Vietnam to host International Defense Exhibition 2026 in Hanoi with nearly 24,000 m² of display space

On the morning of April 8 in Hanoi, the Ministry of National Defence held a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2026. Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, a member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of National Defence, who chairs the steering committee, presided over the meeting.

Legal framework and organizational setup

According to a report from the General Department of Defence Industry, the Secretariat of the Organizing Committee said preparations for the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2026 have been implemented in a synchronized, on-schedule manner in line with directives from the Minister of National Defence.

In terms of legal basis and organizational refinement, the Central Military Commission’s Standing Board approved the Exhibition Proposal on March 14, 2026. On April 1, 2026, the Prime Minister agreed in principle to authorize the Ministry of National Defence to organize the Exhibition.

Based on this, the Ministry of National Defence issued decisions establishing the Steering Committee, the Organizing Committee, and five subcommittees: Content; Operation – Security; Reception; Communications; and Logistics. The Logistics Subcommittee was newly established and is led by the General Department of Logistics – Technical, responsible for advising and organizing logistics and technical support for participating forces and vehicles. The report said the legal framework and organizational workforce are now in place to meet task requirements.

Site planning, display space expansion and master plan

Surveys, site planning, and design of functional zones have been carried out in a meticulous and scientific manner, aligned with infrastructure conditions. The indoor display area has been expanded by using all three halls for aircraft and adding one new building, bringing the total area to approximately 24,000 m². The usable area is about 10,000 m², intended to support rational arrangement for agencies and units inside and outside the Army, as well as international partners.

The Organizing Committee has also completed a draft master plan, defining timelines and assigning specific tasks to each subcommittee. Promotional activities have been carried out to invite domestic and foreign enterprises to participate.

Participation status and partner negotiations

As of April 6, 2026, 38 enterprises and organizations from 14 countries and territories had registered to participate in the exhibits. The Organizing Committee reported that 41 additional partners are continuing negotiations, with the registered display area expected to reach thousands of square meters and hundreds of booths.

Promotion, sponsorship and display content

Socialization work and mobilizing resources have been strengthened. The Organizing Committee plans to hold a sponsorship promotion conference for the Exhibition in May 2026 in Hanoi, with broad participation from defense-related enterprises.

On display content, the General Department of Defence Industry has coordinated with relevant agencies to compile a list of weapons and equipment, focusing on new, modern products intended to reflect Vietnam’s defense industry potential and development level.

Assessment of progress and preparation priorities

At the meeting, delegates focused on evaluating progress, analyzing advantages, difficulties, and obstacles, and proposing solutions to accelerate progress and improve the quality of preparation for the Exhibition. Priorities highlighted included external affairs, promotion, propaganda, security, safety, and fringe activities.

Concluding remarks

In concluding remarks, Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang praised the initiative and responsibility of the General Department of Defence Industry and relevant agencies. He emphasized the significance of the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2026 and asked the General Department of Defence Industry to lead and coordinate with related agencies to finalize the overall plan for task implementation.

He also requested agencies, units, and subcommittees to continue thoroughly implementing assigned tasks, develop and implement detailed plans, and actively invite and attract reputable partners with potential to participate.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang further urged agencies to strengthen close cooperation to ensure security, reception, publicity, and logistics and technical work. Relevant agencies were asked to proactively review and selectively choose display products to clearly demonstrate the power, capability, and development direction of the Vietnam People’s Army and the defense industry in the new situation.