According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will take place from 19/8 to 21/8 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in District 7. This year's event marks its largest scale to date.

The exhibition covers an area of over 14,000 square meters, featuring 568 booths from 335 businesses, representing a 20% increase from last year. The event draws participation from 17 countries, including the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, and Norway. It is expected to welcome approximately 13,000 visitors and business professionals.

Vietfish 2026 is being held at a time when the seafood industry shows positive signs of recovery. In the first six months of the year, Vietnam's seafood export turnover reached 5.76 billion USD, an increase of 12.7% compared to the same period last year. The organizers anticipate that the event will create trade connection opportunities, helping businesses move closer to this year's export target of 12 billion USD.

Carrying the message "innovation and sustainability", the exhibition aims to address challenges in enhancing product value and promoting green transformation within the seafood industry. This trend is evident in the gradual reduction of raw export proportions, alongside the development of deeply processed products, ready-to-eat seafood, and convenient foods, catering to the demands of global retail and e-commerce systems.

A variety of seafood products displayed at Vietfish. Photo: Vietfish

Alongside the exhibition, a series of specialized workshops provide a platform for experts and businesses to discuss pressing industry issues. The focus is on solutions to meet stringent international market standards, such as: ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria, the net zero emission reduction roadmap, transparent traceability, and commitments against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

A specialized seafood workshop at Vietfish. Photo: Vietfish

This year's exhibition also introduces several new features. For the first time, a Hosted Buyer program is being implemented, bringing importers from key markets to visit the exhibition and directly meet Vietnamese businesses, farming regions, and factories in the Mekong river area. This initiative aims to provide an immersive view of the production process, from farm to table, allowing buyers to witness Vietnamese businesses' international standard export procedures.

Additionally, livestream sessions for seafood products are being organized by VASEP in collaboration with TikTok Shop and Foodmap's e-commerce channel, bringing seafood products directly to Gen Z consumers.

Beyond international outreach, Vietfish 2026 also focuses on stimulating the domestic market through the Tasty Kitchen culinary demonstration zone, themed "export seafood for Vietnamese people". Here, professional chefs from Vietnam, the US, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia will directly prepare dishes using premium exported seafood. This activity helps producers connect directly with domestic restaurants, hotels, and retail systems, thereby reducing reliance on large export markets. The event also includes interactive mini-games and gifts from the organizers.

Cooking show and mini-game activities at Vietfish. Photo: Vietfish

With its large-scale exhibition space and diverse trade and experiential activities, Vietfish 2026 serves as a destination for professionals and businesses to seek cooperation opportunities. It is also a place for consumers to directly explore new culinary trends and products. "The organizers expect to welcome a large community of businesses, partners, investors, and the public to visit and experience the event, thereby collectively promoting Vietnam's position in the global seafood market," a representative of the organizing committee shared.

The Dan