The event promoted Vietnam’s tourism sector, traditional handicrafts and national brands. This year’s ICIF-22 attracted participation from 110 countries and territories, with 6,000 exhibitors and around 400 cultural activities.

A special exhibition area featuring cultural highlights and cultural industry products from 21 APEC economies during China’s APEC 2026 year captured  strong interest from international guests and local visitors.

Vietnam’s exhibition area combined traditional and modern presentations, including live demonstrations of Vietnamese hand embroidery by artisans, coffee-making performances, and screenings introducing Vietnam’s culture, tourism and businesses.

Embroidered artworks featuring lotus, peony and bombax flowers by designer Tuan Sanh conveyed messages of Vietnam-China friendship and cultural similarities between the two countries, while highlighting the craftsmanship of Vietnamese artisans.

The “Vietnam Cultural Space” also attracted attention from major Chinese media outlets, including those in Guangdong Province and Shenzhen.

At  the “Economic, Trade and Cultural Tourism Cooperation Exchange Conference – Shenzhen Connecting the World”, held on the sidelines of ICIF-22, Vietnamese Consul General in Guangzhou Nguyen Viet Dung said Vietnam is accelerating digital transformation, green transition, science and technology development, and innovation, seeing them as key drivers for rapid and sustainable growth and stronger national competitiveness.

In that context, he said cooperation between Shenzhen and Vietnam today goes beyond trade and investment, showing shared development visions, openness, innovation and a common focus on future growth.

The Consul General also noted continued strong growth in Vietnam-China economic and trade ties. China has remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner for many years, while Vietnam is China’s top ASEAN trading partner.

Guangdong Province, particularly Shenzhen, has continued to lead cooperation with Vietnam in trade, investment, technology and logistics.

Looking ahead, Dung expressed hope that the two sides will expand cooperation in areas such as innovation, science and technology, digital transformation, green and sustainable development, supply chains and smart logistics, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

He also voiced confidence that, built on the strong friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and China, along with the dynamism of the business communities on both sides, cooperation between Vietnam and Guangdong Province, especially Shenzhen, will continue developing and making positive contributions  to bilateral ties and regional development.

The ICIF is China’s leading national and international fair for the cultural industries sector. First launched in Shenzhen in 2004, the fair is regarded as the country’s oldest, largest and most influential cultural industries event, incorporating some of the sector’s most advanced techniques and technologies. It is also China’s only international cultural industries fair. The event attracts around four million visitors each year.

First-ever folk song festival held on Vietnam-China border river

VOV.VN - Authorities of Cao Bang province (Vietnam) and Chongzuo city (Guangxi, China) on April 13 jointly organised the first-ever folk song festival on a border river, as part of the 2026 Vietnam–China border residents exchange programme.