Media OutReach
Vietnam: The New Destination for Billion-Dollar Events
The convergence of progressive policies and large-scale infrastructure developed by Vingroup is positioning Vietnam as a rising hub for the global events and experience economy.
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2026 – Across the Asia-Pacific region, the experience economy is undergoing a major shift. In many established destinations, rising venue and accommodation costs are forcing 73% of event organizers to tighten budgets, according to Mordor Intelligence. At the same time, political uncertainties in several markets are prompting international investors to take a more cautious approach toward long-term commitments.
Against this backdrop, Vietnam is increasingly drawing attention as a new destination for global exhibitions, live entertainment, and large-scale experiential events. Political stability, sustained economic growth, a young population with rising spending power, and coordinated efforts from both the government and the private sector are contributing to the country’s growing appeal.
This is “a golden opportunity” for Vietnam’s cultural industries, said Dr. Cấn Văn Lực, Chief Economist at BIDV, during the 2026 Exhibition, Event and Advertising Summit held at the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) on May 8.
According to Dr. Lực, Vietnam has maintained an average annual growth rate of 6.4% over four decades of the Doi Moi economic reform without experiencing a major economic crisis. Per capita income has now surpassed USD 5,000 and is projected to reach USD 8,500 by 2030, fueling demand for entertainment, sports, and live events.
Vietnam’s growing profile is also reflected in its position among the world’s Top 20 trading economies, Top 15 destinations for foreign direct investment, and its 29-place rise in the Index of Economic Freedom. These macroeconomic advantages are increasingly translating into tangible momentum for the country’s event industry.
Vietnam’s MICE sector is currently valued at approximately USD 6 billion, while the advertising market has reached USD 3.5 billion. The live entertainment industry alone has generated more than USD 50 million in revenue, supported by over 700 large-scale events annually and more than USD 1 billion in economic spillover from international visitors, according to data presented at the summit.
Much of this momentum is being driven by parallel advances in policy reform and infrastructure development.
Policy Reforms Open New Opportunities
As Vietnam enters a new phase of development, culture is increasingly being positioned as a strategic growth driver.
“Culture is not only the spiritual foundation of society, but is increasingly becoming an intrinsic resource, a development driver, and a source of national soft power,” Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lâm Thị Phương Thanh said at the summit.
Earlier this year, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture, setting targets for cultural industries to contribute 7% of GDP by 2030 and 9% by 2045. The National Assembly also passed Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16, widely viewed as a significant step toward easing restrictions in the cultural, exhibition, and performance sectors by reducing barriers related to taxation, land access, and administrative procedures.
Key measures include a commitment to allocate at least 2% of the annual state budget to culture, establish a cultural venture investment fund, reduce VAT to 5%, and introduce tax incentives for exhibitions, performances, and sports-related activities. Policies encouraging the development of creative complexes with dedicated land and infrastructure incentives are also expected to accelerate industry growth.
If policy reforms are laying the groundwork, infrastructure is becoming the decisive factor in Vietnam’s ability to compete for international mega-events.
“You cannot attract ministers, government representatives, or the world’s 5,000 largest corporations by chance. They come because of deliberate planning and infrastructure development,” said Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events, one of the world’s leading energy event organizers.
Infrastructure Scales Up
The rapid development of Vietnam’s event industry is increasingly being shaped by major private-sector investments.
Among the most prominent projects is the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) in Hanoi, developed by Vingroup. Covering 900,000 square meters, VEC has been positioned as one of Southeast Asia’s largest all-in-one exposition and event complexes.
Vingroup’s world-class organization and operational excellence have already been proven through legendary mega-events, most notably bringing G-Dragon’s “Übermensch” World Tour to Vietnam under the 8Wonder brand. Leveraging this proven expertise, VEC is designed to seamlessly execute the next generation of large-scale activations. Looking ahead, this operational blueprint will further expand across the Vingroup ecosystem, notably with the upcoming VEC Can Gio project in Ho Chi Minh City, the Blue Wave Theater—a 60,000-capacity venue set to become the largest in Southeast Asia.
