Thaifex Anuga Asia 2025 is Asia’s leading F&B trade show, where Vinamilk has maintained a strong presence for nearly 20 years. — Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s dairy giant Vinamilk has returned to Thaifex Anuga Asia, the continent’s most influential food and beverage trade exhibition, continuing a nearly 20-year streak of participation.

As over 3,100 companies from more than 50 countries gather in Bangkok for this year’s event, Vinamilk stands as a familiar and respected name, drawing attention for its innovation, high-quality products and long-standing role in representing Việt Nam on the global stage.

Vinamilk’s presence at Thaifex has become a hallmark of its international business strategy, beginning in the early days of its export journey.

Vinamilk's eye-catching booth continues to be a highlight at Thaifex 2025. — Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

Vinamilk's International Business Director Võ Trung Hiếu recalled the company’s early steps at the expo: “Thaifex is one of the very first international fairs we joined when we started exporting. At that time, we mainly came to introduce our brand and explore potential partners, especially from Asia and other promising markets.

"Most visitors back then were interested in tropical agricultural products from Southeast Asia — dairy didn’t receive much attention. But thanks to our persistent efforts in brand building and cultivating partnerships, Vinamilk is now a well-known name at this event. Thaifex has proven to be a key activity in our long-term export market development.”

This year’s expo is the largest to date, with Việt Nam contributing a record number of over 170 participating businesses. Among the many sectors represented, Vinamilk continues to be a standout, showcasing a wide range of new products and nutrition-forward innovations that reflect both consumer demand and the company’s technological progress.

Despite dairy not traditionally being a strength of the region, Vinamilk’s booth consistently draws interest from global buyers. Its ability to deliver internationally certified quality and align with local tastes has helped it gain a solid footing in markets across Asia and beyond.

Vinamilk connects with partners from across Asia, Europe and the Americas during Thaifex 2025. — Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

One such market is Taiwan, where Jeffrey Chung, CEO of a long-time distribution partner, recounted his company’s collaboration with Vinamilk: “We first discovered Vinamilk at Thaifex many years ago. Since then, we’ve worked together for nearly a decade.

"Vinamilk meets our high expectations in terms of product quality and international standards, while also understanding the flavour preferences of our consumers. Their service and pricing have also been very competitive. We are now exploring new product lines from them alongside the ones we’ve been successfully distributing.”

Beyond trade, Vinamilk sees Thaifex as a strategic platform for gathering insights and connecting with technology and ingredient suppliers from leading dairy-producing countries. This approach supports the company’s ongoing investments in research and development (R&D) and production capabilities.

Vinamilk’s export activities are not only a commercial endeavour, but also part of a broader effort to elevate the presence of Vietnamese brands on the world stage. As the only Vietnamese dairy brand ranked among the top six globally by brand value, and Southeast Asia’s most valuable food brand (according to Brand Finance 2023), Vinamilk continues to demonstrate how Vietnamese enterprises can compete at a global level.

International visitors sampling Vinamilk’s new products were impressed by the fresh, light taste and innovation in flavour and nutrition. — Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

At the 2025 exhibition, international visitors have responded positively to Vinamilk’s latest offerings, including premium milk, yogurt and plant-based beverages.

German visitor Oliver Hensel shared his impression after tasting the products on display: “I found Vinamilk’s range very creative and diverse. The fresh milk and nut milks had a light, clean taste. I was especially impressed by the company’s advanced production technology and the rigorous certifications they have achieved internationally.”

These sentiments reflect a growing recognition of the quality of Vietnamese food worldwide, and Vinamilk’s ability to deliver products that meet increasingly sophisticated consumer expectations.

According to Trần Phú Lữ, Director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), the presence of industry leaders like Vinamilk at international trade events carries broader significance.

“The participation of leading Vietnamese enterprises in major trade shows like Thaifex not only affirms our national brand identity, but also inspires and connects smaller companies, helping them expand their own global ambitions,” he said.

In the first quarter of 2025, Vinamilk reported a strong 24.9 per cent year-on-year increase in export revenue, reaching VNĐ1.62 trillion (US$62.3 million). This marked the seventh consecutive quarter of export growth, with international sales accounting for more than 23 percent of total company revenue for the first time. In addition, Vinamilk entered two new international markets, bringing its global reach to 65 countries.

As the company continues its international journey, its presence at Thaifex serves as more than just a trade activity — it is a reflection of Việt Nam’s evolving role in the global food industry and the growing confidence in Vietnamese brands to deliver quality, innovation and trust.