Business News

Vietnam’s economy saw a series of landmark developments in 2025, from major policy decisions and administrative reforms to infrastructure milestones and the establishment of an international financial center. These events, highlighted in a year-end review by Kinh Te Saigon Online, have laid the groundwork for stronger, more resilient growth in the years ahead.

Visitors have spent more than VND134 trillion in Hanoi City in 2025, as the city has posted record tourist arrivals, according to the city’s Department of Tourism. The capital city has welcomed an estimated 33.7 million visitors during the year, including more than 7.8 million international arrivals, according to the department’s report released on December 25. All key indicators rose by over 20% compared to 2024.

Revenue from Hanoi City’s high-tech parks and industrial zones is expected to reach about US$12.14 billion in 2025, reported the Vietnam News Agency. Budget contributions are projected at US$450 million, while exports are forecast at US$7.42 billion. The figures were announced at a dialogue conference held at the National Innovation Center in the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park on December 24. 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into HCMC has risen more than 24% in 2025 from a year earlier, reaching nearly US$8.37 billion, the city’s Department of Finance said on December 25. The increase included newly licensed projects, capital expansions and capital contributions through share purchases. The number of foreign investment transactions rose 19% year-on-year, while total registered capital increased 24.2%.

Vietnam’s total import-export turnover has surpassed US$900 billion for the first time, marking a historic milestone as full-year turnover is expected to reach around US$920 billion in all of 2025, according to the Department of Vietnam Customs. At a ceremony held today, December 25, the customs authority officially confirmed that Vietnam’s total trade had exceeded the US$900-billion threshold, the highest level ever recorded for the country’s merchandise trade.

Vietnam’s tourism industry aims to attract 25 million international visitors in 2026, building on strong growth and record performance in 2025, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT). The target was announced at a conference held on December 24 to review the sector’s 2025 performance and outline tasks for 2026.

Credit growth in December alone is estimated at about 0.95% compared with November, bringing the year-to-date increase to 12.43% by the end of November. Total deposits in the city are estimated at around VND5.17 quadrillion, up 11.94% year-on-year. By the end of November, deposits had risen 10.83% compared with the end of 2024, a level regulators described as relatively solid.

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports have reached a record high of more than US$8.5 billion in 2025, driven largely by durian shipments and a strong recovery in demand from China. According to estimates from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit), export revenue in December 2025 is about US$795 million, lifting full-year exports to above US$8.5 billion, the highest level ever recorded for the sector.