Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 21 January 2026 − Continuing the national journey initiated in Hanoi, The Insiders Forum Ho Chi Minh City took place on 19 January 2026 at JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon. Co-organised by Travellive Media Group and The Brand Promise, the forum convened industry leaders, policymakers, destination stakeholders, and practitioners for a focused exchange on Vietnam’s evolving tourism landscape. The event forms part of HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick 2025, Travellive’s annual industry programme recognising outstanding brands, individuals, and initiatives shaping Vietnam’s tourism and travel sector.

Đọc phiên bản Tiếng Việt của bài viết.

Extending the HOTLIST journey

Following the opening of the national dialogue in Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh City edition represents the next and final forum of HOTLIST 2025’s journey. Whereas Hanoi introduced the theme “From Seed to Harvest” as a guiding framework for the year of emphasising resilience, structure, and long-term value creation, the conversation in Ho Chi Minh City moved deeper into implementation.

Set in Vietnam’s most dynamic commercial and international gateway, The Insiders Forum Ho Chi Minh City reflects the industry’s parallel paths of evolution, where responding to evolving market realities goes hand in hand with strengthening the cultural foundations and natural assets that define Vietnam’s destination identity.

From mindset to execution

The programme opens with a strategic overview by Mr. Richard Burrage, Founder of Cimigo, bringing a data-driven perspective on Vietnam’s growth prospects and new opportunities shaped by nearly 30 years of experience in market research and consulting built on and for Vietnam.

Following this outlook, the panels explore how customer experience is designed across platforms and touchpoints, alongside a broader transition toward value creation rooted in authenticity, differentiation, and cultural depth. The programme also addresses Vietnam’s rising regional positioning in high-value segments such as MICE and destination weddings, considering infrastructure readiness, service quality, and product differentiation.

Collectively, these conversations position the city as the executional counterpart to the strategic vision introduced earlier, completing The Insiders Forum’s national dialogue with Vietnam’s next phase of tourism development toward more distinctive and sustainable value creation.

A collective look at industry progress

The Insiders Forum Ho Chi Minh City welcomed perspectives from research, hospitality operations, destination marketing, digital platforms, and experience design, including representatives from:

• Mr. Richard Burrage, Founder and Board Advisor at Cimigo
• Mr. Nguyen Cao Son, Chairman of APC Group
• Mr. Alvaro Moreno, Co-Founder & Head of Growth at SODA | Hospitality Partner
• Mr. Dang Manh Phuoc, Co-Founder & CEO, The Outbox Company
• Mr. Dinh Chung Chinh, Deputy CEO, NovaDreams
• Mr. Ngo Thai Ngoc, Area Manager, Trip.com Group
• Ms. Giang Nguyen, Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships, Vietnam, Cision PR Newswire
• Mr. Kenneth Atkinson (Pham Kien Son), Author of “Never Say No”; Founder & Senior Board Advisor, Grant Thornton Vietnam; Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board
• Mr. Derek Chou, Director of Taiwan Tourism Administration Ho Chi Minh City Office
• Ms. Nguyen Hai Minh, Chief Operations Officer, The Pearl Hoi An
• Mr. Robert Rankin, General Manager, Abercrombie & Kent Vietnam
• Mr. Mark Van Der Wielen, Area General Manager, Marriott International Vietnam & General Manager, JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon
• Mr. Jean Francois Brun, General Manager, Fairmont Hanoi
• Ms. Van Nguyen, Founder & Co-Owner, The Planners
• Ms. Camellia Dinh, Founder & CEO, The Brand Promise; Global Accounts Manager, HelmsBriscoe

The Insiders Forum Ho Chi Minh City marks a key milestone in the year-long journey curated by Travellive, concluding the series of forums in 2025 before entering the night of celebration, closing HOTLIST 2025 with a strong call for continued momentum and industry-wide progress.

Outlook for 2026

The discussions across HOTLIST 2025 point to a defining moment for Vietnam’s tourism industry. Following a period of rapid reopening and accelerated expansion, the focus now turns to coherence: how destinations across the country translate Vietnam’s cultural depth, hospitality heritage, and expanding infrastructure into experiences that are consistent, credible, and clearly differentiated. As regional competition intensifies, Vietnam’s advantage will increasingly rest not in scale or novelty, but in its ability to articulate local character, service culture, and creative capability as a coherent destination identity.

Looking ahead to 2026, progress will depend on stronger alignment between intent and execution: from national positioning to on-the-ground delivery; from storytelling to lived experience; and from fragmented initiatives to more connected ecosystems. Priority segments such as MICE, wellness, and destination-led celebrations now calls for not only continued investment, but also clearer frameworks, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term capability development.

These shifts signal Vietnam’s transition into a more intentional phase of tourism growth, defined by depth, confidence, and a strengthened sense of national identity.

On the morning of 19 January 2026, The Insiders Forum Ho Chi Minh City took place at JW Marriott Hotel and Suites Saigon, co-organised by Travellive Media Group and The Brand Promise, with media partner Hotelier Vietnam, media sponsor PR Newswire, and gift sponsor Jourdeness.

Travellive Media Group

Travellive Media Group is a Vietnamese media organization founded in 2003, recognized for its long-standing contribution to the country’s travel, tourism, and lifestyle landscape. With a strong editorial foundation and deep industry engagement, Travellive has established itself as a trusted platform connecting destinations, brands, and audiences through carefully curated content and industry-led initiatives.

The Brand Promise

The Brand Promise is a global boutique branding firm with headquarter in Ho Chi Minh City, dedicated to authentic storytelling, strategic growth, and impactful partnerships across industries. Our commitment to evolving quality standards and nurturing communities of hand-picked, like-minded and long-lasting partners ensures that every promise made is honored through our dedication to excellence and shared dedication to turn potential into reality.

Press Contacts
The Brand Promise
Louise Linh Pham (Ms.)
louise@camelliadinh.com