The third edition of Vietnam’s largest textile and apparel trade fair, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT 2026), concluded its three-day run in Ho Chi Minh City from 26 to 28 February 2026.
Welcoming over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featuring more than 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions, the fair further cemented its position as a major sourcing platform for the textile industry across the ASEAN region.
Vietnam’s Textile Industry at a Turning Point
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), reaffirmed the industry’s ongoing transformation. He highlighted that Vietnam’s textile and garment sector is undergoing a pivotal shift — moving from volume to quality, from contractual manufacturing to higher value-added production, and from traditional production models to green and smart manufacturing. He spoke of VIATT’s significance as a platform that encourages leading global brands to transfer technology, share management expertise, and support the development of domestic supply chains.
European Presence Grows, Inaugural Türkiye Zone Makes Its Debut
A standout feature of this edition was the expansion of the European Zone. The German Pavilion served as its centrepiece, bringing together leading exhibitors from Italy, Switzerland, and the UK, and offering buyers a comprehensive range of products and solutions with a strong emphasis on quality, compliance, and manufacturing excellence. Complementing this, the inaugural Türkiye Zone broadened the European sourcing landscape and introduced a new dimension of textile expertise to VIATT’s growing international offering.
Ms Chixian Zhao, Deputy General Manager of Ibena Shanghai Technical Textiles, a key exhibitor in the German Pavilion, shared her experience: “The German Pavilion’s design is simple and beautiful, while the concept is valuable and well-arranged, including matching us with VIP buyers, and introducing our company onstage, which drew additional visitors to our booth. We connected with some Vietnamese firefighter agencies, while I’m very pleasantly surprised to find many overseas buyers who have factories or supply chain segments in Vietnam.”
The company specialises in technical textiles, including flame-retardant fabrics, chemical protection workwear, and EV fire protection products.
“The Most International Fair I’ve Attended” — Exhibitors on the VIATT Experience
The fair’s integrated three-sector format — spanning Apparel Fabrics & Fashion, Home & Contract Textiles, and Technical Textiles & Technologies — drew strong support from a diverse range of exhibitors.
Ms. Kiki Chen, Global Marketing Communications Manager at Covation Biomaterials LLC (USA), reflected: “It is the most international fair I’ve exhibited at for two years, and we met high-quality buyers and contacts from the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, China and more. We also made connections with international brands including Inditex, PVH, and Sneakers Group.”
The newly introduced Textile Chemicals & Dyes Zone also received positive feedback. Mr. David YT Kweon, General Manager for the Korea and Vietnam markets at Colourtex Industries (India), noted: “When companies from multiple sectors are concentrated in one place, there are more opportunities to exchange and share ideas, which positively affects our business activities.”
VIP Buyers from World-Renowned Brands Converge
Ten buyer delegations from eight countries and regions sourced at the fair, while VIP buyers from renowned brands, including Adidas, An Phuoc, Gap, H&M, Ivy Moda, Lululemon, Muji, Nitori, Osprey, and Perry Ellis, met with exhibitors to further promote business exchange.
Mr William Yip, Raw Materials Lead at Mountain Equipment Company (Canada), offered this perspective: “As a Canadian-owned company, we partner with many strategic vendors in Vietnam. What’s quite unique about this country is seeing that transition towards more innovative qualities — moving away from just volume towards material differentiation. From a traceability perspective, it is invaluable to have insight into your yarn supplier, the yarns being used in your fabrics, and ultimately your garment suppliers. That’s one thing I found especially helpful at VIATT 2026.”
Mr. Sanjeev Jain, President and CEO of TQM Global Buying (Sourcing Professionals Alliance) from India, shared his impressions: “We are a team of around 15 buyers who have come from India, representing customers from South Africa, the US, Europe, and other parts of the globe. The design trends here are very different and interesting.”
The Inaugural Trend Forum Points to the Future
The fringe programme was significantly expanded this edition. Key highlights included the inaugural Trend Forum, the Vietnam Textile & Garment Industry Development Strategy Summit (VTGIS), and the Textile Industry Exchange, alongside three fashion shows that brought both local and international perspectives to the fair.
Mr. Kai Chow, Lead Curator of the VIATT Trend Forum and Creative Director of MUSEATIVE, articulated the forum’s mission: “Southeast Asia is no longer just a manufacturing alternative — it is becoming a strategic innovation hub. The Trend Forum allows trend content to go beyond visual inspiration, helping exhibitors and visitors move from trend-following to trend understanding.”
Mr. Hervé Coulombel, President and CEO of Royal Mer (France), used the fashion show as a platform to explore entry into the Vietnamese market: “Having started our distribution in Korea last year, Vietnam would be our second country in Asia, and the development of our brand throughout the region is exactly what we are working towards.”
Digital transformation also emerged as a key theme. Ms. Kathy Pham, Associate of Business Development at CLO, stated: “Digital transformation is no longer optional. 3D design, AI-assisted development, and virtual collaboration are now becoming a standard tool to reduce waste, shorten lead time, and improve global communication. We encourage companies to adopt these workflows early, so they will get a competitive advantage in cost, speed, and sustainability.”
Looking Ahead: VIATT 2027
Reflecting on the edition’s achievements, Ms. Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “With each edition, VIATT has grown in both depth and breadth — not just as a sourcing platform, but as a space where the industry comes together to shape the future of textiles across the ASEAN region. A holistic view of the entire value chain across three textile sectors, underpinned by a shared commitment to design, sustainability, and international collaboration — that is what makes this fair truly unique.”
VIATT 2027 will be co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and VIETRADE, and is scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 February 2027 in Ho Chi Minh City.
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