The Construction and Building sector is the main driving force of the socio-economic development of Vietnam, playing an important role in the national drive towards industrialization and modernization. In a time of global economic uncertainty, the construction and building sector plays an even more significant function to sustain growth and employment generation, with multiplying effects on many other socio-economic sectors.

In this current context, Con-Build Vietnam 2008 represented an important platform for Vietnamese enterprises to interact, select and trade products, machines and source for new technologies. Con-Build Vietnam 2008 , the International Trade Fair For Construction and Building-Machinery, Equipment, Materials, Vehicles, Technology & Services, was organized for the second time by MMI-Munich International Trade Fairs Pte Ltd in Hanoi with the support of the Ministry of Construction and endorsement by 17 Vietnam Ministries and International organizations.
The Con-Build Vietnam series in Vietnam is a global concentration of construction and building-machinery, equipment, materials, vehicles, technologies and services that provides an interactive platform between foreign investors and Vietnamese infrastructure planners and developers. As such, Con-Build Vietnam contributes to the over-all development of the national economy, as well as consolidating the infrastructure development because the event meets the demands of the over-all economic expansion of the country.
A truly recognized trade mark event across Vietnam ever since its first inception in 2007, Con-Build Vietnam 2008 opened its doors on for the second time on the 9 September 2008, at the Vietnam Exhibition Fair Centre, (VEFAC) Giang Vo, Hanoi. Showcasing exhibits from more than 140 companies, out of which 90% hailed from outside Vietnam who presented their latest state-of –the-art technologies, strategies and options during the 4 day event, that covered an area of more than 10,000 sq m of indoor and outdoor space.
Running from the 9 - 12 September, Con-Build Vietnam 2008 drew developers, architects, contractors, engineers, urban planners and all from across Vietnam. Who benefited from face-to-face connections and the wide range of foreign exhibits that included:
Construction Machinery & Construction Vehicles such as:
Cranes
Drilling equipment
Excavators
Road and highway vehicles
Tunneling machines
Building Material Machines & Building Materials such as:
Building products, materials and components
Chemicals
Fixing devices and adhesives
Machines for crushing stone and concrete
Plastic products
Safety accessories
Visitors were also be able to take advantage of the comprehensive accompanying programme held in- conjunction with Con-Build Vietnam 2008. The programme included Technical Product Presentations, which generated great interest for their insightful information to be gained, these sessions focused on:
Solutions and technologies for crushing and production of industrial sand, Parking solutions, Open web steel joist systems and Safe practices for crane operations.
Further to the technical product presentations, two other conferences were also run concurrently alongside the event, these being the 2nd Drymix Mortar Conference organized by SEADMA, Southeast Asia Drymix Mortar Association and the conference on the Prefabrication of Concrete Products organized by the IFF – Institute for Prefabrication Technology and Building Construction (Germany), with their local Vietnamese partners, CST-Center for Construction Science Training & Technology Transfer.
In 2009 Con-Build Vietnam will be the international construction and building industry’s platform to access more of Vietnam with the 3rd Con-Build Vietnam planning to showcase in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).