On June 26, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) successfully co-hosted the 3rd International Conference on Economics (ICE 2026). The event was organized in partnership with a prestigious consortium of international institutions, including Texas A&M University (USA), the University of Insubria (Italy), Kyung Hee University and Sun Moon University (South Korea), and Shinawatra University (Thailand).

Under the theme "The New Global Economy: Digital Transformation, Green Growth, and Human Resilience," the conference brought together scholars, experts, and faculty members from around the world. The hybrid format fostered a multi-dimensional academic forum, facilitating the exchange of research trends and sustainable development solutions within an rapidly evolving global economy.

As a proud co-organizer, the Faculty of Tourism and Culinary Arts (FTCA) hosted Track 5: "Green, Sustainable Tourism and Creative Industries." This specialized session attracted significant interest from researchers and practitioners alike, underscoring the Faculty’s strategic commitment to sustainable tourism, innovation, and the development of cultural industries.

From Global Vision to Practical Solutions

The plenary session of ICE 2026 opened with five strategic keynotes from international experts, focusing on critical themes such as global value chain restructuring, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, green economics, and economic resilience.

Building upon these macro-level insights, Track 5 translated these concepts into the specific context of tourism through six high-quality research papers. These studies not only reflected global development trends but also addressed practical challenges in various Vietnamese localities, proposing actionable paths toward greener, more creative, and sustainable tourism.

Multi-dimensional Perspectives on Green Tourism

The first half of the session focused on the foundations of sustainable tourism development:

• Dr. Lai Nam Tuan (University of Law, Ho Chi Minh City): Presented "Does tourism drive sustainable growth? The role of urbanization, human capital, and digital infrastructure in Vietnam," analyzing how these variables collectively foster long-term growth.
• Dr. Tran Trong Le (Saigon Technology University): Introduced "Constructing a wellness tourism value chain based on the medicinal herb ecosystem in the Bay Nui region, An Giang Province," proposing a value chain model leveraging the region’s unique botanical biodiversity.
• Dr. Phi Hai Long (Khanh Hoa University): Discussed "Determinants of green brand equity in tourism destinations: Evidence from Khanh Hoa, Vietnam," providing empirical evidence on how green brand equity enhances destination competitiveness.

The Intersection of Heritage, Innovation, and AI

The latter part of the session explored the synergy between cultural heritage preservation, creative industries, and AI

• Mr. Le The Hien (Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance): Presented "Fostering collaborative governance for sustainable cultural tourism and creative industries: Insights from Cham ethnic heritage in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam." His research highlights the role of collaborative governance in preserving Cham cultural values while fueling creative economic development.
• Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngan (Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade): Concluded the session with "How AI characteristics drive pro-environmental tourism behavior: The mediating roles of environmental awareness and beliefs." Her study investigates how AI can be utilized to influence environmental consciousness and promote sustainable traveler behavior.

Following the presentations, the delegates engaged in a vibrant discussion, exchanging insights on research challenges, opportunities for international collaboration, and emerging trends in green tourism, creative industries, and digital transformation. Notably, within the framework of Session 5, the paper titled "Fostering collaborative governance for sustainable cultural tourism and creative industries: Insights from Cham ethnic heritage in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam," authored by Nguyen Ngoc Anh (FTCA, HUIT) was honored with the "Best Paper" award.

A Forward-Looking Conclusion

The success of Session 5 at ICE 2026 reinforces the academic standing of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) on the international stage and clearly reflects the strategic research focus of the Faculty of Tourism and Culinary Arts in the fields of sustainable tourism, creative industries, and the application of new technologies. Through this academic forum, the Faculty continues to expand its network of cooperation with universities, research institutes, and international experts, while fostering high-impact research that contributes practically to the development of a green, smart, and sustainable tourism ecosystem in the digital era.