Business

Vietnam’s Manufacturing PMI stood at 52.5 in January, still pointing to improving business conditions, as output, new orders and employment rose and business confidence climbed to a 22-month high.

Ho Chi Minh City’s planned Cai Mep Ha Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is expected to be connected by rail to Long Thanh International Airport and the wider Asia economic corridor.

VinFast on January 31 officially unveiled its international business strategy for electric scooters, identifying five initial key markets: the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia.

Restaurants and cafes in central Hanoi are reshaping their business models as stricter urban enforcement ends the long-standing practice of placing tables and chairs on pavements.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said congestion of farm produce and food at several border gates following the new food safety decree has largely been resolved.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the airline recorded consolidated revenue of VND 32.34 trillion (USD 1.3 billion), up 12 per cent year-on-year.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on January 30 jointly launched a USD 2 million  initiative on green banking capacity development.

Twenty seven enterprises have received certificates as Outstanding Vietnamese suppliers 2025 from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recognising excellence across key industrial sectors.

Vietnam is rapidly becoming a key destination for AI investment, drawing growing global interest across infrastructure, platforms and applications, according to the Vietnam Investment Review.

Vietnam could export an estimated volume of 7.73 million tonnes of rice in 2026, with the bulk of supply coming from the Mekong Delta, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Although inflationary pressures in 2026 are not expected to be particularly high, several risks remain due to the volatility in global energy, fuel and commodity prices, experts have said.

Vietnam and the US have completed five rounds of negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement and are expected to hold another round next week, a senior Vietnamese trade official said on January 29.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has provided updated information on the oil discovery at the Hai Su Vang (HSV-2X) field in Block 15-2 of the Cuu Long Basin.

Interest rates in Vietnam are expected to continue rising and reach a peak in the first quarter of 2026 before gradually stabilising and edging lower to support economic growth.

Artificial intelligence, conversational commerce and cross-border shopping are set to reshape how Vietnamese businesses engage customers and scale sales on social media in 2026, according to Meta.

Vietnam’s GDP growth could reach 10 per cent in 2026 under an upside scenario, driven by strong infrastructure spending and resilient exports, according to VinaCapital.