VIETFISH 2026: Connecting technology, markets and sustainable value chains

On August 19, the Viet Nam Fisheries International Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) under the theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”

VIETFISH 2026 marks 27 years of accompanying and supporting Viet Nam’s fisheries sector, reaching its largest scale to date. Taking place from August 19 to 21, the event serves as a strategic catalyst for domestic businesses to enhance competitiveness, meet global sustainability standards, and expand international trade networks.

Beyond the scope of a trade fair

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung said that amid rapidly changing international markets, requirements related to quality, traceability, environmental protection and sustainable development are increasingly becoming mandatory. Viet Nam’s fisheries sector therefore needs to continue renewing its mindset and development approaches.

The MAE will continue to improve institutions and policies to make them more transparent and practical; strongly reform administrative procedures; promote digital and green transformation; develop and connect data systems; and promptly address bottlenecks in production, processing and exports.

“The Ministry’s guiding principle is to accompany stakeholders and create an enabling environment in which businesses and people can fully unleash their creativity, investment capacity and production potential,” Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung emphasized.

Another key requirement is to move beyond purely transactional buyer-seller relationships for raw materials and build genuine value chains in which the interests of businesses, aquaculture farmers, fishers, logistics providers, distribution systems and markets are closely interconnected.

Do Ngoc Tai, Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that the participation of nearly 300 companies and partners from more than 20 countries and territories at VIETFISH 2026 not only demonstrates the attractiveness of Viet Nam’s seafood market, but also reflects the international community’s confidence in the sector’s capacity, prospects and future development.

The event brings together representatives from 17 countries and territories, including the United States, Germany, Italy, Norway, Israel, Türkiye, Japan, South Korea and China.

According to the VASEP Chairman, VIETFISH has now grown beyond the scope of a conventional trade promotion event to become an important meeting point for Viet Nam’s entire seafood value chain. It is where products meet markets, businesses connect with partners, technology meets production needs, and new ideas have the opportunity to be put into practice.

Hallmarks of innovation

Amid increasingly stringent international trade regulations, VIETFISH 2026 focuses on a core challenge facing the industry: shifting from raw exports to deeper processing and increasing the share of value-added products, including ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook offerings, for modern retail systems, restaurants, hotels and e-commerce platforms.

VIETFISH 2026 features a range of innovative activities designed to expand trade opportunities and reach new customer segments. These include the Hosted Buyer programme, which connects exhibitors with invited buyers; initiatives to engage younger consumers through TikTok; the live cooking demonstration space, Tasty Kitchen; and the “VIETFISH Bus Hunt” street marketing campaign.

After 27 years of development, VIETFISH not only reflects the growth of Viet Nam’s seafood processing and export industry, but also highlights the sector’s transformation requirements in a new era: growth must be driven not only by volume, but by value; the goal is not simply to expand into more markets, but to win them through quality, technology and sustainable development.