Total outstanding loans of credit institutions in HCM City were estimated at VNĐ5.08 quadrillion (US$193.1 billion) as of December 31 this year, up 0.95 per cent from November and 13.5 per cent compared with the end of 2024, according to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Việt Nam’s amended Law on Geology and Minerals aims to boost high-tech investment and deep processing, but businesses urge clear regulations and simplified procedures to ensure effective implementation.

The total market value is expected to grow from around US$2.7 billion in 2015 to approximately $8 billion by 2026, making Việt Nam one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets in Asia.

The new regulation aims to diversify investment products while enhancing investor protection and risk management mechanisms in the continuously evolving financial market.

Data from the General Department of Customs show that in November, Việt Nam imported around 18,350 completely built-up (CBU) vehicles worth more than US$455 million. This marked a 12.3 per cent increase in volume compared with October and represented the highest monthly total since August.

Businesses in HCM City have stockpiled consumer goods worth VNĐ30 trillion (US$1.1 billion) for the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tết), the highest value ever, to ensure ample supply and price stability, according to its Department of Industry and Trade.

The market witnessed dramatic developments last week, highlighted by the benchmark VN-Index's unpredictable performance.

The shipment consisted of machinery and equipment valued at US$4.5 million, with taxes paid totaling VNĐ9.9 billion ($380,770).

The Ministry of Industry and Trade held a working session with the HCM City People's Committee on December 31 to discuss preparations for the second National Fair – Spring 2026, an event expected to become a key platform for integrated trade, investment and cultural promotion.

The purpose is to support statistical compilation and assessment of the current status and effectiveness of the sector’s development during the year.

As global economic conditions remain volatile, Việt Nam faces the dual task of maintaining macroeconomic stability while creating enough space for high and sustainable growth in 2026 and the years ahead.

Science and technology have been identified as a decisive driver of urban economic growth, as highlighted at a conference reviewing the outcomes of the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum held in HCM City on December 31.

The sixth ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN) is scheduled to take place in Hà Nội from January 12-16, 2026, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on December 31 attended a conference reviewing the performance of the agriculture and environment sector in 2025 and the 2021–25 period, and outlining tasks for 2026.

Việt Nam has become the world’s first country to produce and export low-emission rice. 

The last trading session of 2025 concluded with the VN-Index settling near its historical peak close to the 1,800 mark.

A year-end surge in agricultural imports from Cambodia has been causing congestion at the Xa Mát International Border Gate in Tây Ninh Province, causing big losses to import–export businesses and disrupting daily life in its vicinity.

Pakistan has allowed nearly 500 containers of tea of Việt Nam stuck at Karachi Port due to regional tensions to be re-exported, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Wednesday.

At a recent tourism dialogue conference organised by the HCM City Department of Tourism, businesses raised concerns over regulatory bottlenecks, costs and infrastructure, while calling for clearer policy direction to support future tourism growth.

Việt Nam placed 16th globally in operational efficiency among 101 economies assessed in the World Bank's Business Ready 2025 report.