Indonesian tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre
The group, comprising top-performing members of Allianz Indonesia, is participating in a curated itinerary that blends conference activities with cultural exploration.
On Wednesday, the Indonesian tourists visited prominent downtown landmarks, including the square in front of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee headquarters, the Ho Chi Minh statue, and Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street.
“I’m very pleased to be part of this trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with nearly 1,000 others,” said Himawan Purnama, an Indonesian visitor in the MICE delegation.
“This is my second time here, and the experience remains very impressive.
“The city is dynamic and vibrant, the food is delicious, and the scenery is beautiful. I appreciate the warm hospitality of Vietnam’s tourism sector.”
Renny Mirna Jostei, the Indonesian program coordinator, said that Ho Chi Minh City’s energetic pace, reasonable costs, and diverse culinary offerings played a decisive role in its selection as the event’s destination.
Participants have been introduced to signature Vietnamese dishes such as pho (Vietnamese noodle soup with beef or chicken), banh mi (a type of Vietnamese baguette sandwich filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables), and traditional coffee, alongside visits to key cultural and historical sites including the Reunification Hall, Saigon Central Post Office, and War Remnants Museum.
Indonesian tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City under the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism model. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre
Beyond the city, the itinerary is set to extend to Dong Thap Province in the Mekong Delta region, where the group is expected to experience the riverine culture.
Organizers have also indicated plans to expand similar programs to other Vietnamese destinations in the future.
Acting as the Vietnamese organizer, Tran Xuan Hung, general director of Viking Vietnam Company, said the Indonesian partner, Wanderlust, had initially planned to bring around 1,000 top-performing agents of Allianz to Bangkok, Thailand.
However, after reviewing Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism incentives, the company persuaded its partner to shift the destination to Vietnam.
The visit comes in the wake of Resolution 62 on policies to support the attraction of tourist groups to Ho Chi Minh City to attend MICE programs combined with sightseeing, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
As per the resolution, effective from December 20, 2025 through the end of 2030, the city is offering financial incentives and tailored support packages designed to enhance the city’s competitiveness in the global MICE market.
The presence of such a large-scale delegation in Ho Chi Minh City not only reflects the initial effectiveness of policies to attract MICE travelers, but also demonstrates the city’s professional capacity to organize and deliver services for visitors combining conferences with experiential travel.
Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the municipal department, said the city is pursuing a clear roadmap to develop its MICE sector through 2030.
Key priorities include expanding outreach to high-spending markets in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and helping firms build integrated travel packages that combine accommodation, conferences, sightseeing, and shopping.
Efforts are also underway to strengthen competitiveness through digital transformation, workforce development, standardized service protocols, and the application of technology in event management and visitor services.
Greater coordination among travel firms, hotels, convention centers, and transport providers is expected to create a more seamless service ecosystem capable of handling large international groups.
Indonesian visitors pose for a group photo in Ho Chi Minh City, May 6, 2026. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre
In the first quarter of 2026, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 3.9 million international visitors and 15.4 million domestic travelers, earning an estimated VND150 trillion (US$5.7 billion) in tourism revenue, meeting more than 45 percent of its full-year target.
The figures demonstrated the city’s strong appeal, with MICE tourism continuing to play a pivotal role in driving growth.
