The new standards will be applicable from June 30, 2026.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment officially issued national emission standards for motorcycles and mopeds, applicable from June 30, 2026, according to the Government News.

Under the Ministry’s Circular No. 92, issued on December 31, 2025,  the “National Technical Regulation on Emissions for Motorcycles and Mopeds Participating in Road Traffic”  shall be applied to agencies, organizations, and individuals using motorcycles and mopeds in road traffic, entities conducting emission inspections for these vehicles, and relevant state management authorities.

The Circular specifies maximum permissible emission limits based on two key parameters — CO (carbon monoxide) and HC (hydrocarbons) — and classifies them into four compliance levels.

Accordingly, CO limits for motorcycles and mopeds shall range from 4.5 percent to 2.0 percent by volume depending on emission levels, while HC limits are set at 1500–1000 ppm by volume for 4-stroke engines and 10,000–2,000 ppm by volume for 2-stroke engine.

Specifically, Level 1 is equivalent to Euro 1 and lower than Euro 2 standards. Level 2 is close to the Euro 2 standard, reflecting a transition period when environmental requirements are tightening, while still aligning with the current reality of older vehicles in circulation. Level 3 is close to the Euro 3 standard. Level 4 is the highest compliance level, closely aligned with the Euro 4 standard for motorcycles, which is widely applied across Europe.

Circular 92 also clearly states that the implementation roadmap shall follow decisions issued by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government.

According to official data, Vietnam currently has around 70 million motorcycles and mopeds in circulation nationwide. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 qualified facilities will be required across the country to conduct emission inspections for this vehicle category.

VGP-Pham Long

The centre will serve as a controlled testing ground for new financial models and pioneer the deployment and expansion of digital asset products, digital payments, specialised trading platforms and exchanges.

The Vietnam International Financial Centre (IFC) in central Da Nang city was inaugurated on January 9 at Software Park No. 2, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

It will be developed into multiple functional zones covering a total area of approximately 300 hectares. 

The inauguration ceremony formally announced the commencement of operations of the IFC in Da Nang and provided domestic and foreign organisations, businesses, and investors with information on its key features, development plans, and implementation roadmap.

The Government has clearly defined the development orientation of the IFC in Da Nang as a modern international financial hub closely linked with the innovation ecosystem, digital technology, and sustainable finance.

The centre will serve as a controlled testing ground for new financial models and pioneer the deployment and expansion of digital asset products, digital payments, specialised trading platforms and exchanges.

It will also promote supply chain financing, third-party financial services, and non-deposit-taking lending institutions to complement the traditional financial market, thereby forming flexible, innovative, and specialised financial products.

The event also marked the launch of the official website of the IFC in Da Nang. The portal serves as the centre’s official information channel and integrates one-stop services, including member registration and licensing systems, work permit and visa registration, and support services.

VNA-Vân Nguyễn

During his meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, Prudential plc CEO Anil Wadhwani reaffirms the insurer’s long-term commitment to Vietnam, highlighting market growth, capital investment, and policy engagement. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc met with Mr. Anil Wadhwani, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential plc

Prudential plc Chief Executive Officer Anil Wadhwani met with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc this week, emphasising Vietnam’s strategic importance to the insurer’s Asia and Africa operations and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the country.

Prudential has been operating in Vietnam for more than 26 years and was the first foreign insurer to establish a representative office in the country in 1999. Today, it serves more than 1.3 million customers through Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited.

“I am both excited and confident on the growth potential of Vietnam,". Mr. Anil Wadhwani, CEO of Prudential plc, said. "It is one of the most vibrant and fastest growing economies in Asia. We have been serving the Vietnamese consumers for almost three decades by bringing them innovative solutions that help them build financial security and in addressing their health and protection needs. Drawing on our global experience, we are committed to working in partnership with policymakers and regulators to continue our support of the Government’s economic growth agenda, deepening of capital markets, and contribute to the successful development of Vietnam as an international financial centre.”

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his expectation that Prudential will continue to expand its business operations in Vietnam, as well as cooperate with, support, and accompany the Government of Vietnam in the time ahead.

Prudential Vietnam, together with its asset management arm Eastspring Vietnam, is the country’s largest foreign life insurer and a leading asset manager. The group is actively engaged in supporting the government’s plans to develop Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang as international financial centres, contributing technical expertise and advocating international best practices in capital markets.

Over the years, Prudential has reinvested insurance funds into Vietnam’s economy through government bonds, corporate bonds, and listed equities. It is currently the largest foreign life insurer holding government and corporate bonds, with a total portfolio valued at VND90,652 billion ($3.49 billion).

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and other delegates at the reception

In its business results for the first half of 2025, Prudential Vietnam reported total claims expenses and other insurance benefits of more than VND7,410 billion ($285.0 million), an increase of 8.5 per cent year on year. This figure accounts for more than one-quarter of total claims and benefits paid across the Vietnamese life insurance market, estimated at around VND29,000 billion ($1.12 billion).

The company also reported a solvency margin ratio of 206 per cent, reflecting a stable capital position and continued capacity for disciplined reinvestment.

-Diep Linh

The central province licensing 25 new FDI projects last year.

Nghe An province in central Vietnam  attracted 25 FDI projects in 2025 with a total registered capital of over $1 billion, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

Reporting on the province’s socio-economic situation last year at a conference held on January 7, the committee noted that the province recorded a GRDP growth of 8.44%, ranking 13th among 34 provinces and cities nationwide.

The industrial sector continues to be the main growth driver with an increase of 14.54%. This momentum comes from the clear recovery of the processing and manufacturing industry, especially after many large FDI projects have come into stable operation, positively contributing to the industrial production value and the overall growth of the province.

Export activities have also made significant progress. The export turnover in 2025 reached $4.5 billion, an increase of 42.6% compared to the previous year. The province’s products have been exported to 170 countries and territories worldwide.

