2015 has been a successful year for attracting foreign direct investment in Vietnam, with a bright future expected for 2016.

Although Vietnam embarks upon its socio-economic development for the 2016-2020 period with a string of bright achievements under its belt, enterprises are still somewhat hampered by certain hurdles that must be resolved, says Professor Nguyen Mai, former vice chairman of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The four ports co-owned by Vinalines with foreign partners are either making huge losses or ceased operations.

As Vietnam joins the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade pacts, experts call for more effective credit solutions to assist Vietnamese farmers. 

Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the country’s third-largest lender by assets, is seeking governmental permission to cooperate with France’s Aeroport de Paris to jointly invest in Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

The buy-to-let trend has been sweeping across major cities in Vietnam, offering high yields and a stable investment strategy for buyers.

In recent years, the economy of the southern province of Kien Giang’s Phu Quoc island has boomed thanks to a wave of tourism investment. As a pioneer investor in Phu Quoc eco-tourism, Ronan Le Bihan, CEO of Mango Bay Resort, talked with VIR’s Nam Phuong about the bright future of tourism on the island, as well as its need for nature preservation.

The five-year dispute between Philip Morris Vietnam S.A and Vietnamese tax authorities over a US$4.8 million tax arrears obligation is boiling up, with the tobacco giant taking legal action against Vietnam’s tax agency.

Citi Vietnam recently kicked off a cycling programme in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City themed “Bike with Citi - Enjoy Eco-Life”, aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle and help raise awareness of climate change, sustainable development and environmental protection among the bank’s employees and customers in Vietnam.

Despite high expectations for a third wave of investment from Japan into Vietnam, Japanese investment figures have fallen in the past few years.