VOV.VN - Vietnam’s textile and garment exports posted only marginal growth in early 2026, indicating a slower recovery in global demand despite maintaining an overall upward trend.

The Vung Ang II Thermal Power Plant was officially inaugurated on April 18 at the Vung Ang Economic Zone in the central province of Ha Tinh, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Vietnam’s energy security and supporting regional economic growth.

FDI capital in Vietnam is expected to continue growing positively, potentially reaching US$38-40 billion annually during the next five years, honorary chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Mai said.

VOV.VN - Imports of completely built-up (CBU) cars into Vietnam rose in the first quarter of 2026, led by trucks, pointing to recovering demand for freight transport and business activity. Indonesia, China and Thailand remained the three largest suppliers.

Vietnam has called on China to help maintain stable jet fuel supplies for its airlines as ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global energy supply chains.

Nearly 100 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables from Vietnam have been airlifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Lulu Group International, marking a new step in expanding the presence of Vietnamese farm produce in the Middle East market.

The World Coffee Heritage Forum officially opened at the World Coffee Museum in Dak Lak province on April 18, serving as a foundation for advancing international partnerships in the promotion of coffee heritage.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronic products and components rose 45.5% year on year to more than US$30.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring strong global demand despite ongoing market volatility, according to Vietnam Customs.

The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, together with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and partners, hosted a Vietnam – Singapore business networking programme on April 17, attracting more than 200 representatives from Singaporean regulatory bodies and industry associations.

VOV.VN - Vietnam is stepping up efforts to strengthen railway connectivity with China, as surging demand for passenger travel and cross-border trade puts increasing pressure on existing infrastructure.

VOV.VN - Remittances to Ho Chi Minh City declined significantly in the first quarter of 2026, reaching approximately US$2 billion, down 15.6% from the previous quarter and 16.9% year on year, according to the State Bank of Vietnam’s Regional Branch 2.

Vietnam will continue to serve as a bridge for Argentina to access the vast Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific markets, stated its Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet on April 17.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City has launched a state-backed venture capital fund aimed at accelerating startups in core technologies, marking a new model to mobilise both public and private capital for innovation.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City has proposed a VND3.15 trillion (about US$110 million) international cruise port in Vung Tau, as part of a broader list of investment projects for 2026–2030 aimed at boosting marine tourism and regional connectivity.

VOV.VN - The United Overseas Bank (UOB) has revised down its Vietnam GDP growth forecast for this year to 7.0% from 7.5%, citing an energy shock stemming from tensions in the Middle East.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports are expected to see robust growth as China officially opens its market to Vietnamese pomelo and lemon, just days after the first shipments of Vietnamese pomelo were dispatched to Australia.

Vietnam has officially met all requirements to be reclassified from a frontier market to a secondary emerging market, with the upgrade set to take effect starting with the FTSE Russell semi-annual review in September, marking a significant milestone in the country's capital market development.

Vietjet and SPDB Financial Leasing (SPDBFL), a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, have exchanged an agreement for the finance lease of 10 COMAC C909 aircraft, expanding financial and aviation cooperation between Vietnam and China.

VOV.VN - Gemadept Corporation, in partnership with leading French container shipping and logistics group CMA CGM, on April 17 broke ground on Phase 2 of the Gemalink deep-sea port at the Cai Mep–Thi Vai complex, a project with total investment of nearly VND8.4 trillion.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on April 17 launched a project to mobilize investment for climate-tech start-ups and SMEs, supporting the country’s net-zero transition.

The Quang Ninh Department of Construction and the US-based Northeast Maritime Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation for the Con Ong – Hon Net port area and the Quang Ninh Maritime Initiative, a move aimed at driving sustainable marine economic growth.

Chairman of the Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong met with representatives of 39 leading and major enterprises from Shanghai on April 16, as part of the provincial investment promotion conference held in China’s financial capital and the Asia-Pacific’s premier economic hub.

Vietnam and China are stepping up efforts to steer bilateral trade towards a more balanced and sustainable trajectory, with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung calling for a restructuring of production, trade, and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.

VOV.VN - Vietnam National Brand value has grown rapidly in recent years but is not yet strong, as the country still mainly participates in low-value segments of the global supply chain, focusing on processing, while capacity in design and building own brands remains limited.

A range of taxes on petrol, oil, and aviation fuel have been reduced to 0% under Resolution No. 19/2026/QH16 of the National Assembly, effective from 00:00 on April 16 through June 30, 2026.

VOV.VN - Hanoi convened a conference on April 16 to engage small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to implement Politburo Resolution 68 on private sector development while directly addressing bottlenecks and boosting sustainable business growth.

VOV.VN - Vietnam has initiated the process to negotiate its entry into the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA2), with the Chair of the Committee of Participants informing members of the decision at an informal meeting on April 15.

VOV.VN - Standard Chartered Vietnam has successfully structured and executed a cross-border environmental commodities transaction with Sustainability Investment Promotion and Development Joint Stock Company (SIPCO), a private company in Vietnam specialising in developing sustainable projects.

The 5th Ho Chi Minh City International Exhibition of Food and Beverages (HCMC FOODEX 2026) opened in the southern metropolis on April 15, featuring nearly 500 booths of 350 enterprises from 20 provinces and cities, as well as many countries and territories such as Japan, China, Singapore, and India.

A delegation from Japan’s Okayama City, led by Mayor Masao Omori, paid a working visit to the southern province of Tay Ninh on April 15, aiming to enhance exchanges and promote bilateral cooperation between the two localities.