On 7 September 2017, the 13th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE) was opened at Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre. The ministers, vice ministers and representatives of tourism and culture ministries from Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Italy, and the heads of relevant provinces and municipalities from the five countries along the Mekong River unveiled ITE. ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Secretary-General H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping was invited to the ceremony.

Since 2005 when the first event was held, ITE has aimed to strengthen tourism cooperation between five countries in the downstream Mekong region including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, promote the high-quality tourism resources, and develop regional tourism industry. The 13th ITE was organized by Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism (HCMC DOT), with the theme “The Gate to Asian Tourism”. More than 250 travel agencies and media from Viet Nam and abroad participated in ITE, with a total of 300 booths. Other events were held during the same period, including ACMECS Tourism Ministers Meeting, CLMV Tourism Ministers Meeting and Cambodia Night.