Business News

Hanoi City reported record-high state budget revenue of VND704.6 trillion in 2025, up more than 37% from the previous year, according to the city’s official portal. This marked the first time the capital’s annual budget revenue surpassed the VND700-trillion mark. The figure also exceeded the assigned estimate by more than 37%, making Hanoi the second-largest budget contributor nationwide after HCMC, which collected over VND800 trillion.

Vietnam’s economy expanded by 8.02% in 2025, marking the second-fastest growth rate in the 2011–2025 period, driven mainly by services and industrial production, official data showed on January 5. According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, gross domestic product (GDP) grew 8.46% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, the strongest quarterly performance since 2021. 

HCMC recorded total budget revenue of VND800.043 trillion by December 31, 2025, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s top revenue contributor. According to the HCMC Department of Finance, the figure exceeded the central government’s target by 19.1% and the city People’s Council’s estimate by 14.7%. Hanoi ranked second with VND704.579 trillion in revenue, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

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.

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 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.

As of December 15, Vietnam’s total trade turnover stood at US$883.7 billion, according to the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Export growth in 2025 has been particularly strong, with export value forecast to exceed US$470 billion, up 16% from 2024, the Vietnam News Agency reported.