Vietnam's seafood industry is making a strong shift toward green standards and value addition

1. Opening of Vietfish 2026: Shaping the Green Transformation Strategy and Connecting the $12 Billion Value Chain

On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), themed Innovation and Sustainability and organized by VASEP, officially opened at SECC (HCMC). Spanning 14,000 square meters, the event gathers 335 international enterprises across 568 booths from 18 countries and territories, expecting over 13,000 trade visitors.

2. 3 Pillars of Cooperation to Elevate Vietnamese Seafood

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang emphasized that faced with pressures from climate change, logistics costs, and stringent green barriers in global markets, the seafood industry must shift its mindset—transitioning from price and volume competition to competing on technology, branding, value addition, and transparency. To achieve this goal, the Ministry representative proposed three strategic directions:

1. Expanding Market Space: Diversifying supply chains while encouraging foreign enterprises to invest in joint ventures and technology transfers in Vietnam.

2. Upgrading the Value Chain: Applying high technology to genetics, deep processing, preservation, logistics, and traceability.

3. Developing Responsible Fisheries: Accelerating the green transition, adapting to climate change, and firmly combating IUU fishing.

3. Export Breakthroughs and Driving Global Connections

Commending Vietnam's capacity, Ms. Melissa Brown, U.S. Consul General in HCMC, noted that Vietnam is currently the 7th largest trading partner of the U.S. In 2025, U.S. seafood exports to Vietnam surged by 77% (reaching $114 million), proving an increasingly tight bilateral trade relationship.

Domestically, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang recorded positive growth signals: in the first 7 months of 2026, seafood exports reached nearly $6.9 billion (a 12.8% increase). The industry is shifting strongly toward deep processing and independence regarding international standards.

  

 

VASEP Chairman Do Ngoc Tai affirmed that Vietfish 2026 serves as a leverage point helping businesses transition from raw exports to building chain brands. With new initiatives like the Hosted Buyer program and farm field surveys, the exhibition aims to accelerate year-end commercial contracts, targeting the $12 billion export mark and building momentum for the 2027 ESG roadmap.

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