Business News

Hanoi City aims for its nighttime economy to contribute around 5% of the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) by 2030 under a new development plan approved by the municipal government. The Hanoi People’s Committee approved the plan for 2026-2030, with a vision to 2045, on May 9. The city expects the nighttime economy to become a new growth driver for its service and tourism sectors.

HCMC has ordered agencies and local authorities to accelerate public investment disbursement, which reached a mere 10.5% of the full-year target in the first four months of the year. The city aims to fully disburse its record VND147.6 trillion public investment plan this year by removing bottlenecks related to land clearance, administrative procedures and construction, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnam has brought more than 3,800 kilometers of expressways into operation and technical service, marking a significant step forward in the development of the country’s traffic infrastructure network. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Construction, Vietnam’s transport infrastructure network is being gradually completed in line with national planning. Of the total expressway length, about 3,345 kilometers are main expressway routes, while 458 kilometers consist of interchanges and access roads.

Credit in Vietnam has grown strongly this year, with total outstanding loans in the banking system surpassing VND19.4 quadrillion, up more than 4% from the end of 2025. Data recently released by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) showed that the current credit structure has shifted in line with the broader economy. The service sector accounts for the largest share of the outstanding loans, at around 70.5%, followed by industry and construction at 23.5%, and agriculture at about 6%.

Foreign investment into HCMC more than doubled in the first four months of 2026, while new business registrations surged, as Vietnam’s commercial hub accelerated reforms to achieve double-digit economic growth. Hoang Vu Thanh, director of HCMC’s Department of Finance, said at a meeting on May 8 that the city had attracted nearly US$3.3 billion in foreign investment since the start of the year, skyrocketing 127.1% year-on-year and equivalent to about 30.2% of its full-year target.

HCMC is aiming to collect VND1 quadrillion in budget revenue this year while accelerating administrative reforms, infrastructure investment, foreign direct investment inflows, and growth drivers from consumption, tourism, industry, and trade. The HCMC People’s Committee has issued a directive urging departments and local authorities to swiftly roll out key measures and urgent solutions aimed at supporting the city’s double digit economic growth target for 2026.

The Vietnam State Treasury raised a total of VND125.6 trillion worth of Government bonds (G-bonds) in the first four months of the year, fulfilling 41% of its second quarter issuance plan and 25% of its full-year target. The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) said it had organized 20 G-bond auctions in April on behalf of the State Treasury, successfully mobilizing nearly VND45.5 trillion, skyrocketing 132% against the previous month.

HCMC reported strong budget revenue growth in the first four months of 2026, with collections exceeding VND328 trillion, equivalent to 40.6% of the annual target and up nearly 19% year-on-year. The results reflected a positive recovery in business and production activities as well as investment inflows into the city. Domestic revenue continued to play the leading role, with estimated collections reaching VND251.9 trillion, up 23.1% year-on-year and accounting for 76.8% of total balanced budget revenue, according to the HCMC Statistics Office.