Jason Yan, Partner at M Square Capital, the investment fund behind the Ultra Worldwide EDM festival franchise, said VEC’s physical infrastructure and operational model meet the requirements for hosting global-scale productions.
“We are no longer only looking at festival organization. Success in this industry also depends on artist management and venue operations. Vingroup has clearly invested in building those capabilities,” he said.
Further ahead, the group is investing in mega-projects designed to elevate Vietnam’s position in the global event infrastructure landscape. These include the planned Hùng Vương Stadium, expected to open in 2028 with a capacity of 135,000 seats and designed to meet FIFA and international entertainment standards.
Another project, the 60,000-seat PVF Stadium, will feature a PTFE retractable roof capable of opening and closing within 12 to 20 minutes, addressing weather-related challenges for outdoor concerts and sporting events.
Beyond venue development, Vingroup has also assembled a broader ecosystem supporting the event industry.
Green SM operates more than 186,000 electric taxis and motorbikes across 34 provinces and four countries, helping support transportation and logistics for large-scale events and international delegations.
Vinpearl provides more than 16,100 hotel rooms and villas across major tourism and economic centers, alongside golf courses and VinWonders entertainment complexes, contributing integrated hospitality capacity for large events.
The ecosystem is further complemented by V-Spirit, an international event organizer; V-Culture Talent, a talent development organization; and VinPalace, a network of convention and culinary centers.
Together, policy reforms, private capital, and large-scale infrastructure investments are creating conditions that could significantly reshape Vietnam’s role in the global events industry.
“We believe this is Vietnam’s moment,” Dickinson said. “The combination of national ambition and world-class infrastructure has the potential to transform the country into a major destination for global events.”
Hashtag: #VEC
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About the Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC)
The Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC) is Southeast Asia’s largest exhibition complex, covering more than 90 hectares. As a destination for major national and international events, VEC pursues the mission of “Bring Vietnam to the world and bring the world to Vietnam,” serving as a gateway where global excellence converges and Vietnamese identity reaches audiences worldwide, while contributing to the growth of key economic sectors and strengthening Vietnam’s position on the global stage.
Website: 
https://vec.global/en
Email: in*****@*ec.global
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The 15th Canon x McDull Inter-school Ink Cartridge Recycling Award Presentation Ceremony Advancing Environmental Education with Collective Efforts
Adhering to Canon’s corporate philosophy “Kyosei”, Canon Hong Kong has spared no effort to promote environmental conservation and sustainable development, injecting green elements into different kinds of corporate activities. Since the launch of “Ink Cartridge Recycling Program” in 2009, Canon Hong Kong has invited the beloved local cartoon character, McDull, to serve as the program ambassador. With the ambition of cultivating the environmental awareness of the next generation, the program was extended to the education sector in 2011, calling on support from primary and secondary schools in the annual competition. Now in its 15th year, the program has reached an important milestone and received overwhelming responses from more than 300 organizations, housing estates, shopping malls, supermarkets and schools, all helping to set up recycling boxes to encourage the public to recycle used inkjet printer cartridges of all brands. To deepen students’ understanding and engagement with environmental issues, Canon Hong Kong has organized over 230 environmental seminars for participating schools, reaching over 70,000 students with messages about recycling and sustainable development. As of June 2026, over 295,000 ink cartridges were collected. Recycled ink cartridges were dismantled, while the metals and plastics were being recycled into raw materials for other products.
In the welcome speech at the ceremony, Ms. Candy Mau, Director of Corporate Communications and General Administration Division of Canon Hong Kong, affirmed the winning schools for their exemplar dedication in promoting recycling. A total of 8 schools were recognized in the category of “Highest No. of Recycled Ink Cartridges”. Ms. Mau noted that the escalating threat of global warming and climate change has sounded an alarm for the Earth, reminding us of the need to protect the environment together. She emphasized the importance of promoting environmental protection to the young generation from an early age and urged schools to build a better and sustainable society together by continuously promoting environmental education.
