On March 24, 2026, the international food and foodservice trade show "Food & Hospitality Vietnam 2026 (FHV2026)" opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Over the three-day run, more than 400 companies from 36 countries around the world exhibited, making it a place to drive the transformation of Vietnam's food, beverage, and hospitality industry. Its tie-up with HOTELEX Vietnam, held jointly for the first time this time, also drew attention.
News overview
FHV2026 is known as one of Vietnam's largest food and hospitality trade shows, and this year over 400 companies from 36 countries participated, with 19 international pavilions set up. It's a large-scale event expecting 17,000 visitors.
今回の最大のトピックは、ホスピタリティ専門展示会「HOTELEX Vietnam」との合同開催だ。食材・飲料から厨房機器・ホテル設備まで、業界のバリューチェーン全体をカバーする構成は、参加者のビジネスマッチングをこれまで以上に促進する。主催するInforma Markets Asiaのアジア担当VPは「ベトナムの食・飲料・ホスピタリティ産業は、デジタル化とサステナビリティを軸に新たな局面に入った」と語り、会場全体にその姿勢が反映されていた。
During the run, several contests were also held, including a barista competition, a Vietnamese-cuisine challenge, and an aroma-master championship. In addition, a B2B matching program, "FHV Premier Connect," was set up, putting in place a mechanism to efficiently connect buyers and suppliers for business talks.
Reference:Vietnam News — Food & Hospitality Vietnam 2026 Opens
Reactions from Vietnamese people and participants
From the local foodservice industry, voices rose: "A chance to talk directly with overseas buyers on this scale comes only once a year," and many exhibitors were surprised by the number of international pavilions. On social media, the venue's liveliness spread along with the hashtag「#FHV2026」, and posts like "the level of the barista competition rises every year" and "young chefs shone in the cooking challenge" came one after another. From local media, a tone praising it stood out too: "Vietnam's food industry has finally taken the global stage."
HOTELEX Vietnamとの合同開催については、ホテル業界の参加者から「ワンストップで仕入れ先を探せる」と好評の声が多く寄せられ、初年度ながら高い満足度が示された。
Impact and points for Japanese tourists and travelers
This trade show isn't for general tourists, but for Japan's food-business figures it's an event not to be missed. Vietnam also holds an important position as a food-exporting country to Japan, making it a prime chance to look for local food trends and new trading partners.
Also, from a traveler's viewpoint, during the trade-show period Ho Chi Minh City sees more international business travelers, and city restaurants and luxury hotels tend to be crowded. It's also a period when demand for "business travel" combining business trips and sightseeing rises. Those interested in Ho Chi Minh City's food culture should also check theSaigontourist Food Culture Festivalandthe banh mi festival. To enjoy the local food experience more deeply,coffee-farm toursare also popular.
