On 29 January 2026, EuroCham and its Culture, Sports & Tourism Sector Committee (CSTSC) met with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism (DOT) to discuss sustainable tourism development and future cooperation. At the meeting, EuroCham Vice-Chair Jean-Jacques Bouflet acknowledged the DOT’s strategic objectives and its role in implementing the City Master Plan 2021–2030, with a vision toward 2050. He also highlighted the importance of balancing tourism infrastructure, environmental protection, and heritage preservation. EuroCham also shared European experience in visa facilitation, regional connectivity, and medical and wellness tourism.
Representing EuroCham’s Culture, Sports & Tourism Sector Committee (CST SC), Co-Chair Timen Swijtink, Co-Chair Minh-Anh Vu, and Vice-Chair Bastien Pucheu introduced how CSTSC’s mandate and key priorities align with the Department of Tourism’s strategic objectives. The SC also explored potential areas for collaboration across tourism, sports and cultural development. As long-term foreign residents with strong ties to Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, the representatives expressed their commitment to supporting sustainable tourism growth while expanding cooperation in sports and cultural initiatives to enhance the city’s international appeal.
Representing HCMC Department of Tourism, Deputy Director Hoa Le shared key achievements of DOT in 2025 and its goals in 2026. He also provided updates on major upcoming tourism events, including International Travel Expo (ITE) HCMC 2026. The HCMC DOT welcomed EuroCham and CSTSC’s interest in deeper engagement, including potential co-hosted activities in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
Through this dialogue, EuroCham reiterated its commitment to establishing a structured working relationship with the DOT, promoting regular exchange, knowledge sharing, and practical cooperation to support sustainable, high-quality tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.
Special thanks to our representatives for their contributions:
HCMC’s Department of Tourism:
- Mr. Lê Trương Hiền Hòa – Deputy Director, HCMC DOT
- Ms. Nguyễn Trần Tâm Hà – Deputy Director of the Tourism Promotion Center
- Ms. Phạm Thị Phương Linh – Deputy Head of International Tourism Promotion Division
- Ms. Nguyễn Đỗ Yến Nhi – Specialist of the International Tourism Promotion Division
- Mr. Trần Khắc Huy – Specialist of the International Tourism Promotion Division
EuroCham Vietnam:
- Mr. Jean-Jacques Bouflet, Vice-Chair
- Ms. Nguyen Cam Van, Head of Hanoi Office cum External Relations Manager
EuroCham’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Sector Committee:
- Mr. Timen R. ter Meulen Swijtink, Co-Chair
- Mr. Vu Minh Anh, Co-Chair
- Mr. Bastien Pucheu, Vice Chairman
