Ho Chi Minh City, 15 October, 2026
We concluded the third quarter of 2026 with strong momentum across our community. Over the past months, we have strengthened our engagement with government stakeholders, expanded GBA’s activities across Northern and Central Vietnam, created new opportunities for our members to connect through business events and networking initiatives, and brought together more than 12,000 participants through GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam.
I am particularly pleased with the progress we have made beyond Ho Chi Minh City. Through a growing number of events, industry visits, business dialogues and networking activities in Northern and Central Vietnam, we have significantly strengthened our connections with members and partners in these regions. These efforts reflect our continued commitment to expanding GBA’s presence nationwide, bringing our community closer together and creating greater value for our members wherever they are in Vietnam.
As we move through the final quarter of the year, we continue to build on this momentum. October marked another important milestone with the successful German Business & Investment Forum Vietnam 2026, strengthening German-Vietnamese economic cooperation and business connections. Looking ahead, we look forward to celebrating business excellence at the GBA Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026 in November.
Strengthening Strategic Government Engagement
Constructive dialogue with government stakeholders remains one of GBA’s key strategic priorities to create a favorable business environment for our members. Throughout the third quarter, we continued to strengthen our role as a trusted bridge between the German business community and Vietnamese authorities, bringing the perspectives, experiences and needs of our members into discussions on Vietnam’s business and investment environment.
Our Dialogue with Da Nang Authorities provided an important opportunity to further strengthen the German–Da Nang economic partnership and discuss opportunities for investment, industrial development and closer cooperation in Central Vietnam.
In Southern Vietnam, we continued our engagement with key economic regions. Our participation in HCMCInvest offered valuable insights into Ho Chi Minh City’s efforts to develop a more transparent and investor-friendly investment environment. Our engagement with Dong Nai authorities also marked an important step in strengthening cooperation with one of Vietnam’s key industrial regions.
A significant milestone in our government engagement was the meeting between Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, and Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of Hamburg, which I had the pleasure of attending alongside German diplomatic and business representatives. This meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening economic and investment cooperation between Germany and Vietnam, particularly between Ho Chi Minh City and Hamburg.
These engagements reflect GBA’s continued commitment to constructive public-private dialogue. By maintaining close relationships with government and institutional partners, we aim to represent the interests of our members, address challenges affecting the business community and contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable economic development.
Showcasing German–Vietnamese Business Success
Another important focus of the quarter was creating stronger platforms to showcase the capabilities, solutions and success stories of German businesses in Vietnam.
In September, we successfully organized the GBA Business Solutions Showcase, bringing companies and business leaders together to present practical solutions, exchange expertise and create new opportunities for collaboration. This event welcomed around 200 participants, featuring 16 Showcase Hubs and six expert sessions for an afternoon of practical insights, business solutions, and meaningful connections.
Building on this momentum, the German Business & Investment Forum Vietnam 2026, held on 13 October, marked a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen German-Vietnamese economic cooperation.
Organized together with AHK Vietnam, with the support of the German Embassy Hanoi, German Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, GIZ Vietnam, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and Vietrade, the Forum brought together over 300 business leaders, government representatives and industry experts from Germany and Vietnam.
Through discussions on investment, infrastructure, technology, innovation and talent, the Forum highlighted the contributions of German businesses to Vietnam’s development and opened new opportunities for collaboration. The participation of a high-ranking delegation from Hamburg further strengthened the dialogue and reinforced the growing economic ties between our two countries.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for the GBA Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026 on 20 November, where we will once again recognize outstanding achievements within our business community in sustainability, innovation, community impact and entrepreneurship.
Expanding Our Presence in Northern and Central Vietnam
Building a stronger GBA presence across Vietnam remains one of our strategic priorities for 2026, and we made further progress during the third quarter.
In Central Vietnam, we were pleased to welcome Mr. Florian Weisshuhn as our new GBA Representative for Central Vietnam. Together with our regional representatives and partners, we continue to develop stronger networks and create more opportunities for members outside our traditional hubs.
Our Industry Excursion to THACO Chu Lai provided members with first-hand insights into one of Central Vietnam’s major industrial ecosystems and opened discussions around new opportunities for German–Vietnamese cooperation.
In Northern Vietnam, our Industrial Excursion to Core5 Factory Village and Aperam Magnetic Components offered another opportunity for members to explore Vietnam’s evolving manufacturing landscape and connect directly with companies operating in the region.
These activities are part of a broader effort to ensure that GBA becomes increasingly accessible to members across the country and that companies can benefit from our network, knowledge and partnerships wherever they operate.
Empowering Knowledge Sharing and Strengthening Connections
At the heart of GBA remains our commitment to providing practical value to our members.
Throughout the quarter, our Monthly Business Meetings, workshops and networking platforms brought together members and experts to exchange perspectives on topics affecting businesses in Vietnam.
Our September Monthly Business Meeting addressed the rapid development of AI and humanoid technologies and their potential impact on businesses in Vietnam. Our GBA Members for Members workshops also covered key business topics, from information security, ISO 27001 and operational resilience with DIGI-TEXX and TÜV Rheinland, to banking, finance and risk management strategies with Rödl Vietnam and BIDV.
At the community level, our monthly DeutschenTreff gatherings in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, together with Danang Meets Europe, continued to create welcoming opportunities for members to connect, build relationships and expand their networks across Vietnam.
Together, these platforms allow us to combine knowledge sharing, advocacy and networking – the three elements that remain central to the value GBA provides to its members.
Bringing Our Community Together: GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam 2026
One of the highlights of this year was the continued success of GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam 2026, bringing the spirit of Bavarian culture and tradition to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Hanoi and welcoming thousands of guests from across Vietnam and beyond.
This year marked an important milestone in Ho Chi Minh City, where we opened a new chapter at our new venue at 257 Hoang Van Thu. Across three festive nights, the celebration welcomed more than 5,000 guests, with Friday setting a new attendance record of over 2,000 participants. The festivities continued in Danang before concluding in Hanoi, where the event achieved record-breaking attendance of more than 2,000 guests each night. Altogether, GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam 2026 brought together 12,000 participants nationwide.
Beyond these impressive numbers, GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam continues to serve as an important platform for cultural exchange and community engagement. It brings together our members, partners, families and friends, strengthens the bonds between the German and Vietnamese communities, and celebrates the traditions and friendships that connect us.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our sponsors, partners, organizing teams and everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s celebrations. Your continued support plays an essential role in preserving and growing this long-standing tradition, making GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam a celebration of friendship, cultural exchange and community spirit.
Looking Ahead
As we enter the final quarter of 2026, there is still much to look forward to.
The upcoming German Business & Investment Forum Vietnam 2026 will provide an important platform to discuss the next chapter of German–Vietnamese economic cooperation, while our GBA Gala Dinner & Business Awards 2026 will bring our community together once again to celebrate the companies and people driving innovation, sustainability and positive impact.
Our progress throughout the third quarter would not have been possible without the commitment of our members, Corporate Partners, Board Members, Regional Representatives, GBA Office team and institutional partners.
Thank you for your continued trust, engagement and contribution to our community.
I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming activities and to closing another successful year together.
Yours sincerely,
Alexander Ziehe
Chairman
German Business Association (GBA) Vietnam