Ho Chi Minh City tops the nation in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, 30 years since the first foreign investor was allowed to operate in Vietnam on January 1, 1988.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), over the three decades, the city has granted investment licences to 7,494 projects worth US$44.5 billion, accounting for 13.9% of the nation’s total FDI.
During the period, the largest economic hub of Vietnam has sometimes lost its top position, but was always in the top ten localities attracting the most foreign investment.
The result has been aided by billion-US dollar projects, which, experts said, have helped form the first models for FDI attraction in Vietnam. Tan Thuan export processing zone was the first model that the city created. Since its formation in 1991, Tan Thuan has attracted more than 100 investors, and generated big production and export values yearly.
Export processing zones and industrial parks in the city have helped turn more than 3,500 hectares of agricultural soil contaminated with alum and salinity into well-equipped industrial zones, creating jobs for about 250,000 labourers.
Ho Chi Minh City also became the first locality to welcome big names like Intel, Samsung, Toshiba, Mercedes, Isuzu and Nidec, creating breakthroughs in production and development.
The FIA said that the city continued leading the nation in FDI attraction in the first quarter of this year, with a total of US$1.7 billion – a fourfold increase compared with the same period last year.
Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Su Ngoc Anh said that the number of projects and investment capital will continue to rise in the rest of this year.
He emphasised share purchases, as this type of investment enjoyed a fivefold increase against the same period last year, with a focus on real estate, science and technology and tourism.
Therefore, in the future, the city will facilitate foreign investors, who want to contribute capital to or buy shares of Vietnamese businesses by offering online registration.
Anh added that the city will consider measures to attract more investment in real estate, science and technology and tourism, while seeking to create an equally competitive investment environment.
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A recent PM directive set a May 10 deadline for ministries, agencies and localities to complete detailed allocations of the 2026 public investment capital plan.
A Party official has urged the Vietnamese business community to improve corporate governance, technological capacity, production standards, workforce quality and international connectivity to strengthen ties with the FDI sector.
The White Book provides a comprehensive overview of Vietnam’s current tax system in line with international practices, including direct taxes, indirect taxes and sector-specific levies.
The 12th Africa Forum for Investment & Commerce (AFIC 12) opened in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on May 9, drawing around 2,000 participants, including officials, economists, businesses, financial and development organizagtions from 43 African countries and international partners, including Vietnam.
According to Dr. Bui Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Office of the Private Economic Development Research Board under the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, Resolution 68 has helped foster a stronger entrepreneurial spirit through a series of concrete policy measures.
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The province is tightening maritime governance, with a focus on May–June 2026 to finalise a more robust legal framework and close loopholes for illegal fishing.
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The update by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to its Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) on April 10, officially setting out import conditions for Vietnamese pomelos, is regarded as a major milestone in market access efforts.
Structured in two steps and three phases, the roadmap envisions a gradual shift from partial to full relocation of international flights, aligned with infrastructure readiness and the long-term ambition of building a regional aviation hub.
The circular economy is no longer just a policy choice. It has become an inevitable trend for delivering sustainable and green growth, sharpening competitiveness at home and abroad, and meeting Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. It is now a prerequisite to sustain long-term economic expansion, particularly in industrial production and supporting industries.
Vietnamese fresh produce and processed foods are increasingly recognised for their quality, with items such as cashew nuts, coffee and spices gaining popularity among Middle East consumers. In 2025, Vietnam’s farm produce exports to the UAE exceeded 445 million USD, up nearly 24% year-on-year.