On the morning of March 27, 2026, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Retailers Association held a working session with the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore to exchange market information and promote cooperation in the retail sector.
The meeting took place at the Association’s office and was attended by Mr. Cao Xuan Thang, Vietnam Trade Counsellor in Singapore; Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Association; Ms. Doan Thi Huong Thanh, Vice Chairwoman; Mr. Dinh Duy Hung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thuong Truong Magazine; along with representatives of the Association’s specialized departments and business representatives from Singapore.
During the session, Mr. Cao Xuan Thang shared orientations for future coordination between the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore and the Association. Accordingly, the Trade Office has been actively working with associations to support Vietnamese enterprises in conducting trade promotion activities in Singapore, organizing business delegations, and facilitating participation in networking events in both markets.
The Trade Office’s activities focus on promoting two-way trade and investment. For domestic manufacturers seeking to expand into foreign markets, the Trade Office stands ready to provide support in market access and product promotion abroad. Conversely, for foreign enterprises aiming to enter the Vietnamese market, the Association can coordinate to facilitate the distribution of their products within domestic retail channels.
Mr. Cao Xuan Thang also noted that many Singaporean companies are currently interested in introducing their products into Vietnam, and expressed his expectation for closer cooperation with the Association in facilitating such connections. In addition, the Trade Office produces monthly market reports and proposed sharing these reports for publication in relevant sections of Thuong Truong Magazine.
At the meeting, a representative from MP International Pte Ltd introduced two major international events in the retail and franchising sectors, highlighting practical opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to expand into global markets.
Specifically, Mr. Vincent Yap, Vice President for Business Development and Strategic Marketing at MP International, presented the FUTR Summits series. This is a global conference platform that brings together major corporations, international brands, and technology companies to discuss future trends in retail, marketing, and commerce. The discussions focus on customer experience innovation, technology adoption, and the transformation of business models.
According to the company representative, in addition to promoting Vietnamese brands internationally, events such as FUTR Summits help domestic enterprises better understand foreign investors and the operational models of international retail chains. Notably, the event adopts a festival-style format, offering an open, dynamic, and highly experiential environment, focusing less on scale and more on practical value and effective business connections.
Mr. Bobby Man, Project and Business Director of MP International, also introduced the Franchise & Licensing Asia (FLAsia) exhibition—one of Asia’s largest international exhibitions on franchising and brand licensing. The event is held annually at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, and attracts hundreds of brands from various sectors, including F&B, education, retail, services, and technology.
Through the exhibition platform, participating enterprises can directly connect with potential international investors and receive support in developing franchising models to expand Vietnamese brands overseas.
Representatives of MP International Pte Ltd noted that business delegations from Singapore attending such events are highly diverse, including not only franchising brands but also companies providing advanced retail management and technology solutions applied in both domestic and international markets. These companies are actively seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam’s retail sector, as well as opportunities to expand franchising models into the Vietnamese market.
In addition, the exhibition features numerous networking and trade promotion activities, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to showcase products, promote their brands, and engage directly with international partners.
According to MP International, participation in these networking initiatives not only helps Vietnamese businesses identify cooperation opportunities and expand markets, but also enables them to access advanced technologies, management models, and development strategies in the global retail industry.
At the meeting, Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Lan proposed several concrete measures to strengthen cooperation with MP International Pte Ltd in the coming period.
Accordingly, the Association suggested that both sides consider developing a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), focusing on areas such as co-organizing trade events in Singapore and Vietnam; supporting trade activities in the context of green and digital transformation; enhancing communication and media collaboration; and jointly developing an annual comprehensive report on Vietnam’s retail industry.
Furthermore, the Association requested the partner to provide detailed information on international franchising exhibitions and retail forums, enabling the Association to share relevant opportunities with its members. Information regarding rights, obligations, and support policies for Vietnamese enterprises participating in such events should also be clarified to help businesses proactively access and leverage these opportunities.
In addition, both sides agreed to maintain a regular information exchange mechanism on market developments and retail industry trends, thereby supporting communication efforts and ensuring timely and effective dissemination of information to the business community.
