For 12 days, the Spring Fair transformed VEC into a walkable map of 34 provinces, blending cuisine, culture and commerce inside Southeast Asia’s largest exhibition complex.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 February 2026 – For nearly two weeks, the Spring Fair 2026 turned the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC) into something few destinations manage to achieve: a condensed, high-definition portrait of an entire country.
As the fair drew to a close, what remained was not simply a tally of booths or sales figures, but the impression of a place that allowed visitors to journey ‘through Vietnam’ at remarkable speed. Within a single afternoon, one could travel from the northern mountains to the Mekong Delta without ever leaving a sprawling 90-hectare venue on the outskirts of Hanoi.
A Country in One Afternoon
The scale of the event was unapologetically enormous. More than 3,000 standard booths housed around 2,500 enterprises, showcasing participation from 34 provinces and cities across Vietnam. Over 12 continuous days, the fair aimed for direct revenue of 1,000 billion VND and operated at a frenetic pace that rarely slowed.
Inside, the exhibition floor was organized into thematic zones, such as “Vietnamese Cultural Essence” and “Vietnamese Agricultural Products – Connecting Spring.” This layout encouraged visitors to drift geographically; one moment, they stood amid the scenery of the northern region, and moments later, they were indulging in the culinary specialties of the south.
In the section representing Bắc Ninh, trays of bánh phu thê (sticky rice cake filled with mung bean paste, traditionally served at weddings) glowed invitingly beneath warm lights. Nearby, vendors rolled out bánh cuốn Mao Điền (thin rice sheets wrapped around seasoned minced pork and wood ear mushrooms), steam gently rising into the air. Nem chua (fermented pork sausage) was sliced into tidy portions, while bundles of mì gạo chũ (sun-dried rice noodles from Bắc Giang) were arranged in pale, orderly stacks.
As visitors ventured further, the scent transformed. At a booth from Sơn La, strips of thịt trâu gác bếp (smoked buffalo meat) were cut from darkened slabs, paired with a dense sauce punctuated by mắc khén (wild mountain pepper with a citrusy heat). The taste was smoky, slightly sweet, and sharply spiced. At another stand, mắm tôm chua (fermented shrimp paste with chili and garlic) from Huế was creatively wrapped with boiled pork belly and green banana slices, layered with fresh herbs to temper its tang.
In the southern cluster, bánh pía (flaky pastry filled with mung bean, salted egg yolk, and durian) from Sóc Trăng were sliced while still warm, their layered crust collapsing delicately to reveal a creamy interior. The unmistakable aroma of durian lingered in the air, bold and confident.
“I really liked how the space was designed according to each province’s characteristic… not just products, but also culture – music, people, traditional dress. It clearly shows very thoughtful experiential design,” remarked an American visitor during the event.
For business delegations, the appeal transcended atmosphere. “We came here to find Vietnamese partners for cashew nuts, cacao, and coffee,” explained Mandel V. Panizares, a representative from Green Agricultural Products Trading in the Philippines. “Seeing the products directly and discussing at the booth; this ‘see and touch’ approach allows us to evaluate quality and production capacity more clearly than just looking at profiles or images.”
Throughout the fair, cultural performances intertwined with the marketplace experience. Visitors found themselves captivated by over 50 performers clad in restored Nguyễn-era garments who entered the main corridor for the “Hundred Flower Parade.” The gold-embroidered nhật bình (formal imperial robes) shimmered beneath the hall’s lights as ceremonial horses trod carefully across polished floors, drawing shoppers’ attention mid-conversation.
“The parade is not just a performance, but a living cultural experience, where traditional Vietnamese attire, rituals, aesthetics, and people coexist within the flow of daily life and commerce,” noted Nguyen Thanh Nam, a member of the project team.
Across the 12 days, over 40 cultural programs unfolded alongside hundreds of performances, featuring showcases by the Vietnam Circus Federation and the Vietnam Puppet Theatre. Music, acrobatics, and folk art harmoniously coexisted with contract negotiations and product demonstrations, crafting an immersive experience for all.
The Platform Powering the Experience
The intensity and diversity of experiences offered were made possible by the Vietnam Exhibition Center itself. Spanning 90 hectares, VEC stands as the largest exhibition complex in Southeast Asia and ranks among the top ten globally. Central to its design is the Kim Quy Exhibition Hall, a 130,000 square meter column-free space that provides uninterrupted interior room on a scale rarely seen in the region.
Constructed in just 10 months by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, the center officially opened its doors on August 19, 2025, welcoming 1.2 million visitors in its first three days of operation. Managing such a volume required advanced crowd coordination, robust security systems, and integrated logistics capable of operating on a metropolitan scale.
The infrastructure extends well beyond the main hall. An 18-hectare parking area accommodates over 10,000 vehicles, complemented by nearly 1,200 electric vehicle charging ports, forming the largest EV charging station in Vietnam. Integrated storage zones, transport logistics, and modern electronic payment systems allowed thousands of booths to operate simultaneously without visible strain.
As a member of the Bureau International des Expositions, VEC serves as Vietnam’s official representative at global exhibition events, positioning it within the international exhibition circuit.
“We believe that, building upon this foundation, VEC will continue to thrive and evolve into a premier hub for major regional and international events. When operated at its full potential, VEC will emerge as a new symbol of a connected, prosperous, integrated, innovative, and sustainable Vietnam, thereby elevating our national standing in the country’s new era of ascent,” stated Mr. Tran Le Phuong, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vietnam Exhibition Fair Center Joint Stock Company (VEFAC JSC).
During the Spring Fair, this capacity was evident in every operational detail. Corridors remained fluid even at peak hours. Multiple stages operated without acoustic conflict, allowing international delegations to navigate seamlessly between provincial booths.
“I highly appreciate the handicraft products of Hue and the high-tech agricultural products of Thanh Hoa and Dong Thap,” remarked Ozasa Haruhiko, Chief Representative of JETRO Hanoi. “The diversity and quality here strengthen my confidence in Japan-Vietnam trade potential.”
As the 2026 edition concludes, the Spring Fair leaves behind more than mere transactions and photographs. It has demonstrated that Vietnam can orchestrate large-scale exhibitions infused with cultural depth and operational precision within world-class infrastructure.
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