On a recent Tuesday evening, the Myeong-dong branch of Bantianyao Kaoyu, a Chinese restaurant specializing in whole simmered fish dishes, wa

Amid evolving global economic conditions, South Korea is exploring a distinctive approach to economic stimulus – one that goes beyond traditional fiscal or monetary measures, and instead focuses on mobilizing consumption.
At the center of this approach is the Donghaeng Festival (K-Shopping Festa or 동행축제 in Korean), a nationwide initiative led by Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, literally meaning a “shared journey” or collective participation.

Annam Gourmet - 24 Years of Defining High-end Retail in Vietnam 🇻🇳

Most retailers fight to win the "mass market." Annam Gourmet did the opposite. They won by becoming the exception.

In Vietnam, when you think of premium cheese, fine wine, or organic imports, you think of Annam. They didn't just open a grocery store; they curated a lifestyle.

Their secret? They mastered a dual-target strategy that most brands struggle to balance.

👤 For Expats, Annam is a "slice of home." It’s the reliable spot where they find the specific global brands and quality standards they grew up with. In a foreign country, familiarity is a high-value currency.

👥 For Locals, it’s about "aspirational quality." The rising middle class isn’t just looking for food; they are looking for trusted imports and a premium shopping experience they can’t find at the local wet market.

🌎 What Global Brands Can Learn:

🔸Curation > Volume. You don’t need to sell everything to everyone. Be the absolute best for a specific niche, and the "premium" label will take care of itself.

🔸Trust is the ultimate margin. In a market where quality can be inconsistent, being the "safe haven" for international standards allows you to command a higher price point.

🔸Experience is the product. From the lighting to the layout, they aren't just selling groceries - they are selling the feeling of being in Paris or New York, right in the heart of Saigon.

What’s your "go-to" brand when you want a taste of home?

Source: Annam Gourmet, Annam Group, Saigoneer, Forbes Vietnam
 
*While information from Asia Circles is publicly accessible and derived from third-party sources, its verification and validity are not guaranteed.

#AnnamGourmet #MarketInsight #ConsumerInsight #VietnamRetail #ModernTrade 

Vietnamese consumers spent nearly $3 billion on beauty and personal care products across e-commerce platforms in 2025.

BENGALURU AIRPORT 🚀
FROM CITY AIRPORT → GLOBAL TRANSFER HUB

⸻

🎯 BIG TARGET
• 20–22% transfer traffic
• Timeline: Next few years
• Shift: Origin → Transit hub

⸻

🌍 WHY BENGALURU?
• Strategic location (Europe ↔ Australia corridor)
• 38% traffic now flows via West Asia
• Opportunity to capture rerouted global flows

⸻

📊 TRAFFIC REALITY
• 80–82% Domestic
• 18–20% International
• BUT → International = High revenue (duty-free, lounges, aero charges)

⸻

⚠️ WEST ASIA IMPACT
• ~30% international traffic affected
• Dependency risk exposed
• Cargo → Stable (for now)

⸻

🛫 ROUTE EXPANSION STRATEGY
• Korea → Key priority market
• Africa → Nairobi focus
• East Asia → Next growth wave
• Driven by business + tourism demand

⸻

📦 CARGO = HIDDEN GOLD
• Capacity: 1 MILLION tonnes
• Utilisation: ~50%
• Massive headroom

Shift in cargo mix:
• Then → Perishables
• Now → Electronics | Semiconductors | Pharma

⸻

🏆 SOUTH INDIA COMPETITION
• Chennai → Large base
• Hyderabad → Strong hub
• Kochi → West Asia traffic

Bengaluru edge:
• #2 busiest airport (peak months)
• Key airline network hub

⸻

🏗️ AIRPORT = DESTINATION
• Movie screenings (T2)
• Live concerts (T1)
• Upcoming hotel
• Entertainment arena

→ Building an “Airport City”

⸻

⛽ RISK WATCH
• Taxi ecosystem → CNG/LPG dependent
• Energy disruptions = future bottleneck

⸻

🧠 STRATEGIC TAKEAWAY
• Play = Geography + Connectivity + Cargo
• Goal = Capture global transfer flows
• Risk = Geopolitics
• Upside = High-value international traffic

⸻

BOTTOM LINE
Bengaluru is not just expanding.
It is *repositioning itself in global aviation maps.

