Vietnam is stepping up efforts to secure a sovereign credit rating upgrade and deepen access to global capital, with HSBC expected to play a key advisory role in the process.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ho Chi Minh City is estimated at nearly US$2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a surge of more than 200% from a year earlier, underscoring resilient investor interest despite global uncertainty, city officials said.

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration has proposed measures to support Vietnamese vessels and seafarers transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the Middle East, while urging shipping and logistics firms to keep freight rates stable and avoid unreasonable surcharges.

VOV.VN - Ground was broken on March 29 for the Tam Anh- An An Hoa Industrial Park in the central city of Da Nang, a project with total investment of more than VND4.15 trillion, marking the 51st anniversary of the city’s liberation (March 29, 1975- March 29, 2026).

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Embassy in Denmark, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and FPT Nordics, organised a business dialogue themed "Advancing high-quality investment in Vietnam" on the occasion of a working visit by a Ministry of Finance delegation led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Duc Tam.

VOV.VN - Gia Lai province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands on March 29 signed a cooperation agreement for the 2026–2030 period with four southern Lao provinces, including Attapeu, Champasak, Salavan and Sekong.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued Decision No. 483/QD-TTg approving an additional VND8 trillion (US$303.74 million) from the 2026 State budget estimate for advance funding for the fuel price stabilisation fund.

The Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV) under the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform has submitted seven groups of solutions to the Prime Minister for consideration to help enterprises cope with the impacts of the Middle East conflict.

VOV.VN - Gia Lai, a Central Highlands province of Vietnam, attracted nearly 300 projects worth more than US$33 billion at its 2026 investment promotion conference held on March 28 under the theme “Gia Lai -Transforming the growth model in the digital era”.

Vietnam has established an appraisal council to review proposed changes to the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power project.

Ho Chi Minh City has recorded a notable improvement in global financial centre rankings amid intensifying competition among financial hubs worldwide.

VOV.VN - HCMC FOODEX 2026, the 5th Ho Chi Minh City International Food and Foodstuff Exhibition, will take place from April 15 to 18 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) under the theme “Global Flavours -Vietnamese Values”.

VOV.VN - Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has expressed his wish that the San Francisco administration continue to support cooperation and encourage local investors, businesses and financial institutions to invest in the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC).

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has urged ministries, sectors, and coastal localities to tighten management and take decisive measures to address shortcomings in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, following the latest recommendations by the European Commission (EC).

A workshop held on March 26–27 discussed solutions to improve power system dispatch capacity amid Vietnam’s ongoing energy transition.

Vietnam possesses the fundamental conditions to become a very strong independent fuel and energy country, but it needs clear long-term targets and stable policy commitments to fully realise this potential, an Australian energy expert has said.

VOV.VN - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh on March 27 received an agricultural delegation from Guangxi led by Xu Xianhui, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, during their working visit to the city.

VOV.VN - The United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with national partners, convened a technical meeting on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to discuss international experience and compliance strategies for Vietnam’s aviation sector.

Vietnam has temporarily cut environmental protection tax on petrol, diesel and jet fuel to zero under a decision signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as the Government moves to stabilise the domestic fuel market and safeguard energy security.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has granted permission to Qatar Airways to operate three combined flights on the Doha–Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route.

VOV.VN - The Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations on the morning of March 27 signed a second round of memoranda of understanding with six international organisations, under which the organisations committed nearly US$2.79 million in funding.

VOV.VN - Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, has set a target of average gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 11% a year for 2026-2030 after recording positive results in the 2021-2025 period.

The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho is focusing on industry-linked energy development, actively seeking international partners, including a consortium of China Harbour Engineering Company (Vietnam) and Shenzhen Energy Group, according to Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee.

VOV.VN -The trade office in Algeria on March 26 held an export consultation session for more than 40 Vietnamese agencies and businesses, outlining opportunities in Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has reaffirmed Vietnam’s policy of encouraging international energy groups, including those from the Republic of Korea (RoK), to step up investment in renewable energy, while ensuring a fair and transparent business environment in line with Vietnamese law.

A nationwide push to strengthen consumer protection will gather pace in the southern province of Khanh Hoa from March 27 to 29, as the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) leads this year’s activities marking Vietnam Consumer Rights Day 2026.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City is stepping up efforts to diversify its energy supply and build a more self-reliant system, as global fuel market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions continues to pose risks to energy security.

Vietnam’s exports of squid and octopus reached more than US$111 million in the first two months of 2026, up 23% year on year, reflecting a positive start for the sector and early signs of recovering demand across several markets.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade convened a conference on March 26 to hammer out the details of the Prime Minister’s directive accelerating the switch to E10 RON95 biofuel, with the goal of reviving idle ethanol plants and ramping up domestic output to support the nationwide phase-out of mineral gasoline.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways, the airline of Sun Group, has successfully hosted the “Phu Quoc - Your Ultimate Escape” seminar, combined with the official launch of its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the Republic of Korea (RoK).