluxtour Travel Joint Stock Company. |
As the company directly responsible for organizing the group, Tran Xuan Hung, General Director of Viking Travel Joint Stock Company, said that Ho Chi Minh City’s successive wins of international MICE tourism awards provided an important foundation for businesses to promote their products and attract MICE groups to Viet Nam. In addition, the city’s financial support policy served as a catalyst, encouraging businesses to develop MICE products and attract high-spending visitors.
With an increasingly diverse economic and service ecosystem and a wealth of tourism resources, Ho Chi Minh City has significant advantages in developing MICE tourism professionally and enhancing its competitiveness against other destinations in the region. Since 2022, the city has received and coordinated support for more than 200 domestic and international MICE groups, including visitors from countries such as the U.S., South Africa, China and India. During this period, MICE tourism accounted for 10–12 percent of the city’s total tourism revenue.
Under Resolution No.62, eligible MICE groups must comprise at least 100 visitors and stay in Ho Chi Minh City for a minimum of three nights. Groups attending conferences, seminars or exhibitions must also include a sightseeing itinerary in the city lasting at least two days. Each group is eligible for VND 51 million in support for expenses including admission tickets, conference venue rental, welcome performances and souvenirs. The introduction of a dedicated support policy for MICE tourism is a timely and strategic move by the city.
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Ho Chi Minh City welcomes a MICE tourism group from Indonesia in May 2026. |
Under the city’s MICE tourism development strategy through 2030, promotional efforts will focus on high-spending markets in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe. The city’s tourism sector is working with businesses to develop package tours combining conferences, accommodation, cultural experiences, cuisine and entertainment. The city is also supporting businesses in developing specialized service packages based on the “accommodation - conference - sightseeing - shopping” model, while promoting digital transformation and standardizing service procedures to strengthen international competitiveness.
Entering a new stage of development following the merger, Nguyen Loc Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said the city was incorporating MICE tourism into its broader strategy for economic and service-sector development and enhanced international competitiveness. The goal is to attract conferences, exhibitions and events linked to industries and sectors in which the city has strengths and which it prioritizes for development. The city will shift from promoting itself as a destination to proactively competing to attract and host high-value events.
Translated by Quynh Oanh