Vietnam's demand for instant noodles is projected to increase by 1,2% in 2025, marking its second consecutive year of growth after declines in 2022 and 2023, according to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA).

With over 8,2 billion servings, Vietnam ranks behind Trung Quoc and Hong Kong (43,3 billion servings), Indonesia (14,5 billion), and An Do (9,6 billion). However, on a per capita basis, Vietnam leads the world with 81 servings per person annually. This means, on average, Vietnamese people consume an instant noodle meal every four to five days.

In 2021, Vietnamese consumers ate nearly 8,6 billion servings, which then decreased to approximately 8,5 billion in 2022 and 8,1 billion in 2023. Demand rebounded to 8,1 billion servings in 2024. This trend indicates that instant noodle consumption is recovering after a period of decline, rather than experiencing continuous growth over time.

Within the market of over 8 billion servings, competition among businesses is intensifying. According to Euromonitor, Acecook led Vietnam's instant noodle market in 2024 with a 34,3% retail value market share, followed by Masan Consumer with 23,1%, Uniben with 7,6%, and Asia Foods with 6,1%. In 2025, Acecook is expected to maintain its leading position, while Masan Consumer holds second place and continues to gain market share from competitors.

Vietnamese people consume a bowl of noodles every few days. Photo: Thi Ha

This competition occurs as consumers have more options in terms of price and product format. Affordable noodles retain a significant role due to their low prices, while mid-range and premium lines expand with cup noodles, bowl noodles, non-fried products, or those with added ingredients, which can be many times more expensive.

Globally, instant noodle demand is expected to reach 124,21 billion servings in 2025, a 0,7% increase from the previous year. Chau A continues to be the largest consuming region and contributes significantly to overall growth, while Chau Au is the only region to record a decrease in demand.

Thi Ha