The opening of the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Export Furniture Fair at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City on March 4. — Photo courtesy of HAWA

HCM CITY — The annual Ho Chi Minh City Export Furniture Fair (HawaExpo 2026) opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City on March 4, reaffirming its role as a strategic meeting point between Vietnamese manufacturers and the global market.

This year’s edition is thrice the usual size, with more than 450 participating enterprises and some 2,500 booths.

Organised by VIFOREST FAIR Company and directly operated by the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (HAWA), the third HawaExpo, with the theme “Gateway to Vietnam Furniture Prowess” this year, is set to continue showcasing the capabilities of the country’s wood and furniture industry and serving as a strategic trade hub connecting with international markets.

Phùng Quốc Mẫn, chairman of HAWA and head of the organising committee, said nearly 90 per cent of the products exhibited this year are manufactured in Việt Nam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyễn Quốc Trị praised the dynamism of industry associations and businesses in organising trade fairs, highlighting HawaExpo’s growing professionalism as a contributor to the record wood export turnover achieved in 2025.

“With more than 2,500 booths, HawaExpo is not only a product showcase but also a statement of adaptability. It serves as a bridge for Made-in-Vietnam furniture products to penetrate deeper into the global value chain.”

Nguyễn Văn Được, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, expressed delight at HawaExpo’s success in establishing its reputation over the years.

“With its creative exhibition space and diverse professional programmes, HawaExpo continues to affirm its position as a prestigious international trade platform for Việt Nam’s wood and furniture industry.

“The fair provides enterprises with opportunities to showcase manufacturing capabilities, innovative products and new technologies, while strengthening connections with major partners at home and abroad, enhancing global positioning and expanding international co-operation.”

HawaExpo, which is being held in HCM City from March 4 to 7, attracted more than 3,000 visitors on the morning of its opening day. — VNS Photo

Vũ Bá Phú, director of the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency, noted encouraging signals from the wood sector amid challenges relating to stricter standards, green transition pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. 

He too said HawaExpo 2026 would enable the country’s wood industry to expand further into international markets and reinforce the “Vietnam Wood” brand as a symbol of quality and responsibility.

This year the wood and furniture industry targets exports of US$18–19 billion.

According to Trị, for the industry to go further, it must undergo stronger transformation, shifting from contract manufacturing to design and development of proprietary brands, from cost-based competition to competition driven by quality, technology and creativity, from merely participating in supply chains to leading high-value segments, and from rapid growth to green development.

The sector needs to invest more strongly in digital transformation, automation and environmentally friendly materials, and foster closer linkages between enterprises and forest growers, he said.

“We are confident that, building on the $18.3 billion achieved in 2025, Việt Nam’s forestry processing and export industry can set even higher targets in the coming years - not only growing in volume, but also advancing in quality, and not only expanding markets but also elevating the standing of the national brand.”

Được called on HAWA and wood enterprises to work with the city to achieve five strategic objectives: pioneering green transformation, elevating from “Made in Vietnam” to “Made by Vietnam,” leading through digital transformation, diversifying and balancing markets, and striving for double-digit growth.

To run until March 7, the fair is expected to receive around 18,000 visitors. — VNS