After the ceremony, Canon Hong Kong arranged a “Build Your Own Camera” STEAM parent-child workshop for the students and parents. The activity allowed them to assemble and build their own handcraft camera models, thereby learning basic optical principles. Through interactive demonstrations and disassembling camera structures, participants gained a deeper understanding of the science behind imaging while enjoying the joy of creativity, technology and photography. The workshop added a memorable learning experience to the ceremony and brought the event to a successful close.
Hashtag: #Canon #McDull
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Canon Hongkong Company Limited
Canon Inc. (TSE:7751) was founded in 1937 in Japan. Its predecessor, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, produced Japan’s first 35 mm focal-plane-shutter camera “Kwanon” in 1934. From there, Canon Inc. expanded into the photocopying and printing industries, launching Japan’s first plain paper copier NP-1100 in 1970 and the world’s first inkjet printer BJ-80 in 1985. Through the years, Canon Inc. has acquired in-depth experience in digital imaging product manufacturing, research and development. Pioneering in innovative product development, Canon Inc. holds the most technology patents in the imaging industry. Canon Inc. also makes significant contributions to promote photography. Today, Canon Inc. has a strong global presence, representing one of the most important market players in the imaging, office and industrial product categories. As of 31 December 2025, Canon’s global revenue was US$30 billion.
In 1971, Canon Hongkong Co., Ltd. (Canon Hong Kong) was established as one of the first Canon offices in Asia. Canon Hong Kong is a Total Imaging Solution provider, providing professional pre-sales, marketing and after-sales services for all Canon products and solutions in Hong Kong and Macau. With the solely owned subsidiary Canon Business Solutions (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. established in 2018; the company continues to deliver intelligent total business solutions and professional services to Greater Bay Area. Canon Hong Kong adheres to Canon’s corporate philosophy of “Kyosei”, encouraging the company and staff to engage in social, charitable and environmental activities for the community. Implementing an internationally recognized management system, Canon Hong Kong has achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 (Canon Digital Production Center) certifications.
For more information about Canon Hong Kong, please visit our website: 
https://hk.canon.
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Booster Pack 09 “Here He Comes! Our Hero!” & Starter Deck 04 “Ultraman & Ultraman Cosmos” To Be Released on Friday, October 23! The Showa Ultraman Series Makes Its First Appearance!
BP09″Here He Comes! Our Hero!”／SD04 “Ultraman & Ultraman Cosmos”
BP09 “Here He Comes! Our Hero!” and SD04 “Ultraman & Ultraman Cosmos” introduce Ultraman Cosmos, one of the heroes most requested by players, alongside the original Ultraman, who makes his long-awaited debut from the Showa Ultraman series in the Ultraman Card Game.
These products also commemorate the 2nd Anniversary of the Ultraman Card Game, making them a special milestone release.
They also introduce the new “Color System” and the all-new “Boost Card” category. These additions expand strategic possibilities and offer greater deck-building diversity, delivering even more exciting and dynamic battles.
- Promotional Video
- Image: BP09 Booster Pack & SD04 Package
- View image: https://bit.ly/4h10Bj4
Feature 1: Ultraman and Ultraman Cosmos Join the Game!
The original Ultraman and Ultraman Cosmos finally make their debut in the Ultraman Card Game.
Build decks and experience gameplay that faithfully recreates the unique abilities, fighting styles, and identities of these legendary heroes.
- Ultraman also appears as a serial-numbered card in BP08.
To celebrate this milestone, Ultraman is also featured as a serial-numbered card in Booster Pack 08: Converging Bonds, released on Friday, July 10.
- Image: Ultraman and Ultraman Cosmos
- View image: https://bit.ly/3SNXSzy
Feature 2: Introducing the New Card Category – “Boost Cards”
A brand-new card category, Boost Cards, joins Character Cards and Scene Cards as a new card type.
Boost Cards are inspired by iconic elements from across the Ultraman series, including Defense Teams and memorable items used throughout the franchise.
