The seventh International Exhibition and Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Production and Processing Technology in Vietnam (HortEx Vietnam) opened on Wednesday in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together nearly 400 brands from 30 countries for the country's largest trade event dedicated to the fruit, vegetable, and flower industry.

The three-day exhibition, organized by the Netherlands’ Nova Exhibitions BV and Vietnam’s Minh Vi Exhibition and Advertisement Services Co., Ltd. (VEAS), serves as a platform for technology exchange, trade connections, and export promotion for Vietnamese and international agribusinesses.

According to VEAS managing director Nguyen Ba Vinh, HortEx Vietnam has established itself as the leading international trade event for Vietnam’s horticultural sector.

Besides the participation of international enterprises, this year’s event also features business delegations, cooperatives, and agricultural producers from 17 provinces and cities across the country.

“This provides an opportunity for local businesses to network, exchange experience, access new technologies, enhance production capacity, improve product quality, and expand export markets,” Vinh said.

HortEx Vietnam 2025 is supported by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam, the Vietnam Fruit & Vegetable Association (VinaFruit), the Dalat Flower Association, the Vietnam Seed Trade Association, the Vietnam Gardening Association, Spanish Association Agragex, and the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV).

Alongside HortEx, the German Agricultural Society’s Agritech Asia exhibition is also debuting, featuring over 200 companies from 30 countries presenting advanced agricultural technologies tailored for Vietnam.

Vietnam strengthens position as key fruit exporter

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Consulate General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City Daniël Stork highlighted Vietnam’s growing role in the global fruit export market.

“In 2024, Vietnam’s exports of fruits and vegetables to the EU reached US$7.15 billion, reinforcing the country's place as a key supplier to some of the world’s most demanding markets,” Stork noted.

With global demand for fresh produce rising, Vietnam’s horticultural sector holds significant potential. 

However, sustainability, traceability, and evolving export regulations require the industry to continuously innovate to meet international standards.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam expressed hope that the expo would drive technological advancements, strengthen supply chain connections, and foster sustainable agricultural development.

Despite natural disasters and pandemics, Nam praised Vietnam’s agricultural resilience, noting that exports hit a record $62 billion in 2024, with sectoral growth reaching 3.3 percent.

“The industry has significantly transformed toward an agricultural economy, emphasizing value-added production and improved product quality,” he stated. 

“We are gradually transitioning from conventional (brown) agriculture to green agriculture, enhancing sustainability and synchronizing technological advancements in production.”

Nam also highlighted a government project focused on the sustainable development of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta, aiming to boost quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products.

As part of the event, Chao Yen, ambassador for The Empower Youth 4Food Campaign (EY4F)’s Vietnam Chapter, stressed the importance of youth engagement in sustainable agriculture and food security.

“If younger generations do not participate, there will be no one to continue this vital work,” she said.

EY4F aims to reshape perceptions of agriculture in Southeast Asia, where many young people view the field as outdated or lacking career prospects.

Yen emphasized that older farmers work hard but often lack access to updated knowledge on sustainable farming practices.

“For example, when my grandmother first learned about pesticides and herbicides, she eagerly adopted them without fully understanding their long-term effects,” she said.

She believes young people can bring awareness, education, and responsibility to agriculture, helping implement more sustainable farming methods while ensuring the industry’s long-term success.

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