Korean firms sign $370,000 in export MOUs at Hanoi fair

Heat-treated poultry makes Vietnam debut after April quarantine deal

A visitor samples Korean heat-treated poultry (chicken) products at the Hanoi International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Vietnam. [Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation]
A visitor samples Korean heat-treated poultry (chicken) products at the Hanoi International Food and Beverage Exhibition in Vietnam. [Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation]

Korean agrifood companies generated $9.56 million in export consultations in Vietnam, while also introducing heat-treated poultry products to local consumers and buyers for the first time following a quarantine agreement reached in April that opened the door to exports. The push reflects efforts to expand market access in Vietnam — a key export destination — beyond established popular items to newly approved products.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced Wednesday that the results were achieved at the 2026 Hanoi International Food and Beverage Exhibition (Vietfood & Beverage), held in Hanoi from Nov. 4 through Nov. 7.

Eleven Korean export companies and a persimmon export cooperative participated in the fair, showcasing a wide range of Korean agrifood products including confectionery, beverages, ginseng, fresh fruit, health foods and ready-to-eat meals.

Particular emphasis was placed on Korean fresh fruit, including Shine Muscat and other new-variety grapes, pears and sweet persimmons. Tasting and experience programs were held for local buyers and consumers to let them assess the flavor and quality of the products firsthand.

The fair also served as a platform for new export items. Korean heat-treated poultry became eligible for export to Vietnam after a quarantine agreement was concluded in April. The Agriculture Ministry and aT held tasting and promotional events for the products at the fair to raise local awareness and explore potential new trade opportunities.

Vietnam is South Korea's fourth-largest export market for agricultural, food and livestock products. Exports to Vietnam in that category reached $371.44 million through the end of September this year. The country is also regarded as a strategic gateway for broader entry into the Southeast Asian market.

Before the fair opened, aT provided local buyers with product information to help convert export consultations into actual transactions. At the fair, the corporation ran one-on-one business matching sessions to connect Korean companies with local buyers and help identify new trading partners.

The Hanoi International Food and Beverage Exhibition is held twice a year — in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — under the leadership of Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade. This year's event drew about 350 food companies from 10 countries, with approximately 17,065 buyers and visitors attending.

Jeon Gi-chan, aT's director of food exports, said Vietnam is "a core market with strong potential for expanding Korean agrifood exports, backed by high interest in hallyu and K-food," adding that the corporation would "continue to identify promising products that match local consumption trends and support export companies in securing new distribution networks and expanding their market presence."


adastra@heraldcorp.com