Vietnam’s leading biennial food and hospitality trade event, Food&HotelVietnam2011, opened undefined
on 28 September at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), with a record number of 15 international group pavilions.
These include Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Korea, Singapore, U.S.A, and a new pavilion from Poland.
Organised by Singapore Exhibition Services (SES) and local Vietnam partner VCCI Exhibition Service, the three-day trade event unveils its sixth edition with 373 exhibitors, of which 74 per cent hailing from overseas, from 30 countries and regions. The event also serves as a platform for buyers to gain direct access and source through a range of products and services available from these international exhibitors.
The international event follows the positive growth in Vietnam’s food and hospitality industries. Vietnam's visitor arrivals is expecting to reach 7.2 million annually by 2015. According to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office, the country saw 3.43 million foreign tourists in the first seven months of this year, a 17.3 per cent increase from the same period last year. The rise in number of visitors has caused a boom in the hotels segment with increased hotel occupancy rates, and various international hotel chains launching new properties in 2011 and 2012.
“With the tourist numbers and hotel properties increasing in Vietnam, international visitors’ expectations are also gradually growing, for example foreign tourists will require a variety of new cuisines that can cater to their tastes and palates,” Stephen Tan, Chief Executive of show organiser SES.
This year’s show has seen a 26 per cent increase in exhibition area and a 12 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors from our previous edition in 2009.
Since its first edition in 2004, Food&HotelVietnam has garnered strong support from the industry and key government authorities. This year’s edition supporters include Vietnam’s Ministry of Trade and Industry; Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism; Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry; The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam National Administration of Tourism; Vietnam Hotel Association; Ho Chi Minh Tourism Association; Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Association, and the Saigon Professional Chefs’ Guild.
Highlights of the event include the second edition of the Vietnam Barista Competition, the fourth edition of the Vietnam Culinary Challenge, Vietnam's Best Sommelier Competition, a World of Bordeaux Wines Seminar and accompanying conference.
The event is open from 9am to 5pm at the SECC, 99 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, Tan Phu Ward, District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, through until 30 September.