A medal ceremony mishap at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics has sparked complaints from South Korea, as a misprinted national flag was discovered to have

🇯🇵AEON MALL - Japanese Giant Setting Vietnam’s New Retail Standards 🤓

📊On 28 February 2025, AEON Mall’s revenue in Vietnam reached ¥17.3 billion (approx. US$123 million), up more than 13% year-on-year. As of July 2025, AEON operates 7 large-format malls and 2 mid-sized malls.

That performance makes Vietnam AEON Mall’s second-highest overseas revenue market globally, behind China. It also places AEON as the second-largest mall operator in Vietnam.

🕰️ Despite this pace of growth, AEON’s market entry has been deliberate & calculated. The group, in fact, started its operation in Vietnam late 2009, researching the market for 5 years. The 1st mall was opened in 2014: AEON Mall Celadon Tân Phú.

When it launched, the impact was immediate. Many Vietnamese shoppers began using AEON, as the benchmark for what a modern mall should be.

Looking ahead, AEON’s expansion strategy may evolve. Further large malls are likely to open in provincial area's, where land remains available, while mid-sized malls are better suited for apartment area's in major cities and outer urban zones.

⚠️ “Move fast” has always been AEON’s mindset in Vietnam, but they face a real estate problem. AEON has the capital, yet suitable land and sites remain the constraint. Even with many provinces actively courting projects, the right locations are a challenge to secure.

This is testament to the significant International Investment in Retail.

Source: VnEconomy, VietnamBiz, Insight Asia, Vietnam News, VnExpress, ACSS

*While information from Asia Circles is publicly accessible and derived from third-party sources, its verification and validity are not guaranteed.

#MarketInsight #ConsumerInsight #Aeon #VietnamRetail #ModernTrade | 11 comments on LinkedIn

Pop culture tourism may seem like a very niche sector in the greater industry, but it is proving to be one of the most lucrative in Asia.

Koreans are increasingly favoring hyper-personalized travel experiences that reflect individual interests and values, moving away fro

South Korea’s oatmeal market: From a Western breakfast food to Dubai chocolate desserts and kimchi porridge

🌾 Oatmeal in Korea has evolved far beyond its image as a Western breakfast food.
Once limited to imported breakfast products, oats are now widely adapted into Korean-style porridges and desserts, driven by social media recipe sharing and food companies actively localizing flavors, textures, and usage occasions.
 
💚 Korean consumers increasingly recognize oatmeal as an everyday healthy food.
Domestic online discussions emphasize benefits such as blood sugar control, digestive support, and weight management, while also highlighting oatmeal’s convenience as a quick, filling meal option for busy urban lifestyles.
 
🛒 Clean labels and texture play a decisive role in oatmeal purchasing decisions in Korea.
Consumer e-commerce reviews, especially on Coupang, show that Korean consumers favor chewy rolled or quick oats with minimal sugar, organic certification, and grain blends that feel familiar, such as brown rice or mixed grains commonly used in Korean meals.
 
📱 E-commerce and localized recipes are reshaping Korea’s oatmeal market.
Platforms like Coupang enable rapid brand growth, while oats are increasingly incorporated into kimchi porridge, baby food, and locally produced oat beverages.
 
Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/guMjMtuS
 
#KoreaBusiness #KoreaMarket #KoreaFoodTrends #KoreaOatmealMarket
#KoreanConsumers

How Christmas in Korea differs from the West

💑 Christmas in Korea is more romantic than family-centered
Unlike the West, Christmas in South Korea is largely centered on couples, similar to Valentine’s Day. While it is a public holiday, many Koreans celebrate with romantic dates, shopping, and city outings rather than large family gatherings.
 
✨ Christmas in Korea starts as early as mid-November
Christmas decorations begin from mid-November. Department stores, city districts, and public spaces roll out large-scale light displays, media facades, and pop-up markets well before December, turning Christmas into a long urban event.
 
🎄 Retail and brands drive Christmas momentum
Major retailers like Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai transform Christmas into a premium retail experience. Lotte’s Christmas Market at Jamsil sold out paid evening tickets within minutes, showing strong willingness to pay for immersive holiday experiences.
 
🍰 Cake, not turkey, defines Christmas food culture
In Korea, cake, especially strawberry cake, is the main Christmas symbol. From KRW 500,000 luxury hotel cakes to KRW 30,000-40,000 cafe cakes, Christmas spending spans both premium and mass markets.
 