The provincial authorities set a GRDP growth target of 10.5-11.5% in 2026.

VnEconomy-Nguyễn Thuấn

The Thu Thiem New Urban Area is envisioned to become Ho Chi Minh City’s modern financial, commercial, and service hub. However, transport links between Thu Thiem, the city center, and the city’s southern wards remain limited.

The development of the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge has officially transitioned to a public investment model, funded by the municipal budget. This decision follows a consensus reached by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee during its third meeting in the 2025-2030 tenure, held on January 7.

The Thu Thiem 4 Bridge project is more than just a construction work. It represents a strategic milestone in connecting the city’s key regions, catalyzing economic growth, and enhancing the quality of urban life.

Spanning approximately 2.2 km with eight lanes, the projected bridge requires a total investment of over VND5 trillion ($190 million). The project’s starting point is located at Nguyen Van Linh Street, where it will connect with the Tan Thuan 2 Bridge, and its endpoint will be at Nguyen Co Thach Street within the Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

The Thu Thiem New Urban Area is envisioned to become Ho Chi Minh City’s modern financial, commercial, and service hub. However, transport links between Thu Thiem, the city center, and the city's southern wards remain limited.

The absence of a direct arterial connection has placed immense pressure on existing routes. Consequently, the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge is expected to alleviate the current traffic burden, strengthen regional connectivity, and accelerate urban expansion.

Vneconomy-Minh Hà

The majority of resources are being funneled into later-stage funding rounds, typically ranging from $5 million to $10 million.

Vietnam’s venture capital (VC) market has yet to show signs of recovery in 2025, according to the “Vietnam Tech Venture Capital Outlook 2025” report by VinVentures.

The number of deals fell to approximately 41, while total capital reached only about $215 million, continuing the downward trend since the "cheap money" era of 2021.

Notably, however, capital flows are becoming increasingly concentrated and selective. The majority of resources are being funneled into later-stage funding rounds, typically ranging from $5 million to $10 million. This indicates a growing preference among funds to invest in companies with proven market traction and clearly defined business models.

This approach closely mirrors private equity (PE) strategies, with a focus on sectors capable of generating cash flow and offering higher certainty, such as EdTech, Climate Tech, and Retail/E-commerce.

VinVentures noted  that the VC market is witnessing a "contraction" as funds move to protect their existing portfolios. Approximately 60% of capital resources are being allocated to follow-on rounds and bridge financing for existing portfolio companies rather than exploring new deals. This defensive strategy highlights that the top priority for investors right now is maintaining their positions and mitigating risk, amid an uncertain outlook for exits.

Naturally, this trend has led to a continued decline in micro-sized investments.

The deal structure shows a significant shift: transactions valued between $1 million and $5 million rose from 21% to 43%, while small-scale investments dropped sharply.

In a climate of high startup failure rates, only about 29.5% of startups successfully raised capital in 2025, and 70% of those were already revenue-generating. The ability to demonstrate market traction has become a prerequisite for accessing capital.

Vneconomy-Bạch Dương

The proposal aims to ensure market stability, protect investor rights, and support the development of the securities market.

The Vietnamese government is set to maintain a State-owned 100% stake in sectors such as policy credit; deposit insurance; buying, selling, and handling bad debts associated with the restructuring of the credit institution system; debt trading; organizing the securities trading market; providing registration, custody, clearing, and settlement services for securities; investing and managing investment capital to promote the process of restructuring and renovating state-owned enterprises, according to a draft proposal by the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, the activities of State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), the Vietnam Stock Exchange, the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation, and the Vietnam Debt Trading Company Limited will be encompassed. Full state ownership in these entities aims to ensure market stability, protect investor rights, and support the development of the securities market.

The ministry is drafting a new prime ministerial decision to revise Decision 22/2021/QD-TTg, dated June 2, 2021, on criteria for classification of wholly state-owned enterprises and partially state-owned enterprises subject to ownership transformation, reorganization or state capital withdrawal in the 2021-2025 period. 

During the equitization process of State-owned enterprises, several ministries and localities have suggested that the state should retain its capital in enterprises providing public utility products and services. These enterprises often operate in challenging areas where attracting private investment is difficult, and state capital helps ensure service quality. Conversely, state dominance in profitable enterprises can deter investors due to limited governance participation, prompting the need for divestment in non-essential sectors.

The draft proposes clear adjustments to classification criteria by industry and sector for State-owned enterpirses and those with state capital undergoing ownership transformation, restructuring, or divestment. Notably, the basic chemical production sector will see state ownership increase from 50-65% to 100% due to its critical importance. Meanwhile, the gold bullion production sector will be removed from the list, aligning with Decree 232/2025/NĐ-CP, as the state no longer holds a monopoly in gold bullion production.

VnEconomy-Hoàng Sơn

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh evaluates 2025 as a "foundation-building" year, while 2026 will mark a point when the real estate market officially enters a new growth cycle

Entering 2026, the real estate market stands before numerous opportunities as the country targets double-digit economic growth.

This momentum is supported by a flexible monetary policy and a development priority for new urban models, such as compact cities and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), according to Mr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS).

“However, there will be no more room for 'quick-flip' or short-term speculative investments. The coming phase requires market players to be more professional and transparent, adhering strictly to market discipline within an ecosystem governed by data and digital technology,” Mr. Dinh remarked at the "2026 Real Estate Market Outlook: Momentum for a New Growth Cycle" forum held on January 8.

According to Mr. Dinh, the merger of provinces and central-run cities has created larger real estate markets in hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Lam Dong. This administrative shift has disrupted short-term speculative "waves" and halted skyrocketing price hikes, ushering in a trend of more stable and long-term development.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh stated that in 2025, newly enacted policies have gradually ensured consistency and synchronization across various laws, resolving previous overlaps and conflicts.

"These policies have also promoted decentralization, administrative reform, and shortened investment preparation times, thereby reducing costs for businesses. Thanks to these synchronized solutions, real estate supply has been gradually unblocked, with the social housing segment notably reaching 62% of its target," said the deputy minister.

In the coming period, said Mr. Sinh, the Ministry of Construction (MOC) will focus on perfecting legal institutions and policies to promote affordable commercial housing and social housing. 

Additionally, the MOC will continue to review and resolve bottlenecks in real estate projects, enhance information transparency, and strictly control business activities to ensure a safe and healthy market. These efforts aim to unlock investment resources, and contribute to economic growth.

Based on these factors, the deputy minister evaluates 2025 as a "foundation-building" year, while 2026 will mark a point when the real estate market officially enters a new growth cycle. However, this will be a selective cycle, built on a foundation of legal transparency, genuine market demand, and a long-term sustainable development orientation.

Vneconomy-Phan Dương

The central city aims to complete 28,955 social housing units during the 2025–2030 period.

Da Nang city in central Vietnam plans to complete 5,000 social housing units in 2026 as part of its efforts to meet targets set by the Prime Minister.

In 2025, the city completed five social housing projects providing 2,907 units. In addition, 12 other projects are currently under construction and are expected to supply more than 9,000 units.

During the year, municipal authorities approved investment policies for three new projects, while construction began on three others with a total of 3,134 units.

Under its long-term plan, Da Nang aims to complete 28,955 social housing units during the 2025–2030 period.

To achieve this target, the city is accelerating administrative procedure reforms, prioritising social housing projects, and enhancing support to remove bottlenecks for investor-assigned projects. Local authorities will also continue to review and supplement suitable land funds and invest in synchronous technical infrastructure, creating a favourable foundation for social housing development in the coming period.

VnEconomy-Thanh Xuân

The country exported over 247,400 tons of pepper last year.

More than 247,482 tons of pepper have been exported by Vietnam in 2025, valued at $1.66 billion, the highest level ever recorded from the product.

The figures represent a year-on-year drop of 1.2% in export volume but a year-on-year increase of 26% in value, reflecting sharply higher prices, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).

Average export price for black pepper reached $6,607 per ton, while for while pepper, $8,629, up more than 30% year-on-year.

Though pepper exports to the US  fell nearly 24% year-on-year, due to the impact of reciprocal tariffs,  it remained Vietnam’s largest buyer in 2025 with 55,082 tons, accounting for 22.3% of the latter's total pepper exports.

Other major markets included the UAE (22,232 tons), China (19,923 tons), India (12,499 tons) and Germany (11,820 tons).

vneconomy-Vân Nguyễn

According to Mr. Samson Khaou, Dassault Systèmes Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, these technologies enable businesses to design, simulate, and operate complex systems sustainably.

The Ministry of Finance on January 8 presided over the opening ceremony of the Research and Development (RD) Center and the Center of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins, established by Dassault Systèmes.

The inauguration of these technology hubs marks a concrete step in implementing the Politburo's Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on science and  technology development, innovation and digital transformation. It also aligns with the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1131/QD-TTg regarding the List of Strategic Technologies, aimed at proactively capturing and mastering emerging technologies.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed that “Vietnam identifies science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the primary drivers for growth. Our consistent goal is to enhance endogenous capacity to participate more deeply in global value chains and realize the country’s 100-year development vision.”

The presence of Dassault Systèmes, the world leader in engineering software and digital twin experiences, at the National Innovation Center (NIC) is more than just an investment activity. It opens up vast opportunities for deep cooperation in human resource training and technology transfer.

Accordingly, the Deputy PM requested that Dassault Systèmes continue to explore further expansion, aiming to have 1,000 high-quality engineers working at its RD center in Vietnam by 2030.

Furthermore, he expressed his hope that the Group would connect with companies within its network to expand investment into 11 strategic technology sectors in Vietnam.

He also encouraged the enhancement of training curriculum transfers and the organization of specialized courses in the Group’s areas of expertise, gradually transforming Vietnam into the Group’s strategic investment "hub" for Southeast Asia and Asia.

Currently, Digital Twin technology combined with AI is reshaping global manufacturing. According to Mr. Samson Khaou, Dassault Systèmes Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, these technologies enable businesses to design, simulate, and operate complex systems sustainably. Consequently, the Group's Center of Excellence (COE) and RD Center at the NIC will focus on Vietnam’s national priority sectors, including aerospace, semiconductors, and transportation and mobility.

Additionally, these centers will offer certification programs based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, providing Vietnamese students and professionals with access to the world's best industrial standards. This initiative will help Vietnam shorten RD cycles, optimize operations, and minimize risks in manufacturing.

VNeconomy-Khánh Vy

The Politburo resolution requires a focused, decisive, synchronized, and effective implementation of several policies and strategies for state economic development.

Adopting an enabling mindset, the Politburo's Resolution No. 79-NQ/TW, signed by Party General Secretary To Lam on January 6, 2026, has opened up significant development space for the state economy, with the ambitious goal of placing one to three state-owned enterprises (SOEs) among the world’s 500 largest corporations.

The Resolution affirms that the state economy is a particularly important component of Vietnam’s socialist-oriented market economy. After 80 years of national construction and development —and particularly nearly 40 years of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, the state economy has consistently maintained its leading role.

It effectively performs the functions of guiding, spearheading, and regulating economic activities, thereby contributing to robust growth, ensuring macro-economic stability, maintaining major economic balances, and safeguarding national defense and security.

Despite these achievements, the state economic sector still faces numerous limitations and inadequacies. Therefore, to realize the goal of Vietnam becoming a developing country with modern industry by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045, the resolution requires a focused, decisive, synchronized, and effective implementation of several policies and strategies for state economic development.

The resolution sets specific targets, including the ambition to have 50 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) among the 500 largest enterprises in Southeast Asia and 1 to 3 SOEs among the 500 largest enterprises globally by 2030.

It aims to build strong economic groups and large-scale SOEs with modern technology and regional and international competitiveness. These enterprises are expected to lead and guide domestic companies to deeply participate in global production and supply chains, especially in key strategic sectors of the economy. One hundred percent of SOEs are to implement modern corporate governance on digital platforms, while 100% of state economic groups and corporations will apply OECD corporate governance principles.

Regarding state credit institutions, the goal is for at least three state-owned commercial banks to be ranked among the top 100 largest banks in Asia in terms of total assets.

By 2045, the state economy is envisioned to become a solid foundation ensuring strategic autonomy, resilience, and comprehensive competitiveness of the national economy.

The resolution also outlines a shift from administrative management to development facilitation and modern governance. It calls for a clear separation of ownership functions, economic management, and political tasks. A robust mechanism is needed to protect officials who dare to think and act for the common good, distinguishing between objective errors and legal violations for appropriate handling. Additionally, it emphasizes standardizing the database on state economic entities and resources, ensuring interconnectivity to support policy formulation.

Specific solutions include completing the measurement, statistics, digitization, and cleaning of the national land data system by the end of 2026, connecting and sharing with other national data systems.

Encouraging SOEs to invest abroad to explore, exploit, and process minerals not available or in limited supply domestically is also highlighted.

Strengthening basic investigations and building a data system on marine and island resources, with plans for effective exploitation and use, is crucial for economic development combined with national defense, security, and sovereignty protection.

The resolution encourages the issuance of outstanding mechanisms, creating a comprehensive legal framework, and implementing controlled experimental frameworks (sandbox) to promote the development of space economy and low-altitude economy, including the aviation and aerospace industries.

It also advocates for various forms of social resource mobilization and public-private partnerships in investing in and exploiting underground works. Furthermore, it supports expanding the application of public-private investment methods, such as "public investment - private management" and "private investment - public use," to build and manage infrastructure projects most effectively.

For SOEs, policies are in place to encourage the development of large-scale SOEs through increased charter capital, including allowing the use of all proceeds from equitization and state capital divestment at enterprises. Increasing the post-tax profit retention rate for enterprises and reassessing assets that have been fully depreciated but still have use value are also encouraged. Mergers, acquisitions, and transfers of enterprises are promoted to leverage the overall advantages of the economic sector.

SOEs are empowered to decide on using their science and technology development funds to proactively implement or commission external research and development under a product contract mechanism. There is a mechanism allowing SOEs to independently form or link with the state and other enterprises to establish venture capital funds.

The comprehensive restructuring of the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) is directed towards professional capital management, progressing towards forming a national investment fund. Resources are concentrated from restructuring capital at enterprises and other state-assigned resources to: (i) Develop large-scale, high-efficiency enterprises; (ii) invest in projects in technology, innovation, digital transformation sectors, which are crucial for the economy; (iii) implement direct investments and support resources for SOEs to invest abroad; and  conduct mergers and acquisitions to access new technologies, core technologies, strategic technologies, and industries, or for high-profit objectives.

Enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) and the Vietnam Debt and Asset Trading Corporation (DATC) is essential to support the restructuring process, particularly financial restructuring and handling bad debts of SOEs  and commercial banks under market mechanisms.

Vneconomy-Anh Nhi

The Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, with a preliminary investment of over VND145.6 trillion ($5.54 billion), will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) on nearly 187 ha.

Ho Chi Minh City is set to commence a series of major infrastructure projects with a total investment of nearly VND240 trillion (over $9 billion).

The city People's Committee has issued a plan to organize the groundbreaking ceremonies for key infrastructure and transportation projects in the city, in celebration of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, with the ceremonies scheduled on January 15.

The central event will be the groundbreaking of the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex in Binh Trung Ward. Other events include the commencement of the construction of Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong) at the Tham Luong depot in Dong Hung Thuan Ward, the groundbreaking of the Can Gio Bridge in Binh Khanh and Nha Be communes, and the groundbreaking of the Phu My 2 Bridge in Phu Thuan, and Tan My wards, and Nha Be Commune.

Metro Line No. 2 (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong) is a public investment project spanning over 11 km, linking downtown Ho Chi Minh City with its northwestern gateway. The entire route features 10 underground stations, one elevated station, and a depot, with a total investment estimated at approximately VND57 trillion (over $2.16 billion).

The Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, with a preliminary investment of over VND145.6 trillion ($5.54 billion), will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) on nearly 187 ha. It is envisioned as a modern sports economic ecosystem, aiming to become a national and regional sports hub.

The Can Gio Bridge project, with an investment of about VND13.2 trillion (nearly $503 million), will also be executed as a PPP under a build-transfer (BT) contract, with payment through land funds. This project is deemed crucial for enhancing connectivity between the Can Gio coastal area and regional infrastructure, particularly Long Thanh Airport.

The Phu My 2 Bridge, approximately 6.3 km long, will connect the southern part of Ho Chi Minh City with Nhon Trach (Dong Nai) and Long Thanh Airport. It has a preliminary investment of nearly VND23.2 trillion ($883 million) and will be implemented as a PPP under a BT contract.

Vneconomy-Thanh Thủy

Lobster became Vietnam’s #1 shrimp export to China in 2025, reaching $817 million.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports hit a historic record, reaching a turnover of $4.65 billion in 2025, a 19.9% increase compared to 2024.

Shrimp continues to hold the largest share of Vietnam’s total seafood export value, maintaining its role as the primary pillar for the entire industry’s growth. The year 2025 also marked an unprecedented milestone as Vietnamese shrimp exports to China surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time in history.

Specifically, shrimp exports to China in 2025 reached 123,000 tons, valued at $1.24 billion. This represents a 48.4% surge in volume and a 63.3% jump in value compared to 2024. With these figures, China has become the first market to ever exceed $1 billion in annual Vietnamese shrimp imports.

In contrast, the United States, which served as Vietnam’s largest shrimp market for many years, peaked at $807 million in 2022 and has never reached the $1 billion threshold.

Citing data from China Customs, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) noted that in the first 10 months of 2025, China's total shrimp import value reached approximately $4.3 billion (up 10% year-on-year), while import volume grew by only 1%. This trend indicates that Chinese consumers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for high-quality and deeply processed shrimp products, leading to a visible rise in average selling prices.

This shift in Chinese consumption habits—moving from mass-market products to the premium segment—has created favorable conditions for Vietnam’s specialized products, particularly lobster and black tiger shrimp.

Lobster became Vietnam’s #1 shrimp export to China in 2025, reaching $817 million. This figure is double that of 2024 and accounts for nearly all of Vietnam’s total lobster export turnover globally. Following lobster is black tiger shrimp, another of Vietnam’s traditional high-end export products.

Vneconomy-Chu Khôi

Around 68% of enterprises in the list recorded revenue growth, from VND4.74 quadrillion ($180.6 billion) in 2022 to VND5.57 quadrillion in 2025.

Vietnam Report Joint Stock Company, in coordination with VietNamNet e-newspaper, on January 8 announced the Top 500 Largest Enterprises in Vietnam (VNR500), according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

The Top 100 Future-Creating Enterprises of Vietnam (VNR Future 100), and the Top 10 and Top 5 Most Reputable Companies in the pharmaceutical, medical equipment and healthcare, logistics, tourism and animal feed industries for 2025 were also announced at the ceremony held in Hanoi.

This year’s rankings highlight businesses that have made significant contributions to economic recovery and the maintenance of growth momentum, demonstrating strong internal capabilities, effective governance, and pioneering spirit in a new phase of development, according to Mr. Vu Dang Vinh, General Director of Vietnam Report.

Around 68% of enterprises listed in the 2025 VNR500 recorded revenue growth, from VND4.74 quadrillion ($180.6 billion) in 2022 to VND5.57 quadrillion in 2025. The industrial and construction sector continued to dominate the group.

Vietnam News Agency-Vân Nguyễn

The complex, consisting of Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants, expected to supply over 9 billion kWh of electricity annually.

Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 thermal power plants in southern Dong Nai province have officially entered commercial operation from January 5, marking the launch of Vietnam’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) power complex.

The plants, which were inaugurated in December, were invested in by Petrovietnam Power Corporation, with a total investment of $1.4 billion.

With a combined capacity of 1,624 MW, the two plants are expected to supply more than 9 billion kWh of electricity annually to the national grid.

Under the revised National Power Development Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, LNG continues to play a central role in Vietnam’s flexible power generation mix. LNG-fired power capacity is projected to reach around 22 GW by 2030, accounting for 9.5–12.3% of the total power system capacity.

VnEconomy-Minh Huy

Giants expand their strategic partnership to close the gap between idea and reality.

NVIDIA and Siemens have announced a major expansion of their strategic partnership to bring AI into real-world operations.

The collaborative endeavor aims to develop industrial and physical AI solutions that will bring AI-driven innovation to every industry and industrial workflow and accelerate both companies’ internal operations.

To support development, NVIDIA will provide AI infrastructure, simulation libraries, models, frameworks, and blueprints, while Siemens will commit hundreds of industrial AI experts and leading hardware and software.

“Generative AI and accelerated computing have ignited a new industrial revolution, transforming digital twins from passive simulations into the active intelligence of the physical world,” said Mr. Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Our partnership with Siemens fuses the world’s leading industrial software with NVIDIA’s full-stack AI platform to close the gap between idea and reality - empowering industries to simulate complex systems in software, then seamlessly automate and operate them in the physical world.”

“By combining NVIDIA’s leadership in accelerated computing and AI platforms with Siemens’ leading hardware, software, industrial AI, and data,” said Mr. Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, “we’re empowering customers to develop products faster with the most comprehensive digital twins, adapt production in real time, and accelerate technologies from chips to AI factories.”

Accelerating entire industrial lifecycle

Siemens and NVIDIA will work together to build AI-accelerated industrial solutions across the full lifecycle of products and production, enabling faster innovation, continuous optimization, and more resilient, sustainable manufacturing.

The two giants aim to build the world’s first fully AI-driven, adaptive manufacturing sites globally, starting in 2026 with the Siemens Electronics Factory in Erlangen, Germany, as the initial blueprint.

An “AI Brain,” built on software-defined automation and industrial operations software, combined with NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and NVIDIA AI infrastructure factories can continuously analyze their digital twins, test improvements virtually, and turn validated insights into operational changes on the shop floor.

This results in faster, more reliable decision-making from design to deployment - raising productivity while reducing commissioning time and risk. Several major global companies are already evaluating early capabilities from the partnership, including Foxconn, HD Hyundai, the KION Group, and PepsiCo. The technologies are expected to scale across key verticals in the years to come.

As part of the collaboration, Siemens will complete GPU acceleration across its entire simulation portfolio and expand support for NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries and AI physics models, enabling customers to run larger, more accurate simulations faster. Building on that foundation, the companies will advance towards generative simulation by using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and open models to provide autonomous digital twins that deliver real-time engineering design and autonomous optimization.

By applying industrial AI operating logic to semiconductors and AI factories, Siemens and NVIDIA will accelerate the engines of the AI revolution. Starting with semiconductor design and building on NVIDIA’s extensive use of Siemens’ tools, Siemens will integrate NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries, PhysicsNeMo, and GPU acceleration across its EDA portfolio, with a focus on verification, layout, and process optimization, to target 2-10x speed-ups in key workflows.

The partnership will also add AI-assisted capabilities such as layout guidance, debug support, and circuit optimization to boost engineering productivity while meeting strict manufacturability requirements. Together, these capabilities will advance AI-native engines for design, verification, manufacturability, and digital-twin approaches to shorten design cycles, improve yield, and deliver more reliable outcomes.

Designing the next generation of AI factories

Siemens and NVIDIA will also jointly develop a repeatable blueprint for next generation AI factories - accelerating the industrial AI revolution and providing the high-performance foundation for their AI-accelerated industrial portfolios.

This blueprint will balance the next-generation high-density computing demands for power, cooling and automation while ensuring technologies are well positioned for both speed and efficiency - optimizing the full lifecycle, from planning and design to deployment and operations.

The combined effort bridges NVIDIA’s AI platform roadmap, AI infrastructure expertise, partner ecosystem and the accelerated power of NVIDIA Omniverse library-based simulation with Siemens’ strengths in power infrastructure, electrification, grid integration, automation, and digital twins. Together, the companies aim to accelerate deployment, increase energy efficiency, and improve resilience for industrial-scale AI infrastructure worldwide.

Optimizing operations through shared innovation

Siemens and NVIDIA aim to accelerate each other’s operations and portfolio by implementing technologies on their own systems before scaling them across industries. NVIDIA will assess Siemens offerings to streamline and optimize its own operations and offerings, and Siemens will assess its own workloads and collaborate with NVIDIA to accelerate them and integrate AI into Siemens’ customer portfolio.

By accelerating one another and improving their own systems, Siemens and NVIDIA are creating concrete proof points of value and scalability for customers.

-Linh San

At the January 8 conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh underscored the need to bolster strategic autonomy, consolidate national defense – security, improve the economy’s self-reliance and resilience, and proactively respond to external shocks.

A nationwide conference to review the central and local governments’ 2025 performance and launching 2026 tasks was held on January 8 in a hybrid format connecting the Government Headquarters with all 34 provinces and cities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as stating at the conference that Vietnam will need radical economic restructuring and a fresh growth model powered by science – technology, innovation and digital transformation to deliver double-digit expansion starting in 2026.

PM Chinh said the Government will fully and seriously follow the “highly important, thoughtful, in-depth and hands-on” directions that Party General Secretary To Lam made earlier at the conference, including fixing eight shortcomings and focusing on seven key tasks head-on.

According to the PM, the achievements noted by the Party leader have generated momentum, power and confidence for the Government, ministries, agencies and local authorities to fulfill their upcoming duties.

High economic growth must be anchored in macroeconomic stability and major economic balances, he said, adding that fast growth must be sustainable and tied to social progress and equity, environment protection and higher living standards. He also underscored the need to bolster strategic autonomy, consolidate national defense – security, improve the economy’s self-reliance and resilience, and proactively respond to external shocks.

He wished for continued support from current and former Party and State leaders, particularly the close and regular guidance of General Secretary Lam, along with effective coordination from the Party bodies, the National Assembly, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, and active support and engagement from the public, the business community, and international partners in all aspects of the Government’s activities.

Across the Government’s 2021–2025 term, Vietnam met or exceeded 22 of its 26 key socio-economic targets. In both 2024 and 2025, all 15 key targets were achieved or surpassed. GDP expanded 8.02% in 2025, ranking Vietnam among the world's fastest-growing economies. Macro-economic stability held firm, inflation stayed contained, key balances were secured, and resilience to external shocks improved.

Traditional growth engines proved effective. Total social investment topped VND4.15 quadrillion VND ($159 billion) in 2025, or 32.3% of GDP. Over the five years, total investment exceeded VND17.3 quadrillion, a 44% jump from the previous term. Registered foreign direct investment during 2021–2025 reached $184.2 billion, up nearly 8.4% versus the previous period. Foreign trade volume grew from $545.4 billion in 2020 to a record above $930 billion in 2025, vaulting Vietnam into the world’s top 20 trading nations.

The three strategic breakthroughs were rolled out boldly and effectively, unlocking new development space and momentum. Lawmaking and law enforcement were renewed in both mindset and approach, clearing numerous entrenched obstacles. During the term, the Government submitted more than 178 laws, ordinances and resolutions to the National Assembly for passage, the most in any single term, and issued 936 decrees under its authority.

Infrastructure saw transformative leaps, with massive modern projects boosting connectivity and fueling long-term expansion. By late 2025, Vietnam had built 3,345km of expressways and more than 1,711km of coastal roads. Long Thanh International Airport was substantially completed; ring roads, urban rail, seaports, airports and 500kV transmission lines became operational. The three national groundbreaking and inauguration events alone marked the start of construction or completion of 564 big-ticket projects worth over VND5.14 quadrillion.

The labor structure shifted positively, while science – technology, innovation and digital transformation gained traction with meaningful early wins. Long-stalled and multi-term projects were tackled drastically, freeing resources for growth.

Socio-cultural progress advanced in awareness, action and results. Living standards improved, pushing Vietnam’s Human Development Index up 18 ranks to 93rd out of 193 nations. Policies for revolution contributors, social protection and poverty alleviation made solid gains under the principle of “leaving no one behind”. Makeshift and dilapidated housing nationwide were eradicated more than five years ahead of schedule. Social welfare spending during 2021–2025 totaled $11 quadrillion.

The Government also acted firmly to streamline its organizational structure and launch the two-tier local administration model, while accelerating the decentralization and delegation of authority. National defense – security capabilities were fortified on multiple fronts, and political stability endured. Diplomacy and international integration remained a bright spot, with Vietnam forging comprehensive, strategic or comprehensive strategic partnerships with 42 countries, including all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and 18 of the G20’s 21 members.

VNA-Van Nguyen

Addressing a national conference reviewing the Government’s performance in 2025 and outlining tasks for 2026, held on January 8, Party General Secretary To Lam commended the Government, ministries, local authorities, the business community, and the people at home and abroad for their concerted efforts and achievements in 2025 and throughout the 2021–2025 period.

Party General Secretary To Lam on January 8 delivered a keynote address at a national conference reviewing the Government’s performance in 2025 and outlining tasks for 2026, calling for a strong and substantive shift from a management-oriented mindset to one that actively creates development, while firmly ending buck-passing and the avoidance of responsibility, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

The conference was chaired by the Government and held in a hybrid format connecting the Government Headquarters with all 34 provinces and cities.

General Secretary Lam commended the Government, ministries, local authorities, the business community, and the people at home and abroad for their concerted efforts and achievements in 2025 and throughout the 2021–2025 period. At the same time, he stressed the need to frankly acknowledge persistent shortcomings and newly emerging challenges, many of which reflect deep-rooted structural bottlenecks in the development model and national governance system.

According to the Party leader, 2026 is a pivotal year that will shape Vietnam’s long-term growth trajectory. Achieving a GDP growth rate of at least 10%, he noted, is highly challenging amid weakening traditional growth drivers and mounting constraints in productivity, competitiveness and growth quality.

Old approaches are no longer fit for new requirements, he said, calling for fundamental reforms in development thinking, governance methods, resource allocation, and a much stronger push for decentralization and delegation of authority, accompanied by deep, decisive and effective reforms.

Regarding orientations and tasks for the upcoming period, the General Secretary highlighted the need to remove institutional bottlenecks to unlock stalled resources; maintain macro-economic stability; control inflation and safeguard major economic balances. Fiscal and monetary policies should be closely coordinated, flexible and technically sound, guided by market principles rather than excessive administrative intervention. Credit, he said, must be restructured towards production, business and priority sectors, while speculative and non-productive activities are curbed.

The top leader also called for substantial improvements in the investment and business environment, including expanded decentralization, streamlined procedures and reduced compliance costs for citizens and enterprises. He firmly rejected the mindset of “banning what cannot be managed,” stressing the necessity to strictly protect property rights and freedom of business, and prevent any abuse of inspections or investigations to harass businesses and the public.

A central strategic direction highlighted in his address was the fundamental transformation of the growth model, placing productivity, high-quality human resources, science and technology, and innovation at the core of development strategy. This, he said, is the key to escaping the middle-income trap and sustaining rapid and inclusive growth. The economy should be restructured along green, digital and circular lines, with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation serving as both new growth engines and catalysts for renewing traditional ones.

General Secretary Lam urged building a modern, integrated system of strategic infrastructure as a foundation for national competitiveness, while calling for the concentration of resources on breakthrough, strategic infrastructure projects, particularly national transport corridors, railways, airports, seaports, energy and digital infrastructure.

He highlighted the imperative of ensuring energy security, especially clean energy, stressing that power shortages must not be allowed to occur. At the same time, he called for the development of next-generation digital infrastructure, including widespread 5G coverage, 6G research, the expansion of data centers, and deeper participation in high-tech value chains, with the goal of launching a semiconductor manufacturing project.

The Party leader also underlined the need for a fundamental overhaul of public investment implementation, positioning it as a driver that leads development, creates spillover effects and mobilizes private-sector resources.

On governance and implementation, the General Secretary stressed the need to strengthen the execution capacity of the state apparatus under conditions of stronger decentralization. Authority must go hand in hand with resources and accountability, while administrative discipline and the responsibility of leaders must be tightened. He proposed designating 2026 as a year to enhance the quality of grassroots-level officials, alongside continued streamlining of the organizational apparatus to make it leaner, more efficient and effective.

The Party General Secretary stressed that education and training must be closely aligned with labor market needs and priority technology- and industry-driven sectors, while raising foundational skills, particularly digital skills, across the workforce.

He underscored the need for balanced and comprehensive development across socio-cultural sectors, with a focus on improving living standards and ensuring social security. Alongside preserving and promoting national cultural values, Vietnam should foster cultural industries, particularly cinema, cultural tourism and performing arts, as a new growth driver. Priority was given to public health improvement under the Politburo’s Resolution No. 72, completing more than 110,000 social housing units in 2026, advancing the one-million-unit target by 2028, and finishing 248 inter-level schools in border areas.

The Party chief also called for proactive climate change adaptation, stronger disaster prevention and environmental protection, with emphasis on early warning and response to extreme weather, floods and landslides. He urged faster development of national land and real estate databases to enhance transparency, decisive action to tackle urban pollution, effective climate adaptation in the Mekong Delta and disaster mitigation in other vulnerable regions, and the sustainable use of rare earth resources in support of emerging industries.

In addition, he stressed the firm consolidation of national defense and security, the maintenance of social order, and the continued pursuit of a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification. He highlighted the importance of ensuring absolute security for major political events, particularly the upcoming 14th National Party Congress and the elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, strengthening cybersecurity and digital security, advancing economic and technology diplomacy, preparing thoroughly for APEC 2027, and promoting cultural, people-to-people, and science and technology diplomacy.

General Secretary Lam expressed confidence that Vietnam now has sufficient momentum, capacity and determination to enter a new era of prosperous and sustainable development. He called on the Government, ministries and localities to act with unity, resolve and a heightened sense of responsibility to successfully fulfil the tasks set for 2026 and beyond, turning emerging opportunities into concrete outcomes for national development.

VNA-Pham Long

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hai Hang, Director of the Vietnam Aviation Academy under the Ministry of Construction, tells Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy of the potential in promoting the low-altitude economy.

The concept of a low-altitude economy (LAE), or low-altitude aviation / airspace economy, remains relatively new. Could you tell us more about the sector?

Whenever aviation is mentioned, most people think of civil aviation - commercial flights carrying passengers or cargo from one location to another, across regions or across borders. Operating such a network requires negotiations over traffic rights, including overflight, landing, and commercial operation rights, between countries; a process that is often extremely complex.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hai Hang, Director of the Vietnam Aviation Academy.

The LAE, however, differs in important ways. It refers to a new layer of airspace below 1,000 meters or, depending on national perspectives and regulations, up to 3,000 or even 5,000 meters. This is where flying devices and lightweight aircraft, either manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can operate in a wide range of endeavors.

