On September 3, 2026, the highly anticipated Vietnam International Sourcing 2026 (VIS) officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As a premier supply chain matchmaking platform in Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asian region, this year's edition has brought together over 600 local manufacturers and exporters, while attracting more than 580 international retailers, distributors, and professional buyers from around the globe. Against the backdrop of accelerating global supply chain restructuring, this major event serves as a direct bridge for Vietnamese enterprises to access international markets, enabling them to precisely align with global demand and enhance their international competitiveness.
At the opening ceremony, Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, delivered a keynote address. She noted that the global economic landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, with global supply chains facing restructuring, intensifying market competition, and increasingly complex international trade barriers. At this critical juncture, the hosting of VIS 2026 holds significant strategic importance. Emphasizing the exhibition's objectives, she highlighted its role in providing Vietnamese enterprises with invaluable opportunities for direct dialogue with international buyers, helping them gain deeper insights into the latest market demands and standards, thereby effectively expanding their overseas sales channels. She encouraged Vietnamese manufacturers to seize this opportunity, actively integrate into the global value chain, and elevate their influence within the global supply chain.
The exhibition has drawn the attention of several top-tier global retail and manufacturing giants, including Walmart from the United States, H&M from Sweden, Aeon from Japan, Lotte from South Korea, Thailand's Central Group and MM Mega Market, Mexico's Imcosa SA de CV, and LuLu from the UAE. The gathering of these international heavyweights not only underscores the vital role of Vietnamese manufacturing in the global supply chain but also provides local enterprises with an excellent opportunity to secure international orders directly. In an interview, Alen Wei, Chief Financial Officer of H&M Production for China and Southeast Asia, stated that Vietnam remains an extremely important sourcing market for H&M. Addressing the global trend toward green transition, he advised Vietnamese enterprises to focus on low-carbon production models, actively adopt renewable energy, and continuously upgrade their industrial technological capabilities to increase domestic value addition and achieve sustainable development.
Beyond market expansion, supply chain partners' requirements for manufacturing standards are also evolving. Cha Ji Ho, Deputy General Manager of the Samsung Vietnam Procurement Center, shared new procurement trends among multinational corporations during the event. He pointed out that current supply chain cooperation has gradually shifted from mere price competition to higher demands for product quality, delivery lead times, technological capabilities, and transparent data management. This shift means that Vietnamese manufacturers must accelerate their digital transformation and enhance lean production practices to meet the stringent standards set by leading international enterprises regarding supply chain resilience and compliance.
The VIS 2026 is a three-day event running through September 5. The comprehensive program comprises four core segments: the Export Forum, the International Supply Chain Exhibition, B2B Business Matching, and Factory Tours. The Factory Tours segment will organize international procurement delegations to visit local Vietnamese factories for on-site assessments of production and supply chain support capabilities. In terms of exhibition layout, the event features four precisely curated thematic zones covering food and beverage, home goods and furniture, lifestyle and healthcare products, and the export supply chain. This specialized zoning not only enhances matchmaking efficiency between buyers and sellers but also comprehensively showcases the diversified strengths and industrial upgrading achievements of Vietnam's manufacturing sector.
The successful hosting of Vietnam International Sourcing 2026 is not merely a grand trade matchmaking event, but also a crucial window for Vietnam's manufacturing industry to demonstrate its determination to transform and upgrade to the world. By pooling global resources and aligning with international standards, Vietnam is striving to secure a more advantageous position in the new landscape of the global supply chain, injecting strong momentum into the international development of its local enterprises.