🎁 Digital gifting dominates Christmas consumption
Christmas gifting in Korea is simple and digital. Platforms like KakaoTalk and Coupang lead seasonal gifting, with popular items including cakes, vouchers, cosmetics, and food delivery coupons.
 
Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gwMuW_-B
 
#KoreaBusiness #KoreaMarket #KoreaInsights #KoreaTrends #ChristmasinKorea

The dish, adapted from one brought by US soldiers after the Korean war, has sparked thousands of variations and sits at the forefront of the K-food wave

Traditional Korean relics and techniques are emerging as a silver bullet for the country's beauty companies seeking to target a growing globa

Following Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, South Korea’s second-largest airline, will also launch direct flights between Budapest and Seoul. With the new flights, passengers will have “direct connections” available seven days a week between the two capitals during the summer season, announced the Ministry for National Economy. The launch of the new route marks another important […]

If we look only at how Gen Z spends money and conclude that they are wasteful or careless with savings, that view may be too simplistic. - VnExpress International

In South Korea's cancel culture, there are high expectations for how celebrities should look and behave. While brands may no

Two-thirds of employees in South Korea have received work-related calls or text messages outside office hours over the past year, a recent survey showed. Accord

More than 8 out of 10 of respondents in an international survey expressed a favorable view of Korea, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. T

🥤🇻🇳Coca-Cola vs Pepsi - When Vietnam’s Tet Reveals the True Champion

Globally, Coca-Cola typically outperforms PepsiCo on consumption. Vietnam is an exception to this.

The rivalry itself is nothing new. What’s different is how clearly it plays out in Vietnam - and nowhere more so than during Tết.

Soft drinks remain one of the strongest performing categories during the holiday, with the category effectively shaped by two dominant players.

Pepsi entered the Vietnam market in 1994, nearly two decades earlier than Coca-Cola. By combining a competitive pricing strategy with strong brand credibility, Pepsi managed to outperform competitors at a fast pace and built nationwide distribution across Vietnam.

💵In contrast, Coca-Cola Vietnam only reported its first profit in 2013, at approximately VND 150 billion. Since then, its profits have shown a steady upward trend.

Yet the Coca-Cola vs Pepsi battle remains unresolved with Coca-Cola’s holding the strongest popularity by all age groups ®gions according to Cốc Cốc CSD Survey

🔴Coca-Cola: Deeply entrenched in Tết identity; emotionally resonant, but lacking surprise
🔵Pepsi: Trendy, social, youth-oriented, but lacks emotional depth

Source: Insight Asia, Báo Đại biểu Nhân Dân, Suntory Pepsico, Cốc Cốc, tititada

*While information from Asia Circles is publicly accessible and derived from third-party sources, its verification and validity are not guaranteed.

#MarketInsight #ConsumerInsight #FMCG #SEAConsumer #VietnamBeverage

On travel forums, Japan’s Osaka and Vietnam’s Da Nang are often jokingly called “Osaka City, Gyeonggi Province” and “Da Nang City, Gyeonggi Province,” a nod to the overwhelming number of Korean tourists. Data backs up this perception.

Vietnam has become the clear driver of growth for TikTok in Southeast Asia, making up 70 million of the 460 million users across the region. With over 70% of the population aged 35 years or younger, Vietnam’s young, mobile-first population is showing its appetite for authentic, community-driven online interaction.

TikTok’s growth as an E-commerce channel in the country has been just as exponential.

Why Vietnam? Similar to China, Vietnam relies heavily on mobile payments instead of credit and debit cards. This allows for easier integration into e-commerce and social commerce, creating a streamlined and barrier-free payment process.

In H1 of 2025, sellers on TikTok Shop grew by 96% to 267,000, whereas Shopee’s sellers dropped by 32% to 210,000.

TikTok is also slowly shifting away from low-price and fast-trend products to higher quality items, with a 10% YOY increase in Average Transaction Value (ATV) per product in 2025. In contrast, Shopee’s ATV saw a decline of 7.2%.

With that said, FOMO and Flash Sales remain drivers of sales on the platform, alongside viral trends and challenges that directly translate to product searches.

For brands, Vietnam is an exciting opportunity to test out the potential of TikTok and set a roadmap for where the rest of Southeast Asia is headed when it comes to social commerce.

Asiana Airlines expands into Europe with new Seoul-Budapest and Seoul-Milan routes launching in 2026, focusing on secondary European hubs