VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese, the citizens of a low-average income country as listed by the World Bank, are known in the world as spendthrifts, a National Assembly deputy has said.

Ten of the 50 Mercedes-Maybach S600 cars to be made in 2015 have been ordered by Vietnamese. Most of the world’s famous fashion brands are present in Vietnam. The country is the seventh-biggest gold consumer in the world.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Construction (MOC) wants to turn cement production into a key industry, but analysts believe it is a bad idea.

VietNamNet Bridge - While economists see signs of an economic recovery, businesses continue to be pessimistic as sales remained lower than expected during the April holiday.

Vietnamese have every reason to be optimistic about the country’s economic performance in the time to come. International institutions all have raised Vietnam’s forecast GDP growth rate for 2015.

VietNamNet Bridge - The dollar price has been increasing for a month, while the official dong/dollar exchange rate remains unchanged as the State Bank has committed not to devalue the dong by more than 2 percent in 2015.

VietNamNet Bridge – Small shops in alleys and at street corners are proving to be more profitable than flashy luxury shopping malls.

Number of newly-established businesses up 26.6%; Vietnam sees trade deficit in first two months; Growing container inventory at seaports creating problems; Gov't decision to stockpile rice raises domestic prices

The sharp fall of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) to a record low has caused serious concerns among Vietnamese shipping firms. .  

VietNamNet Bridge – There will be no major obstacles for Vietnamese businesses in the global market in 2015, but the biggest difficulties will come from the domestic market, economists say.

Vietnam has been highly successful at mobilizing inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the past few years, which has played an important role in the nation’s economic development.

VietNamNet Bridge – The following are the most outstanding economic events expected to occur in 2015.

VietNamNet Bridge – Local authorities and ministries are drawing up large public investment projects, even though the state budget remains modest.

VietNamNet Bridge – Big fortunes can be made through small investments, and this is  especially true in the distribution sector.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has assured the nation that Viet Nam's gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation are still under control and are expected to hit their targeted 6.2 per cent and 5 per cent for 2015.

As high-end shopping malls continue to face difficulties attracting customers, some retailers are combining two business models, modern merchandising and traditional markets.

The Vietnamese public, who are known as the biggest beer drinkers in the world, as optimists about their future, and as big spenders on luxury goods despite modest incomes, curbed their expenses in 2014 more than in the past.

VietNamNet Bridge – Most seasoned Vietnamese businesspeople were born in the 1960s and are aged between 46 and 55.

The highest Tet bonus in Hanoi is expected to be VND86 million, offered by a foreign invested enterprise, while the figure is VND583 million in HCM City, according to local labor departments.

VietNamNet Bridge – Bank loan interest rates decreased sharply in 2014, but are expected to rise in 2015.