VIETFISH 2026 Officially Opens: record scale, deeper connections across the global seafood value chain

Over 27 years of development, VIETFISH has become an annual meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood community. While the exhibition initially focused primarily on product showcases and customer acquisition, VIETFISH has evolved into a platform connecting the entire value chain, from aquaculture and fishing to processing, technology, logistics, distribution and consumption.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of government agencies, including Mr. Vo Van Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment; Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Mr. Tran Quoc Toan, Deputy Director General of the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade; Ms. Pham Thu Hang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Non-Governmental Organizations; Mr. Bui Minh Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; and Mr. Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, along with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, relevant departments and agencies, and central and local trade promotion organizations.

Diplomatic missions and international partners were represented by Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam Kohdayar Mari; Chargé d’Affaires of the Norwegian Embassy Erlend Skutlaberg; U.S. Consul General Melissa A. Brown; British Consul General Alexandra Smith; Indonesian Consul General Carolina Tinangon; and Acting Consul General of Russia Yuriy Nemtsov, together with diplomatic and trade representatives and associations and organizations from Türkiye, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Brazil and many other international partners.

Representing the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) were Mr. Do Ngoc Tai, Chairman of VASEP; Ms. Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam, Vice Chairwoman; Mr. Huynh Minh Tuong, Vice Chairman; and Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe, Advisor to the VASEP Executive Committee, together with members of the Executive Committee, Inspection Committee and the association’s member business community.

VIETFISH 2026 also welcomed representatives from numerous industry associations and partner organizations, including the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association, Vietnam Cashew Association, Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, Vietnam Plastics Association, Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), along with a large number of government agencies, trade organizations and domestic and international media outlets.

Not only bigger, VIETFISH 2026 also connects deeper

Compared with 2025, when the exhibition featured 526 booths and 280 companies, VIETFISH 2026 has expanded to 568 booths and 335 companies, covering more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space.

For the first time, the Hosted Buyer Program has been introduced, bringing importers from key markets to VIETFISH and facilitating direct connections with Vietnamese businesses. The program also extends beyond the exhibition venue through visits to processing facilities and aquaculture areas, giving international buyers first-hand insights into the production capacity, quality control systems and supply chains of Vietnam’s seafood industry.

Another new initiative is the expanded focus on the domestic market. In addition to Tasty Kitchen, which features demonstrations and preparation of Vietnamese seafood export products, VIETFISH 2026 is collaborating with TikTok Shop and Foodmap for the first time to organize livestream sales sessions, bringing value-added seafood products closer to younger consumers and e-commerce channels. This builds on the direction introduced more strongly in 2025, when VIETFISH began emphasizing the return of “export-quality seafood products” to Vietnamese consumers.

During the three-day exhibition, a series of specialized seminars will focus on issues directly affecting businesses, including market developments, trade regulations, traceability, technology, ESG, green transformation, emissions reduction and the development of sustainable supply chains.

From markets to technology and sustainable development

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Do Ngoc Tai, Chairman of VASEP, said VIETFISH has evolved beyond a conventional trade exhibition to become a strategic trade promotion platform for the seafood industry. As markets increasingly demand traceability, supply chain transparency and environmental responsibility, VIETFISH aims to promote a shift from volume-driven growth toward greater value creation, from exporting products toward building brands, and from individual competition toward value-chain collaboration.

From the perspective of economic diplomacy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang highlighted three areas of cooperation: expanding market opportunities together; upgrading value chains through innovation and technology; and building a seafood industry that is responsible toward people and the oceans. The Deputy Minister conveyed the message from VIETFISH 2026 that Vietnam is ready to cooperate, ready to innovate and ready to work with partners to build sustainable value chains for the future.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung said Vietnam’s seafood exports reached more than US$11.3 billion in 2025, the highest level ever recorded. In the first seven months of 2026, exports reached approximately US$6.87 billion, up 12.8% year-on-year. According to the Deputy Minister, innovation must become a driving force, sustainable development must serve as the foundation, and the ultimate goals should be reflected in higher productivity, greater value addition, stronger brands and an enhanced position for Vietnamese seafood in the global value chain. The industry is targeting US$12 billion in seafood exports in 2026.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang affirmed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue working with VASEP and businesses to address import-export challenges, provide market information, tackle trade barriers and support companies in maintaining and expanding export markets.

From the host locality, Ho Chi Minh City authorities emphasized that the city is not only a consumer market and export gateway, but also has the potential to become a hub connecting trade, finance, logistics, science and technology, and international markets for Vietnam’s seafood value chain.

Meanwhile, U.S. Consul General Melissa A. Brown described VIETFISH as an important platform connecting Vietnam’s seafood industry with buyers, suppliers and partners in the United States and around the world, while highlighting the potential for further expansion of bilateral trade relations.

The opening ceremony concluded with the official opening of VIETFISH 2026, marking the beginning of the three-day exhibition from August 19–21 at SECC.

From an exhibition focused primarily on showcasing products, VIETFISH is increasingly becoming a platform where markets meet products, technology meets production needs, and partners come together to build new value chains. With its largest-ever scale and the introduction of new forms of business engagement, VIETFISH 2026 is expected not only to generate new orders during the three-day event, but also to create opportunities for long-term relationships in markets, investment, technology and strategic cooperation for Vietnam’s seafood industry.

Some highlights from the opening ceremony of VIETFISH 2026: