Vietnam’s pepper exports surged to a record high in December 2025, as three unexpected markets-the UAE, Thailand and Egypt-dramatically increased their purchases, driving total annual export value to an all-time peak.

As competition among global financial hubs intensifies, Ho Chi Minh City is moving to carve out a distinct position with a “latecomer but different” strategy, placing institutional reform and innovation at the heart of its competitiveness.

Vietnam’s digital infrastructure has seen a dramatic leap, with Viettel deploying over 30,000 5G stations, powering the country’s rapid move towards smart technologies and nationwide coverage.

Ho Chi Minh City received over $10.3 billion in remittances in 2025, up 8.3% from the previous year, with the strongest growth coming from African countries.

On January 22, Fitch Ratings announced an upgrade to Vietnam’s credit rating on senior secured long-term debt instruments, raising them from BB+ to BBB-.

Surging demand from Japan and South Korea turns sawdust and forest debris into gold for Vietnam’s wood industry.

The Global On-Chain Economy Alliance (GOE Alliance) of VN has joined a networking and international cooperation promotion programme on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, hosted by the HCM City People’s Committee.

Resolution 68 and its accompanying policies are breathing new life into Vietnam’s private sector. Businesses are reporting a more favorable environment, renewed confidence, and increasing momentum for expansion.

Amid a fragmented global economy and increased uncertainty, Vietnam continued to stand out as a stable and sustainable destination for international investment flows last year.

Vietnam's exports of computers, electronic products and components fetched 10.74 billion USD in December, lifting the total value for the whole of 2025 to 107.75 billion USD, according to Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam retained its position as Singapore’s third-largest seafood supplier in 2025, trailing only Malaysia and Indonesia on a full-year basis, as bilateral trade in aquatic products continued to gain momentum.

Vietnam’s competition authority fined TikTok US$36,000 for misusing user data and failing to protect vulnerable consumers.

Vietnam's competition watchdog penalizes Zalo operator for violating consumer rights and mishandling user data collection policies.

With legal hurdles eased and supply surging, Vietnam's real estate market enters a new cycle - yet housing affordability remains a key challenge.

Exports of timber and wood products reached nearly 1.7 billion USD in December 2025 alone, bringing total export value for the year to 17.2 billion USD – an increase of nearly 6% compared with 2024.

Venture capital investment in Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem fell sharply in 2025, with funding increasingly concentrated on companies that had demonstrated their feasible business models, signalling a clear restructuring phase for the market.

According to Avison Young Vietnam, domestic investors emerged as the primary acquirers, accounting for a major in transactions valued above 100 million USD.

Vietnam’s economy is no longer in need of mere breakthroughs - it’s in a stage of decompression, says Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, urging systemic reform for sustainable growth.

Vietnam’s coffee exporters brought in an impressive $433.3 million in just the first 15 days of January 2026, thanks to sustained high prices on the global market.

In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is increasingly emerging as a frontrunner for this new wave of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), underpinned by its advantages in human capital, cost efficiency and high-quality office infrastructure.