More details on Boost Cards, including gameplay mechanics and previewed card effects, will be revealed at a later date.
- Image: Boost Card
- View image: https://bit.ly/4y8EOMD
Feature 3: New Gameplay Mechanic – “Color System”
BP09 introduces the new Color System.
Under this system, every Character Card belongs to one of five colors:
- Red
- Blue
- Purple
- Yellow
- Green
Cards released before the introduction of the Color System, along with cards that do not have a color attribute, are treated as Colorless, allowing them to remain fully playable.
Combined with Boost Cards, the Color System adds greater deck-building depth, strategic decision-making, and exciting comeback opportunities.
More details on the Color System will be announced soon.
- Image: Colour System
- View image: https://bit.ly/4vt4h0Q
Official Accessories
Two new official card sleeve designs and a new playmat will also be available to help protect and showcase your collection.
1. Ultraman Card Game Official Card Sleeves (Beta Capsule)
Features the Beta Capsule, Ultraman’s transformation device, together with its iconic Ultra Sign.
2. Ultraman Card Game Official Card Sleeves (Cosmo Pluck)
Features Ultraman Cosmos’ transformation device, the Cosmo Pluck, together with its Ultra Sign.
3. Ultraman Card Game Official Playmat (Ultraman)
A playmat featuring the iconic debut scene of Ultraman as its design.
It also includes a newly added Boost Card Area, supporting the latest game rules.
- Image: Accessories (Sleeves, Playmat)
- View image: https://bit.ly/4eON4d3
Booster Pack 09 “Here He Comes! Our Hero!”
- Release Date：October 23rd, 2026 (Friday)
Contents
- 12 cards per pack
- 24 packs per display box
※Box Topper is not included in this release
Starter Deck 04 “Ultraman ＆ Ultraman Cosmos”
- Release Date: October 23rd, 2026 (Friday)
Contents
- 1 50 card pre-constructed deck (20 card types)
- 1 pack of BP09「Here He Comes! Our Hero!」
- 1 playsheet
Ultraman Card Game Official Sleeves 2 types (Beta Capsule/Cosmo Pluck)
- Release Date: October 23rd, 2026 (Friday)
Ultraman Card Game Official Playmat (Ultraman）
- Release Date: October 23rd, 2026 (Friday)
Regarding Ultraman Card Game
The Ultraman Card Game is a trading card game designed based on the Ultraman Universe and combines collectability with playability that appeals to both adults and children.
Official Name: Ultraman Card Game
Distribution Areas: Retail, toy stores, and trading card shops in distribution countries
Official Website:
https://ultraman-cardgame.com/
Official Social Media:
https://x.com/ucg_en (English X)
https://linktr.ee/ultramancardgame (List)
Hashtag: #UltramanCardGame #BP09 #SD04
https://ultraman-cardgame.com/https://linktr.ee/ultramancardgame
https://x.com/ucg_en
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Ancient Port, New Voyages: Ningbo’s Smart Manufacturing Expands Global Trade Footprint via Maritime Silk Road
Separated by thousands of miles, the two millennia-old port cities reconnected, leveraging their ports as a bond and cultural exchanges as a cohesive force to hold in-depth talks on integrated port-city development and bilateral economic and trade connectivity.
This cross-Indian Ocean dialogue echoes the ancient Maritime Silk Road while charting a brand-new outbound development path. As a pivotal starting port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Ningbo is building a new global trade landscape powered by smart manufacturing.
A thousand years ago, merchant vessels from Mingzhou Port set sail southward loaded with Yue Kiln celadon porcelain, passing through Ceylon to deliver Oriental crafts across the Indian Ocean coasts. Precious gemstones and spices traveled the same sea route back to regions south of the Yangtze River, laying the groundwork for the earliest cultural exchange between the two ports through trade. Today, the cargo carried by giant cargo ships has undergone a dramatic transformation. Beyond traditional daily necessities, intelligent equipment, digital home appliances and industrial robots now dominate shipments.