As a result, the accompanying technological ecosystem, from manufacturing and operational technologies to supply chains for production, maintenance, warranty, and repair, also carries unique characteristics, shaped by the technical features and capabilities of these vehicles.

What is the state of LAE development globally?

The expansion of low-altitude aviation technology worldwide has been striking. China, for instance, has moved rapidly by adopting sandbox mechanisms - controlled testing environments - and is now scaling up real-world applications. Its fixed-wing cargo UAVs have reached payload capacities of up to 2,000 kg, with control ranges extending an impressive 500 km.

Passenger transport is also advancing quickly. Thailand recently issued an airworthiness certificate for a UAV capable of carrying two passengers. Tests in China have gone even further, moving beyond the two-person limit.

All of this signals a shift. Beyond small drones used for routine civil purposes, UAVs are poised to enter specialized transport, both cargo and passenger, in the very near future. Whether we welcome it or not, this transformation is becoming an inexorable technological and economic trajectory.

In your view, what is the current state of Vietnam’s LAE?

While the Party and the government have outlined clear ambitions to develop the LAE as a new growth engine, the legal framework and regulatory system remain far from coherent, creating obstacles in implementation.

This caution is understandable, as national security and defense are always top priorities. And this is not unique to Vietnam; every country must navigate security concerns when opening new airspace.

The pressing question is how to maintain strict control while still creating space for the sector to grow. How can Vietnam unlock the potential of an airspace layer that is largely unused and channel it into economic development? This challenge is shared by researchers, ministries, and businesses seeking to enter this promising field.

You mentioned that other countries also face security concerns but still push ahead, for instance through sandbox models. Is Vietnam being too cautious and missing opportunities?

While many countries are moving quickly to apply low-altitude aviation technologies, Vietnam is still wrestling with regulatory and oversight issues. Just some weeks ago, Thailand issued an airworthiness certificate for a passenger-carrying unmanned aircraft - a Chinese-made product. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has done likewise and is actively preparing to deploy UAVs for commercial air taxi services.

In Vietnam, key legal documents such as the Law on National Defense 2024 and Decree No. 288/2025/ND-CP, issued on November 5, 2025, still classify UAVs and drones strictly as objects requiring tight control. They are not yet recognized as a form of high-tech civil transport capable of underpinning a new economic sector, as maritime or road transport does. More notably, the recent draft of the new Law on Aviation introduces the concept of a “low-altitude space economy” but leaves UAV governance untouched.

The core question is this: without UAVs, what exactly is the LAE? Which agency will take the lead in building a specialized regulatory framework for these emerging aviation technologies? Vietnam spent decades building its civil aviation regulations to integrate with global aviation. Should this new sector follow a comparable path?

This is an urgent issue that needs clear recognition and a unified approach to create timely policies that can open the door for the sector’s development.

In terms of capability, are Vietnamese companies strong enough to compete?

Vietnam has a dynamic group of technology firms already working in the low-altitude space - a significant national asset.

Currently, Viettel is the only entity licensed to manufacture UAVs. While its core work serves defense needs, it is planning to expand into civil production. Alongside Viettel, many smaller companies are actively developing advanced aerial technologies, and several have proven internationally competitive. Manufacturers and exporters such as HTI and RtRs, as well as innovators like Gremsy, XBlink, and Mismart, have secured sizeable contracts for UAV components and related equipment. Yet most still operate on a relatively small scale.

With current capabilities, I believe Vietnamese tech firms absolutely can compete. But how far they can advance, and how they can scale, is a strategic question that still needs to be answered.

What kind of push do we need to turn this “potential” into reality?

We need a true, full-scale national effort. While we cannot expect an immediate leap, we can absolutely move toward our goals if the leadership of the Party and the government is expressed consistently through concrete policies.

These policies must meet two requirements: they must be strict enough to ensure national safety and security, yet flexible enough to create space for enterprise-led innovation and development.

With a flexible legal framework and clear direction, businesses will have the foundation to shape their strategies. Combined with the practical involvement of universities and research institutes, we can form a strong collective force and lay the groundwork for Vietnam’s LAE.

How is the Vietnam Aviation Academy contributing to this effort?

As the country’s largest specialized aviation university, we have taken a pioneering step by launching two new training programs in the most recent admissions cycle: Unmanned Aircraft Engineering and Robotics Engineering.

A strong sector requires a comprehensive supply chain, where businesses provide components and technologies, from cameras and AI to materials and structural design.

This makes the role of universities and research institutes indispensable. Beyond training and supplying high-quality human resources, we work closely with companies to tackle complex technological challenges that individual enterprises may struggle to solve on their own.

In reality, many Vietnamese technology firms today are strong in electronic control systems but lack expertise in structural optimization and aerodynamics. This is where research institutions like ours, with deep specialization in civil aviation, can offer significant support. We conduct calculations and studies based on industry requests to help address these bottlenecks.

This is just an initial contribution, but for emerging technologies such as UAVs, and eventually space, the RD role of universities and institutes will be critical, provided there are coherent policies and strategic investment.

Given the current landscape, are you optimistic about the sector’s future in Vietnam?

From what I observe, Vietnamese tech companies are facing many challenges because this field requires substantial investment. They have dedication and capability, but these resources need to be multiplied through supportive mechanisms and better conditions.

Therefore, resources must be considered at the level of national capacity. I want to emphasize that developing this sector must be a national endeavor, it cannot rest on the shoulders of any single organization. Only then can we expect it to deliver meaningful benefits for the country.

As the world searches for new growth engines, the low-altitude economy (LAE) has emerged as an economic space worth trillions of dollars. According to Morgan Stanley, with continued advances in science and technology, the scale of the LAE could reach around $9 trillion by 2050. This prospect has prompted the US, China, and many other countries to accelerate their race to capture market share and strategic advantage in this rapidly emerging sector.

VET-