HÀ NỘI — Central Retail Vietnam on Wednesday launched the 'Proud of Vietnamese Specialities' festival at GO! Thăng Long hypermarket in Hà Nội, showcasing more than 200 speciality and One Commune One Product (OCOP) items from across the country.

Held ahead of National Day on September 2, the festival aims to stimulate consumer demand, promote regional products and give shoppers greater access to Vietnamese specialities.

Speaking at the launch, Bùi Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, deputy director of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the programme was an important step in implementing a 2026-28 cooperation programme between the department, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, Central Group and Central Retail.

The cooperation aims to help Vietnamese goods gain sustainable access to modern retail networks, improve quality and supply capacity, build brands and expand into overseas markets, including Central Retail’s distribution network in Thailand, he said.

Jose Mestre, director of Central Retail Vietnam’s Food Category Training Centre, said the festival had entered its third year and continued to provide a platform for promoting regional specialities and encouraging consumers to choose Vietnamese products.

The festival runs from August 19 to September 9 at GO!, Tops Market and mini go! stores nationwide.

The product line-up includes bánh cốm (young green rice cakes) and bánh đậu xanh (mung bean cakes) from Hà Nội, Mộc Châu persimmons from Sơn La, Chũ noodles from Bắc Ninh, Giới Phiên arrowroot noodles from Lào Cai, agricultural products from the Central Highlands, Bình Định spring rolls, Hòa Lộc mangoes from Đồng Tháp, seafood from Cà Mau and other regional specialities.

The programme also features food demonstrations, free tastings, a durian buffet, cultural-themed games and discounts of up to 50 per cent.

Central Retail Vietnam also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with supplier Cường Thịnh to bring clean Sông Đà river fish products to GO! supermarkets, supporting the wider distribution of regional specialities. — BIZHUB