Official statistics show that Ningbo’s exports of intelligent equipment, including mechanical arms and industrial robots, hit 440 million yuan in 2025, surging more than 40% year-on-year. From January to May this year, Ningbo’s exports of mechanical and electrical products maintained steady growth, reaching 247 billion yuan, a 4.1% year-on-year increase and accounting for 58.0% of the city’s total export volume. The new energy foreign trade sector saw explosive growth, with exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products jumping 138.4% year-on-year, with electric vehicle exports skyrocketing 215.9%. Smart manufactured goods are continuously expanding the scope of Ningbo’s foreign trade.
Complementing the Colombo forum, an exhibition highlights Ningbo’s outstanding going-global enterprises and their products, vividly illustrating the profound shift in Ningbo’s trade structure.
Alongside time-honored Maritime Silk Road staples such as celadon porcelain and silk, Ningbo’s smart manufactured products—including AI translation glasses, intelligent outdoor gear and digital small home appliances—occupy prominent display spaces across the venue. In Sri Lanka, Ningbo smart water meters are widely adopted nationwide, while handheld cooling fans and intelligent kitchen appliances have entered ordinary households.
Leveraging Colombo Port’s transshipment advantages, massive volumes of Ningbo smart manufactured goods are distributed onward to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. What Ningbo exports today is no longer mere commodities, but a complete outbound solution integrating technology, brand value and after-sales services.
Faced with mounting challenges including homogeneous global market competition and rising trade barriers, Ningbo’s manufacturing sector has abandoned the old model of low-cost OEM production, relying on intelligent transformation to consolidate its competitive edge in overseas markets.
Over more than a decade of digital transformation efforts, Ningbo has achieved full digital upgrading of all industrial enterprises above designated size. A large number of local factories have built unmanned black-light workshops and flexible production lines, escaping vicious price competition through continuous technological iteration. Represented by five specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative enterprises dubbed Ningbo’s “Five Little Tigers”—famous for their core proprietary technologies, including highly sophisticated visual inspection equipment, heat-resistant materials, sun-proof coatings, puncture-proof materials and self-drilling fasteners—these niche manufacturers have developed differentiated technical routes and full-spectrum production capacity, cementing irreplaceable competitiveness for Ningbo smart manufacturing on global markets.
Beyond trade expansion, Ningbo has built a supporting cultural communication system to ensure “products go global, accompanied by local culture”.
The launch of Sri Lanka’s first “One-Meter Cultural Space” cultural station during the Colombo event marks a tangible milestone of Ningbo’s go-global initiative. Built on enterprises’ overseas outlets, these miniature cultural exhibition halls integrate intangible cultural heritage crafts, urban stories and smart products, enabling overseas clients to experience cutting-edge manufacturing while gaining insight into Ningbo’s profound cultural heritage.
During the twin-city story-sharing session, Ningbo entrepreneurs based in Sri Lanka and local designers blending Chinese and Sri Lankan aesthetics shared stories of bilateral exchanges. Economic and trade ties have evolved into a bond for people-to-people communication, bridging divides in cross-cultural trade.
From Tang-dynasty celadon porcelain sailing across the Indian Ocean to intelligent equipment shipping to every corner of the globe, Ningbo, the ancient Maritime Silk Road port, has preserved its enduring gene of openness. Where exchanges once relied purely on commodity trade, today smart manufacturing underpins a stable, diversified and high-value-added global trade network.
The Ningbo-Colombo dialogue stands as a vivid microcosm of this transformation: the port still links lands and seas, yet the core of its trade has undergone a full intelligent upgrade.
Rooted in its historical legacy as a key Maritime Silk Road hub, Ningbo has consolidated its industrial foundation through a decade of digital development, expanded global market reach via worldwide port networks, and softened trade cooperation through cultural exchanges. This brand-new outbound shipping route forged by smart manufacturing has not only reshaped the city’s foreign trade landscape, but also delivered a replicable port-city development model for Chinese manufacturing to go global.
Hashtag: #NingboSmartManufacturing #MaritimeSilkRoad #GlobalTrade
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
