The National Startup Project Development Programme (Startup Festival 2025) was held in Hanoi on December 20, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, universities/colleges, investors, and innovation supporters to honour outstanding startup projects of the year.

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Construction will shift its infrastructure development focus to the North–South high-speed railway after completing continuous expressway connectivity from Cao Bang to Ca Mau in 2025, marking a new strategic phase aimed at boosting economic growth and national transport capacity.

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference on December 20 to announce the establishment of Vietnam’s International Financial Centre (IFC), describing the move as a strategic breakthrough aligned with global financial restructuring and Vietnam’s national development aspirations.

Sun Group officially broke ground on the high-end integrated casino tourism services complex in Van Don Economic Zone, Quang Ninh province, on December 19.

The Tan Cang - Moc Bai inland container depot (ICD) (Phase 1) was officially put into operation at the Moc Bai Border Gate Economic Zone in the southern province of Tay Ninh on December 18, marking an important step in the development of logistics infrastructure and cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia.

VOV.VN -Vietnam’s import-export activity continued to gather pace in the first half of December 2025, bringing the country’s total trade turnover close to the record US$900 billion threshold and underscoring strong momentum in year-end trade.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s Hoa Phat Group on December 19 broke ground on a more than VND10 trillion (US$410 million) plant to produce high-speed rail tracks and special steel products, marking a major step toward domestic production of materials for the country’s planned rail infrastructure projects.

VOV.VN - Vietnam Airlines’ first commercial passenger flight landed at Long Thanh Airport on the morning of December 19, marking a key milestone in bringing Vietnam’s most modern gateway airport into operation.

As the global economy faces growing uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and rising trade protectionism, diversifying export markets has become an urgent priority for Vietnamese businesses.

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Singapore posted a record level of bilateral trade in the first 11 months of 2025, with total turnover reaching nearly SGD36 billion, driven largely by strong re-exports through Singapore, official data shows.

The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), on December 18 organised a workshop announcing a value chain map of the electronics and electrical sector.

VOV.VN - Vietnam is to simultaneously launch and inaugurate 234 major projects valued at VND 3.4 quadrillion across 34 provinces and cities nationwide on December 19, marking one of the largest coordinated infrastructure and development initiatives in the country’s history.

Although Vietnam has recorded strong economic performance in 2025, the country should adopt a more cautious stance in 2026, with a focus on infrastructure investment, productivity gains and market diversification to retain its position as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies.

The Vietnam International Gifts and Housewares Expo 2025 (IGHE 2025) opened on December 18 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring over 10,000 products from more than 250 domestic and international enterprises.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietjet Chairwoman, has been featured on Tatler’s Most Influential 2025 list, joining a distinguished group of leaders recognised for shaping public discourse, driving meaningful change, and creating lasting impact across Asia.

The International Baby Products and Toys Expo (IBTE) 2025 opened in Ho Chi Minh City on December 18, featuring more than 500 booths from over 250 companies from around the world, showcasing a wide range of baby products and toys.

VOV.VN - Vietnam has officially launched a five-year pilot program for its digital asset market, placing cybersecurity and transparent oversight at the center to manage risks while supporting sustainable development.

VinSpeed, an infrastructure arm of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, signed a strategic partnership and technology transfer agreement on high-speed rail development with Siemens Mobility GmbH, a subsidiary of Germany’s Siemens AG, in Hanoi on December 17.

A nationwide ceremony marking the simultaneous inauguration or ground-breaking of large-scale, strategically significant projects will take place at 79 locations across the country on December 19, coinciding with the 79th National Resistance Day and in celebration of the upcoming 14th National Party Congress.

The last five years have marked a turning point for Vietnam’s expressway network, as the country is set to achieve its target of 3,000km by the end of 2025 and moves steadily towards a 5,000km target by 2030.

VOV.VN - Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have strengthened their collaboration to support talent development in Vietnam, reaffirming their shared commitment to building future-ready capabilities for the finance and banking sector.

VOV.VN - Compared with traditional investment, impact investment goes beyond profit to generate positive social and environmental value. As new requirements push businesses to shift toward greener and more sustainable production models, impact investment is increasingly asserting itself as an inevitable direction.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s crab exports are expected to maintain growth in 2026, as the United States temporarily suspends its import ban, giving exporters time to standardise compliance documentation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Trade Office in India held a webinar titled “Promoting Vietnam-India Cooperation in Food and Beverage (F&B) at Indusfood,” attracting wide participation from businesses, industry associations, importers, and trade partners from both countries.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of Japan’s three core financial and banking institutions and among the world’s largest financial groups, has raised its forecast for Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 7.7% in 2025 and 8.2% in 2026, up from 6.9% and 7.4% projected in August.

Market inspectors uncovered more than 23,000 violations across Vietnam in 2025, collecting VND372 billion (US$14.3 million) in fines as authorities intensified enforcement against counterfeit products and online fraud.

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil has recently hosted a seminar on opportunities for developing the Vietnam-Brazil smart agriculture value chain both in person and online, featuring the participation of over 50 delegates from government agencies, research institutions, industry associations, and business communities of both countries.

VOV.VN - A national festival promoting One Commune-One Product (OCOP) is scheduled to take place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi from December 20 to 23, to foster rural economic development and global integration.

Policymakers, scientists, domestic and international experts, businesses and local communities gathered at a forum in Quang Tri on December 17 to exchange views on the sustainable use of marine resources, biodiversity conservation and marine ecosystem protection, with a view to promoting sustainable development.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s textile and garment exports are estimated to reach US$46 billion in 2025, up 5.6% year on year, helping the country maintain its position among the world’s top three textile and garment exporters, according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS).