Business News

Vietnam is no longer attracting investment solely because of its competitive costs. Today, global manufacturers are increasingly choosing Vietnam for its expanding industrial ecosystem, resilient supply chains and growing role in high-value sectors such as semiconductors, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

Vietnam's economy grew 8.18 percent in the first six months of 2026, the highest pace in 15 years, giving the country a solid foundation to pursue its target of double-digit GDP growth for the full year although significant challenges remain. Government Resolution No. 01/2026, issued in January, sets an official target of at least 10 percent GDP growth for 2026.

In the first half of 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports surpassed the US$2.3 billion mark, driven largely by booming demand from China and a lobster craze. But behind that growth figure lies a lopsided picture: Asia is carrying the load, while the U.S. and Europe have yet to break out. These days, a container of frozen shrimp leaving a Ho Chi Minh City port is more likely to cross the East Vietnam Sea to Shanghai than the Pacific to Los Angeles.

Vietnam's shrimp exports rose 14.2 percent year on year to US$2.35 billion in the first half of 2026, backed largely by strong demand from China and other Asian markets, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). In June alone, shrimp exports reached around $458 million, up 24 percent from the same month last year, VASEP statistics showed.

Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports rose 23 percent year on year in the first seven months of this year to an estimated US$4.76 billion, driven largely by durians, with the outlook expected to strengthen as rival producers' harvest seasons wind down. Fruit and vegetable exports exceeded $1 billion in July alone, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.

Vietnam is embracing the concept of an aviation economy, expanding the role of airports from transport infrastructure into integrated economic ecosystems. This shift is expected to drive growth by combining passenger and cargo transport with tourism, services, and urban development. The Vietnamese government’s recent directives linked to major infrastructure projects, including the Gia Binh International Airport project in Bac Ninh Province, have highlighted the new approach.

To meet its 2026 target of attracting approximately US$11 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), Ho Chi Minh City needs to secure at least an additional $3.5 billion in the second half of the year while prioritizing high-quality investors and high-value projects with strong spillover potential. Registered FDI in the city reached nearly $7.5 billion in the first six months, equivalent to 68 percent of the annual target,

European business confidence in Vietnam surged to 79.7 points in Q2 2026, according to the latest Business Confidence Index survey released by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) on Wednesday. With a sharp seven-point increase from 72.7 points in the first quarter, the index now sits just 0.3 points below the seven-year high of 80, recorded at the end of 2025.