Euro Connections Daily Business Brief – 28 August 2026

28 August 2026 | Vietnam – Europe – Asia

Welcome to the Euro Connections Daily Business Brief — a concise selection of developments, opportunities and market signals affecting business between Vietnam, Europe and Asia.

Our focus is not only on what is happening, but also on what it means for companies doing business across these markets.

1. More Than 500 International Buyers Heading to Vietnam for Sourcing Opportunities

Vietnam is preparing for one of its most important international sourcing events of the year. More than 500 international buyers are expected to participate in the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2026, taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from 3–5 September 2026.

International buyers are actively looking for Vietnamese suppliers across sectors including food, seafood, agriculture, plastics, textiles, furniture, logistics, consumer goods and shipbuilding.

One particularly interesting example is Swedish company Lagerqvist AB, which is seeking Vietnamese suppliers of CaCO₃ filler masterbatch, as well as packaged, frozen and processed meat. Other buyers are looking for processed agricultural products, value-added food and consumer goods.

Business Implication: European companies looking for alternative suppliers in Asia have an increasingly structured opportunity to identify and verify Vietnamese manufacturers. For Vietnamese companies, however, access to international buyers will depend on their ability to meet requirements concerning quality, documentation, capacity, compliance and delivery reliability.

Source: Vietnam News – Over 500 global buyers set to join Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2026

2. EU Food Safety Requirements Are Becoming More Demanding for Vietnamese Exporters

The European Union is preparing tighter maximum residue limits for several pesticide active ingredients affecting imported agricultural products.

Vietnamese exporters are already facing increased border controls for selected products. According to Vietnam News, four Vietnamese products remain subject to increased inspections: durian, dragon fruit, okra and chilli peppers.

The development demonstrates an important change in international food trade: competitive pricing and product quality alone are no longer sufficient to guarantee access to European markets.

Business Implication: Vietnamese food exporters targeting Europe need stronger control over traceability, testing, documentation and regulatory compliance. European importers sourcing in Vietnam should therefore conduct supplier verification before committing to significant orders.

This creates opportunities for local market-entry and sourcing partners capable of connecting commercial negotiations with independent supplier and compliance verification.

Source: Vietnam News – Exporters urged to adapt as EU tightens food safety rules

3. Packaging Is Becoming Part of EU Market Access

European sustainability requirements are increasingly affecting not only the product itself but also how products are packaged, documented and transported through the supply chain.

New EU packaging requirements are putting additional pressure on Vietnamese exporters to reconsider packaging materials, recyclability and product design.

At the same time, European market requirements are expanding toward the entire production process, including raw-material sourcing, carbon emissions, packaging, traceability and digital data management.

Business Implication: A Vietnamese manufacturer may offer the right product, competitive price and sufficient production capacity and still not be fully EU-ready.

For European companies sourcing from Vietnam, supplier evaluation should increasingly include packaging, labelling, traceability, certifications and sustainability requirements alongside traditional criteria such as price, MOQ and production capacity.

Sources: Vietnam News – EU packaging rules test green direction
Vietnam News – Exporters urged to act as EU shifts to stricter sustainability rules

4. Foreign Investment in Vietnam Surpasses US$38 Billion

Vietnam attracted approximately US$38.06 billion in registered foreign direct investment during the first seven months of 2026, representing an increase of more than 58 per cent year-on-year.

Implemented FDI reached approximately US$15.2 billion, while manufacturing and processing remain central to Vietnam’s investment position. Vietnam is increasingly positioning itself not simply as a low-cost manufacturing destination but as a base for more sophisticated manufacturing, technology and regional supply-chain operations.

Vietnam’s total import-export turnover during the first seven months was estimated at US$659.6 billion, up 28.1 per cent year-on-year.

Business Implication: Vietnam’s role in Asian supply chains continues to expand. For European SMEs, opportunities extend beyond traditional importing and exporting to include contract manufacturing, supplier development, strategic partnerships, local representation and investment cooperation.

Entering the market without immediately establishing a full local organisation can therefore become an attractive first-stage strategy.

Sources: Government of Vietnam – FDI inflows surpass US$38 billion in Jan–July period
Vietnam News – Foreign investment inflows surge in seven months

5. European Companies Are Increasing Their Search for Vietnamese Supply-Chain Partners

Vietnam International Sourcing 2026 is increasingly being promoted not simply as a trade exhibition but as a platform connecting Vietnamese manufacturers directly with international importers, distributors and procurement organisations.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade describes the programme as a strategic platform supporting trade, investment cooperation and the restructuring of international supply chains. The event will combine exhibitions, business matching, seminars and discussions on sustainable exports, food and agriculture, consumer goods, e-commerce and digital distribution.

European participation is particularly relevant. Vietnam’s trade offices have been actively connecting companies from markets including Germany and Spain with VIS 2026 and Vietnamese business partners.

Business Implication: For European companies, the challenge is increasingly moving from “Can we find suppliers in Vietnam?” to “Can we identify the right supplier, verify them and build a reliable commercial relationship?”

This is where local sourcing, market-entry support and independent partner verification can significantly reduce risk.

Sources: Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade – Vietnam International Sourcing 2026
Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade – Germany and Vietnam business connections for VIS 2026

EURO CONNECTIONS – BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OF THE DAY

Vietnam International Sourcing 2026

The event taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from 3–5 September deserves particular attention.

For Euro Connections, the strongest opportunities are currently visible in:

Rather than treating international exhibitions simply as networking events, companies can use them as part of a structured sourcing process:

Identify demand → shortlist suppliers → verify companies → arrange meetings → evaluate offers → conduct due diligence → develop commercial cooperation.

For European companies that cannot maintain their own permanent team in Vietnam, having an independent local partner can significantly improve this process.

Source: Vietnam News – More than 500 international buyers expected at VIS 2026

Euro Connections Perspective

Vietnam’s competitive position is evolving.

The next stage will not be based solely on low production costs or preferential tariffs. Successful international suppliers will increasingly need to combine:

competitive manufacturing + compliance + traceability + sustainability + reliable execution.

For European companies entering Vietnam or sourcing from the country, the ability to verify the market locally before committing capital or placing significant orders is becoming increasingly important.

Euro Connections | Connecting Europe with Vietnam and ASEAN