Container freight rates are beginning to rise in Vietnam as geopolitical tensions and surging fuel costs disrupt global maritime transport, increasing pressure on shipping lines and logistics markets and signalling further volatility ahead.

The Ministry of Construction has proposed a range of measures to stabilise transport operations and logistics costs, as conflict in the Middle East is disrupting international aviation and shipping routes and pushing up global fuel prices.

Vietnamese company Alterno outpaced nearly 500 applicants from 79 countries to crash the top 15 at the SET Award 2026 ceremony in Berlin on March 17, an annual recognition of leading startups driving the sustainable energy transition.

Sixteen out of 18 national “.vn” domain names offered in the first auction session on March 18 were successfully sold. Auctions will continue on March 19 and 20, with 16 domain names available each day.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 441/QD-TTg approving a plan to implement Vietnam’s orientation for mobilising, managing and utilising official development assistance (ODA) and foreign concessional loans in the 2026–2030 period.

Vietnam’s coffee and tea chain market is valued at more than US$1.3 billion, making it the third largest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and Thailand, according to Singapore-based venture capital firm Momentum Works.

The Vietnam Trade Office in the US, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) held talks with the US National Fisheries Institute (NFI) representatives on March 16 to address regulatory challenges for seafood exports to the US, especially the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Vietnamese Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang held talks with Liu Jun, President, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in Hanoi on March 17 to discuss prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the financial and banking sectors.

VOV.VN - The Vietnam SPS Office said WTO members on March 17 issued 104 notifications related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, including 65 draft measures and 39 in force, focusing on tightening import standards for agricultural and food products.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s property market is a bright spot in Southeast Asia’s strong rebound thanks to strong economic growth and a shift of smart capital into new segments such as digital infrastructure and industrial assets. Total real estate transactions in the region reached US$21.8 billion in 2025.

Crude oil supplies for domestic refineries have been maintained, and petrol supplies for the coming months remain secure, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said while chairing a meeting in Hanoi on March 17 with the task force for energy security.

Viettel Group has partnered with NVIDIA to develop a sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem in Vietnam, focusing on high-performance computing infrastructure and the development of Vietnamese AI foundation models.

Representatives from businesses and industry associations met in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17 to discuss measures to ease pressures on production and trade, and stablise the domestic market amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The 35th Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2026), one of the country’s most prestigious and long-established events of its kind, will be held from April 8 – 11 at the Vietnam Exposition Centre in Hanoi's Dong Anh commune.

VOV.VN - The State needs to build a national strategic petroleum reserve system, as most petroleum reserves in Vietnam are currently held by key traders under commercial obligations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a dispatch outlining a series of tasks and solutions to accelerate export growth in 2026 amid mounting global uncertainties.

Vietnam Airlines announced on March 17 that it will change its operating terminals at several international airports starting from late March in a move to improve service quality, enhance passenger experience and support its goal of becoming a five-star international airline by 2030.

A delegation from the Thai Embassy in Vietnam led by Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya paid a working visit to Phu Tho and attended a seminar exploring investment opportunities in the northern province on March 16.

Deposit interest rates across many terms, particularly medium and long terms, have continued to rise over the past week as banks compete to attract savings.

Vietnam and Switzerland have reaffirmed their determination to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), aiming to largely wrap up discussions during the 20th negotiation round in Hanoi, officials said on March 16.

Airports in Vietnam are set for a digital connectivity boost as Ericsson and VNPT join forces to deliver next-generation mobile infrastructure for major airport projects across the country.

VOV.VN - BIM Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate, has followed a strategy of investing early in markets still at an early stage, from Ha Long city in northern Vietnam to Phu Quoc island in southern Vietnam.

VOV.VN - The People’s Committee of Da Nang has selected a consortium comprising Hateco Group, Hateco Port Company Limited, and APM Terminals B.V. of the Netherlands to implement the Lien Chieu Container Port Master Plan Project.

VOV.VN - Standard Chartered has been recognised as the Best Trade Finance Provider 2026 in Vietnam by Global Finance Magazine, making the third consecutive year the Bank has received this recognition.

VOV.VN - Hanoi is considering the development of two financial centres as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen the capital’s role in national and regional financial services.

Amid geopolitical conflicts and policy changes in raw cashew-supplying countries, the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) forecasts a challenging 2026 and has set a target for Vietnam’s cashew kernel exports of around 800,000 tonnes, worth about US$5 billion.

Vietnam’s wood processing industry is stepping up efforts to enhance its export value by investing in technology, green production, and product design while diversifying markets to strengthen competitiveness in the global market.

VOV.VN - Exports of Vietnamese fragrant rice continue to receive certification for export to the European Union (EU), showing that Vietnamese rice is strengthening its presence in one of the world’s most demanding markets.

VOV.VN - Vietnamese energy companies have taken steps to secure supply and stabilize the domestic market as tensions in the Middle East raise concerns about disruptions to global oil flows.

The European Commission has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of coiled copper tubes and pipes from Vietnam and several other countries, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.