As the nation’s leading economic and financial hub, with a modern infrastructure system and strategic support policies, Ho Chi Minh City is fully equipped with the conditions to achieve a strong breakthrough in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism segment.

Mr. Pham Huy Binh – Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism – stated that MICE tourism has been identified as one of the key segments the city’s tourism industry prioritizes for development in the coming period, aligning with the direction of enhancing growth quality and added value for urban tourism.

To swiftly implement these policies, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will closely coordinate with relevant departments, sectors, localities, and the business community to deploy solutions synchronously and effectively.

According to Mr. Pham Huy Binh, Ho Chi Minh City currently holds many outstanding competitive advantages for developing MICE tourism at regional and international levels. As the country’s largest economic, financial, and commercial center, Ho Chi Minh City boasts modern conference-exhibition centers, a large-scale network of 4–5 star hotels, and a professional cadre of event-organizing enterprises with the capacity to flexibly meet the high demands of international MICE groups.

Furthermore, advantages in international air connectivity, a dynamic business environment, a high-quality workforce, and a rich ecosystem of services—from accommodation, cuisine, and shopping to culture and entertainment—create a distinct appeal for Ho Chi Minh City as a MICE destination compared to many other urban centers in the region.

According to Resolution No. 62/2025/NQ-HDND of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, effective from December 20, 2025, to December 31, 2030, eligible MICE groups will be considered for support in various cost categories. This includes support of up to 25% for attraction entrance fees (not exceeding 20 million VND per group), up to 30% for conference hall or meeting room rental costs at convention centers or tourist accommodations for large-scale groups, and support for organizing welcome art performance programs, prioritizing traditional Vietnamese art forms.

Assessing this policy, experts and enterprises believe that Ho Chi Minh City’s MICE tourism support policy is not only significant for short-term demand stimulation but also a strategic move contributing to enhancing competitiveness and gradually positioning the MICE destination brand as the city progresses toward a super-urban model.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Dao – Deputy Director of the Majestic Hotel – stated that MICE guests play a very important role for the city’s tourism. This is a group with high spending, long stays, and diverse use of services from accommodation, conferences, and cuisine to sightseeing and shopping. MICE tourism helps the City attract large-scale events, elevate the image of a professional, dynamic destination capable of organizing international events.

The new support policy will enable travel businesses and event organizers to be more confident in bringing MICE groups to the city, thereby increasing Ho Chi Minh City’s competitiveness compared to other destinations in the region, while creating conditions for hotels, attractions, and related services to benefit together.

Sharing the same perspective, Mr. Vo Minh Trung, Director of the Riverside Saigon Hotel, noted that the hotel’s room occupancy in the year-end period often exceeds 90%. The city’s issuance of the MICE stimulus policy will be an important boost, helping increase the number of groups in the near future, especially large and long-stay groups.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the city’s reputation and organizational capacity have been recognized by the international community, as Ho Chi Minh City was consecutively honored by the World MICE Awards as the “Best MICE Destination in Asia” in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. This is considered clear evidence of the service quality, organizational capacity, and the increasingly elevated position of the city’s MICE tourism on the regional map.