Vietnam earned some 15.66 billion USD from agro-forestry-aquatic product exports in the first four months of 2023, down 13.3% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Petrol prices were reduced in the latest adjustment from 15:00 on May 4 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Finance.

Green transition in Vietnam would require new investments in at least 60% of the country's infrastructure, according to PwC.

The average retail price of electricity increases 3% to 1,920.373 VND (0.082 USD) per kWh from May 4, following a decision by the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on adjusting the electricity retail prices.

Airports in Vietnam served nearly 37 million passengers in the first four months of this year, up 55% compared to the same period of last year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Vietnam spent over 21.1 billion USD importing mobile phones and components last year, a decrease of 1.6% from 2021, accounting for 5.9% of the country’s total import turnover.

Vietnam’s export-import value in the first four months of this year was estimated at 210.79 billion USD, down 13.6% year-on-year, with a trade surplus of 6.35 billion USD, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

In the first four months of this year, Vietnam saw 41 new projects abroad licensed with the investment from Vietnam reaching 140 million USD, a decline of 51% compared with that of the same period last year.

Retail petrol prices in Vietnam are forecast to be revised down in the adjustment on May 4 following falling prices in the world market.

The Government has proposed the National Assembly (NA) to consider a 2% reduction in the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services subject to a 10% VAT during its coming meeting stated to start on May 22.

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 23,635 VND/USD on May 4, down 4 VND from the previous day.

The northern province of Thai Nguyen is planning to establish 16 new industrial zones and industrial clusters from now until 2030.

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has recorded sharp rises in the numbers of international flights and passengers during the holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, National Reunification and International Labour Day from April 29 to May 3.

Drastic measures are needed for Ho Chi Minh City – the country’s largest economic hub - to address a series of problems in a bid to speed up recovery, experts have said.

With the Government’s initiatives to address disappointing GDP growth in the first quarter and the fact that foreign companies’ orders are likely to increase in the second half of the year, the economy is expected to rebound then, Michael Kokalari, chief economist at investment fund VinaCapital, has said.

Vietnam will focus on developing its private sector to turn it into an important driving force for the socialist-oriented market economy, contributing to rapid and sustainable socio-economic development and improving the economy's self-reliance.

The coffee industry of Vietnam is working to increase the value of raw coffee exports as low added value still makes up the majority of the product that is shipped overseas.

Container shipping in Vietnam and Cambodia had the fastest port turnaround times in ASEAN in June 2022 with both countries scoring an average of 0.9 days, according to a World Bank (WB) report.

In the current context of worsening air pollution, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an inevitable trend in the global automobile industry, and Vietnam is no exception. In particular, Vietnam is considered a high-potential market for electric cars in the near future.

A forum on opportunities for Vietnamese handicraft products has taken place as part of the MIDA – Florence International Crafts Fair 2023, which runs in Italy from April 25 to May 1.