(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
Large-Scale Exhibition and Record Visitor Numbers
Held from August 19–21, 2026, VIETFISH 2026 recorded an impressive scale, featuring more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, bringing together 335 companies and 568 booths showcasing products, technologies, equipment, services, and solutions serving the seafood value chain.
This year’s exhibition clearly reflected the diversity of Vietnam’s seafood industry, ranging from major seafood processing and export companies and small and medium-sized enterprises to businesses operating in machinery and equipment, chemicals, packaging, technology, logistics, and supporting services. The presence of businesses from across these sectors created a more comprehensive picture of the seafood value chain, encompassing products and technologies as well as solutions supporting production, processing, and trade.
Notably, VIETFISH 2026 attracted more visitors than expected, reaching a record of nearly 15,000 visitors over three days. These figures demonstrate the growing appeal of VIETFISH among businesses, buyers, partners, regulators, industry experts, and domestic and international visitors.
Growing International Presence
VIETFISH 2026 welcomed representatives from 17 countries and territories, including the United States, Germany, Italy, Norway, Israel, Türkiye, Japan, South Korea, and China. The strong participation of international companies, partners, and organizations further demonstrates Vietnam’s position in the global seafood supply chain.
Against the backdrop of rapid changes in international seafood trade and increasingly stringent requirements concerning quality, traceability, food safety, social responsibility, the environment, and sustainable development, VIETFISH 2026 was more than a venue for product showcases. It also served as a platform for businesses to stay updated on market trends, seek partners, expand into new markets, and strengthen their ability to adapt.
Multiple First-Time Innovations
One of the highlights of VIETFISH 2026 was the introduction of a number of new activities aimed at optimizing business-matching efficiency, expanding customer networks, and bringing Vietnamese seafood closer to international and domestic markets.
For the first time, the Hosted Buyer Program was introduced at VIETFISH, bringing international buyers from key markets to the exhibition to meet Vietnamese businesses directly, while also taking part in visits to farming areas and processing plants in the Mekong region. This initiative gave importers a more practical understanding of Vietnam’s seafood production and processing capabilities, quality-control systems, and supply chains.
This year also marked the first Domestic B2B Program, creating a direct networking platform between seafood companies and domestic buyers, distributors, retail systems, and sales channels. This was an important expansion, enabling high-quality seafood products to penetrate the domestic market more deeply alongside the industry’s traditional export focus.
VIETFISH 2026 also introduced an innovative approach to consumer engagement through e-commerce livestream sessions. VASEP, in collaboration with TikTok Shop and Foodmap, organized live-stream sales activities at the event, bringing value-added, convenient, and modern processed seafood products closer to younger consumers.
In addition, the Tasty Kitchen culinary space, under the message “Export-Quality Seafood for Vietnamese Consumers,” offered visitors an engaging experience. Professional chefs from Vietnam, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia conducted live demonstrations, prepared dishes, and introduced high-quality seafood products for export.
The “Vietfish Bus Hunt” street communication campaign, featuring a double-decker bus carrying the VIETFISH 2026 visual identity, also helped spread the exhibition atmosphere to the wider community before and during the event.
Seminars and B2B Activities Add Depth to Business Connections
Beyond its impressive exhibition scale, VIETFISH 2026 also made a strong impact through its industry-focused activities. A series of five specialized seminars, together with B2B programs, attracted approximately 900 delegates, business representatives, and participants.
The seminars focused on key issues facing the industry, including global seafood market trends, green technologies for aquaculture and processing chains, updates on standards and market regulations, the outlook for key markets, Vietnam–China seafood trade, and future workforce development.
At the same time, international and domestic B2B sessions took place actively, providing Vietnamese companies with opportunities to meet directly with buyers, distributors, retailers, and potential partners. These activities contributed to enhancing the quality of VIETFISH’s trade-promotion efforts, focusing on well-prepared meetings that matched specific business needs and had the potential to lead to continued cooperation after the exhibition.
Strengthening VIETFISH’s Role as a Key Seafood Industry Meeting Point
From exhibition scale and visitor numbers to direct business-matching activities, e-commerce innovations, culinary experiences, and community communications, VIETFISH 2026 demonstrated the clear transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry as it enters a new phase of development.
The exhibition was more than a venue for showcasing products. It served as a multidimensional platform connecting Vietnamese businesses with international buyers, suppliers with domestic distribution networks, exported seafood products with Vietnamese consumers, and technology with markets, standards, and sustainable development.
VASEP and the VIETFISH 2026 Organizing Committee sincerely thank government authorities and domestic and international organizations for their interest, partnership, and support for the exhibition; the participating companies and exhibitors for their careful investment in their booths, products, and event presentation; and partners, buyers, and domestic and international Hosted Buyer delegations for choosing VIETFISH 2026 as a platform for business connections.
The Organizing Committee also extends its sincere appreciation to the many visitors, seafood enthusiasts, news agencies, newspapers and media organizations, contractors, operations and logistics teams, and all supporting personnel whose contributions helped spread the “Innovation – Sustainability” message and ensure that the event was conducted safely, professionally, and effectively.
VIETFISH 2026 may have come to an end, but the connections, business opportunities, and development story of Vietnam’s seafood industry will continue to expand in the period ahead.
