October Vietnam market expects more exhibitors
By Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, September 5, 2005
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — With an estimated 25% increase in floor space, the Oct. 3–7 International Furniture and Handicrafts Fair at the International Exhibition and Convention Center here will feature nearly 300 more booths than last year's market.
About 700 of the booths are reserved for Vietnamese manufacturers, including members of the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Assn. of Ho Chi Minh City. The remaining 100 booths will be for international suppliers showing mostly woodworking equipment and other services for domestic producers.
In the past, some of the international exhibitors were furniture manufacturers seeking to attract business from international buyers.
This year, event organizers expanded the show to include a more diverse mix of products and services for domestic manufacturers. That way, the international exhibitors won't compete directly with domestic manufacturers looking to sell to key export markets such as the United States, Europe and Japan.
Because the booths are only about 100 square feet, some manufacturers will occupy more than one booth. Organizers expect between 300 and 400 exhibitors. Last year about 205 exhibitors showed in a total of 502 booths.
Traditionally, about half of the exhibitors show indoor furniture. Another 30% show outdoor furniture, and the remaining 20% show handicrafts.
The 2004 event attracted 20,000 buyers, including about 4,500 from outside Vietnam. It wasn't clear how many of those were American buyers. But in preparation for the 2005 event, show organizers are mailing more than 1,200 invitations to American buyers.
They also plan to advertise it in trade publications and furniture catalogs around the world.
The show also is looking to compete with other shows in Asia by fostering and rewarding design talent. In the past, the Handicrafts and Wood Industry Assn. has sponsored a design competition and plans to continue that in the future.
The expansion this year is just a glimpse of things to come for the fair. Next year, it plans to move about five miles from its current venue to a new, $25 million facility with space for about 2,000 booths in two exhibition halls, each of which will be between 120,000 and 130,000 square feet.
Officials say the expansion is necessary to accommodate an expected increase in visitors.
Future plans call for two more exhibit halls at the site with about 260,000 additional square feet of show space. The complex also eventually will house an outdoor exhibition area, a convention center, restaurants, two luxury hotels and an office building.
