More than 90,600 enterprises had to suspend operation in 2018, a sharp increase of 50 percent over the year before, which economists described as “worryingly high”.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam needs to take action promptly, and if not, it may get old before it becomes rich, economists say.

VietNamNet Bridge - With a population of 95 million and a high percentage of young people of working age, Vietnam is now in the ‘golden period’ to develop consumer credit.

VietNamNet Bridge - Chinese goods, especially chemicals and plastics, are expected to increase in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Chinese yuan has depreciated sharply, while the Chinese Q3 GDP growth rate is the lowest in the last decade. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s toy products compete well with Chinese counterparts in quality and prices, but domestic manufacturers are weak at diversifying products and slow in launching new products.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam remains one of the few beer markets in the world which is still maintaining high growth. However, not all breweries have succeeded in the market.

VietNamNet Bridge - Just within one year, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) proposed raising a series of taxes, citing international practices and the goal of increasing tax collections for the state.  

The national ‘Buy Vietnamese’ campaign and the great efforts made by enterprises have not produced the expected results.

VietNamNet Bridge - After 30 years of doi moi (renovation), the Vietnamese income per capita has increased to nearly $2,400 but that doesn’t satisfy many economists.

With significantly improved income, Vietnamese consumers are not only buying more goods, but also spending more money on premium products. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The growth of the Vietnamese food market has made it a magnet for foreign companies. 

The significant socio-economic-cultural accomplishments that Ho Chi Minh City gained in 2017 will create a firm foundation for its stronger development in 2018 and the following years.

The top concern of foreign investors seeking to expand their business in Vietnam is the strong rise of the middle class.

The recent proposal to increase VAT by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) still contains a number of issues that can potentially cause economic loss and undermine social equity.

Nguyen Duc Thanh from VEPR believes that Vietnam’s agriculture is suffering from so-called Dutch disease. It is still fumbling for ways to develop, though it leads the world in the output of some products. 

VietNamNet Bridge - With the development of automation technology, many unskilled workers are expected to be replaced by robots on production lines.

The severe weather conditions in the first months of 2016 with drought and saline intrusion dealt a strong blow on Vietnam’s agriculture, leading to minus growth rate of the sector in the first half of the year. 

Established in 1997, the northern key economic region, which includes seven northern provinces, enjoys geographical and development advantages.

VietNamNet Bridge - Rice husks, which can produce silica, an input material for many kinds of paints, have increased in value.