Business News

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In the first quarter of the year, international arrivals amounted to 6.7 million, up 12.4% from a year earlier and the highest level on record. Domestic travel reached an estimated 37 million trips, with total tourism revenue at around VND267 trillion. Global developments pose risks. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven up fuel prices, increasing transport and tourism service costs.

Total outstanding loans in Vietnam’s banking system had reached over VND19.18 quadrillion in the year to March 31, up 3.18% against the end of 2025, with lending largely directed toward production and priority sectors, according to the State Bank of Vietnam. Data released at the central bank’s first-quarter press briefing on April 14 showed that several Government-backed lending programs have recorded notable disbursement progress. A credit package for the forestry and fisheries sectors has been expanded sharply, from VND15 trillion to VND185 trillion.

Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has secured a US$250-million sustainable financing package to support green agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), marking a major step in mobilizing international capital for priority sectors. The facility was arranged in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), alongside international partners including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Canada.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs on April 14 launched a national job exchange at vieclam.gov.vn, a key digital platform designed to directly connect more than 53.6 million workers with nearly one million businesses. The platform goes beyond a conventional job portal, positioning itself as a nationwide data-integrated ecosystem. Its technological highlight is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically analyze and match job vacancies with workers’ skills and experience.

Nguyen Thanh Nghi, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, was speaking at a national hybrid conference on April 13 as he presented the key contents of the resolution adopted at the second plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee on Vietnam’s socio-economic development plan, national financial strategy, public debt management, and medium-term public investment for 2026-2030.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to simultaneously break ground on seven major infrastructure projects worth a combined VND380 trillion on the occasion of Vietnam’s Reunification Day (April 30). The projects are highly expected to unlock public investment and fuel economic growth. To prepare for the simultaneous launch, relevant departments and authorities have worked to streamline administrative procedures while maintaining legal compliance, with the goal of meeting conditions for groundbreaking on the occasion of the national holiday.

Growth is projected at 7.2% in 2026 and 7% in 2027, remaining above 7% despite global risks, the Asian Development Bank reported. The forecast, published in the April 2026 Asian Development Outlook on April 10, is lower than the estimated 8% expansion in 2025 but reflects resilience to external shocks. ADB attributed the outlook to steady exports, especially ahead of potential U.S. tariff adjustments, along with stable domestic policies and continued investment.