Vietnamese Week in Thailand expands retail market access

The four-day event, organized by Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with Central Group and Central Retail-Thailand’s largest retail conglomerate, runs through September 20 and is expected to draw over 100,000 visitors. The program holds special significance as part of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand (1976-2026).

This year's event features nearly 60 Vietnamese enterprises introducing their products, with a primary focus on promoting five key destinations: Lao Cai, Hanoi, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, and An Giang.

A major highlight of the opening ceremony was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Central Group, the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), and VietinBank.

This strategic partnership officially rolls out cross-border QR code payments (VietQRGlobal) between the two countries, aiming to enhance retail and tourism experiences while boosting digital economic cooperation.

A notable milestone this year is the introduction of the "Viet Gems" brand, through which Central Retail aggregates local OCOP (One Commune, One Product) specialties, standardizing packaging and elevating quality to help Vietnamese goods directly penetrate supermarket systems in Thailand.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Central Group Chairperson Wallaya Chirathivat expressed pride in the eight-year journey accompanying the event, emphasizing that the week serves not only as a product showcase but also as a platform for substantive business partnerships through direct sourcing sessions with the group's procurement teams.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung underscored the event's role as a vital bridge for forging substantive economic ties, shifting bilateral economic cooperation from mere scale expansion to enhanced quality and deeper integration into value chains.

Earlier on the same day, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Central Retail co-organized a business matching seminar. Vietnamese manufacturers directly introduced their products to procurement representatives from Central Retail across sectors including food retail (Tops, GO! Wholesale), hospitality (Centara Hotels & Resorts), and home furnishings (Central Home Group).

Paul Le, Vice President of Trade Promotion at Central Retail in Vietnam, noted that participating Vietnamese enterprises have demonstrated marked improvements in product design, packaging, and branding capabilities, meeting the rigorous standards required for modern distribution networks in Thailand and broader international export markets.

Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2023 opens in Bangkok

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Week in Thailand 2023 – the Magic Taste of Vietnam – opened at CentralwOrld, a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok on August 16 evening.

Vietnamese Goods Week underway in Thailand

A Vietnamese Goods Week entitled “Taste of Vietnam” is taking place at Big C supermarket chain in Bangkok, Thailand until September 28.