VIETNAM: NEW ERA

With its pristine beauty and historical importance, the Bach Long Vi island district in the northern port city of Hai Phong is not only home to fishermen, youth volunteers, and residents who have volunteered to stay on the island, but also serves as a “landmark” affirming Vietnam’s sacred and inviolable sea and island sovereignty.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Japan's Yamato Holdings to invest in logistics centres in Vietnam, while receiving its Executive Officer and President Nagao Yutaka in Hanoi on February 17.

MARD’s supply and demand report sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) projects the Mekong Delta will cultivate 3.78 million hectares of rice, yielding more than 23.96 million tonnes. Of this, 15.08 million tonnes of commercial rice, equivalent to 7.54 million tonnes of husked rice, will be available for export.

Vietnam's foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction has shown a positive start in the first month of 2025, sparking hopes for a significant influx of investment in the coming time.

The year 2025 marks a crucial phase, bringing new momentum and enthusiasm as the country enters a period of robust development.

According to Resolution No. 25/NQ-CP dated February 5, 2025, on sectoral, industrial, and regional growth objectives, the Government has set specific growth targets to ensure that the national economy expands by at least 8% in 2025.

The US is now Vietnam's fifth-largest import market, with five import categories exceed 1 billion USD, namely chemicals, animal feed, plastics, materials, and machinery.

VinFast on February 13 introduced its VF 3 mini-SUV at the Indonesia International Motor Show 2025, along with a free charging policy for EV users at VinFast-operated V-GREEN stations across Indonesia.

Vietnam has introduced regulations to simplify investment procedures, making it easier for foreign firms to establish long-term operations in the country.

The surge in AI demand is significantly impacting plans on data centre investment and expansion in Vietnam as global tech giants and local players are racing to capture the market.

Vibrant offering trays featuring lotus-shaped cakes, sticky rice, and sweet soups have become a trending choice for families celebrating this year’s Tet Nguyen Tieu.

In January 2025, seven export items exceeded 1 billion USD in turnover, accounting for 67.9% of the country's total export value.

The Deputy PM affirmed Vietnam as a safe and attractive destination for international investors. In 2024, it ranked among the world's top 15 developing nations in foreign investment attraction, securing approximately 40 billion USD, with disbursed foreign direct investment reaching some 25 billion USD.

In January 2025, Vietnamese investors launched 10 new overseas projects without any capital adjustment. Vietnam’s total outbound investment reached over 83 million USD, more than 5.1 times higher than the same period in 2024.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for transformative solutions for science, technology, innovation, and high-quality human resources to become driving forces for the nation’s rapid and sustainable development, while presiding over a conference in Hanoi on February 11.

Vietnam’s digital transformation is progressing at an unprecedented pace, with the country’s digital economy growing by over 20 per cent annually, making it the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia.

More than 4.33 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) was funnelled into Vietnam in January, a year-on-year surge of 48.6%, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The friendship between Vietnam and China, cultivated by generations of leaders and widely supported by both countries' people, must be passed down and adapted to modern times to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) in January fell 9.2% against the previous month and inched up 0.6% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In Abyei, a region between Sudan and South Sudan known as Africa’s “furnace,” temperatures regularly soar to nearly 40°C. The land is dry, infertile, and difficult to cultivate. Yet, Vietnamese military engineers have managed to grow thriving vegetable gardens in the heart of this harsh desert.