Spanning from February 2 to February 8, 2026, at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC) in Dong Anh, Hanoi, this year’s fair boasts a massive 130,000-square-meter footprint, gathering approximately 3,000 booths from every corner of the country. From its opening days, the event has captivated crowds not just with its abundance of goods, but through its creative, experiential approach to organization.
The hallmark of Spring Fair 2026 lies in its spatial design. Booths are no longer arranged as rigid "sales units" but are instead curated as a journey across Vietnam. Every step allows visitors to touch the very essence of regional identity.
At this fair, culture is an immersive experience: to be touched, heard, tasted, and felt. Visitors hold products in their hands, listen to the stories of the makers, and observe the meticulous craftsmanship firsthand. Consequently, the fair has transformed into a "living museum," where Vietnamese goods are presented with both material and spiritual value.
One of the most poignant stops is the stall of Artisan Hoang Choong (80, from Lang Son). He is among the rare few still preserving the art of making "Lion-Cat" masks and clay chickens (ga dat) of the Tay ethnic group. Working meticulously over his colorful folk toys, Choong brings more than just products to the fair; he brings cultural memory and a sense of ancestral responsibility.
"To the Tay people, the clay chicken is a symbol of luck and blessings. I strive to craft them exactly as they were made in the old days, hoping this cultural spark never fades," he shares. Many visitors, particularly the youth, are fascinated as they listen to him explain the technique of creating sound for the clay chicken - a process requiring immense patience and precision. For them, it is no longer just a toy; it is a narrative of heritage.
While the clay chicken stall offers a quiet sense of nostalgia, the Central Highlands Gong space awakens the fair with powerful, primal acoustics. In the heart of a modern exhibition center, the resonance of the gongs serves as an intriguing dialogue between tradition and the present.
Many visitors find themselves moved by the raw authenticity of the performance. Lan, a 35-year-old teacher from Hanoi, remarks: "When the gongs sound, I feel the vibration in my chest. Only then do you truly understand why this is called the 'soul of the mountains and forests'."
Amidst 130,000m2 of commerce and technology, the sun-drenched, rugged artisans from the Central Highlands have brought the very breath of basaltic soil to the capital. The rhythmic rise and fall of the gongs - at times rushing like a waterfall, at others as vast as the mountain wind - bridges the gap between the highlands and the lowlands, and between a thousand-year past and the bustling present.
Spring Fair 2026 demonstrates a strategic shift: using culture as the foundation for economic development. Rather than competing solely on price, many vendors have won over consumers through storytelling, cultural integrity, and "kindness" in production.
The revenue figures do more than reflect purchasing power; they signal a growing consumer trust in Vietnamese goods. When buyers understand the origin, effort, and passion behind a product, they aren't just taking home an item - they are taking home a piece of history and spiritual value.
As the fair concludes on February 8, its resonance will surely linger. Beyond the shopping bags of Tet gifts, visitors leave with the warmth of an artisan's handshake and the echo of a clay chicken - a sound that feels like a New Year's wish for peace and prosperity. Spring Fair 2026 is a testament to a Vietnam rich in identity, stepping confidently into the modern global economic flow./.
Story: Dinh Hong
Photos: VNP
Translated by Hong Hanh
