Southern key economic region accelerates drive to attract high-quality FDI

When Airbus issued an urgent technical alert at 11:00 p.m. on November 28, Vietjet was thrust into one of the most time-critical operational challenges in its history. ​

The Made in Vietnam Fair will showcase a wide range of products, including industrial and consumer goods, processed foods, agricultural produce and handicrafts, with the participation of distribution systems, e-commerce platforms, digital platforms and digital financial solution providers operating in Vietnam.

Three flights operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways will make the first official “inaugural landings” at Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai on December 19.

During the year, the SSC made significant progress in improving the legal and policy framework. Institutional work was implemented in a coordinated manner, including the issuance of two decrees, one resolution, seven circulars and three major schemes. At the same time, the regulator strengthened policy dialogue and expanded cooperation with international organisations to support the market upgrade process.

As production relocation to Southeast Asia accelerates and competition for FDI intensifies, Vietnam faces increasing pressure from regional rivals such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia, which are offering bold tax incentives and developing specialised industrial parks. This reality requires Vietnam to shift its focus from attracting large volumes of capital to drawing high-quality investment, prioritising core technologies, innovation, value chain linkages and higher localisation rates.

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 25,141 VND/USD on December 16, down 3 VND from the previous day.

Vietnam’s real estate market is currently driven by real demand, transparent legal frameworks, and a more positive foundation thanks to new legal corridors, with expectations of a clear recovery in 2026.

HCM City currently has 4,475 fishing vessels, all of which have been registered and updated on the VNFishbase system. Among them, 4,268 vessels, or 95.37%, have been granted fishing licences, while 207 unqualified vessels are being strictly managed and kept ashore.

A seminar was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 15, aiming to explore ways for fostering Vietnam's trade with the two Northeast Asian countries.

After landing, the aircraft was greeted with a traditional water salute from two fire tenders to welcome the first aircraft plane to land safely at the new airport.

The VinFast Subang plant was completed and put into operation just 17 months after groundbreaking, demonstrating the company's rapid execution capability and strong implementation capacity. This is VinFast's fourth operational facility worldwide, and its first plant in Indonesia and Southeast Asia outside of Vietnam.

From 2021 to 2025, assistance reached more than 6,400 enterprises in adopting productivity and quality enhancement solutions, while 102 pilot models were rolled out, hitting targets five years ahead of schedule.

The event will open direct entry to Vietnam’s rapidly expanding textile and garment market, providing a platform to connect with thousands of prospective buyers, promote global brands and forge strategic partnerships across Asia.

The timely addition boosts capacity for the carrier and advances its fleet rebuilding effort since returning to management under FLC Group.

From early December, major retail chains in the city have recorded a noticeable increase in shoppers seeking Tet products. Many consumers are taking advantage of promotional programmes to purchase gift items with long shelf lives, such as confectionery, soft drinks and processed foods, well ahead of the holiday peak.

With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 26,401 VND/USD, and the floor rate 23,887 VND/USD.

Vietnam's exports rose 16.1% to 430.2 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025, while total trade hit 839.8 billion USD during the same period. This strong performance shows that exports remain a key driver of economic growth, boosting Vietnam's standing on the world stage in recent years.

Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province has a total investment of over 16 billion USD, divided into three phases. Construction of the first phase, estimated to cost 5.4 billion USD, began in 2020. Once operational, it is expected to handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo each year.

Handling the 2 millionth TEU in 2025 not only demonstrates Hai Phong Port’s operational capacity and the collective efforts of its workforce, but also highlights its increasingly important role in regional and global supply chains, the confidence of shipping lines, logistics firms and the business community, and the effectiveness of policies to improve the investment climate and strengthen maritime infrastructure and services.

As the Government accelerates the digital economy, establishing a unified national traceability system has become a crucial move to end data fragmentation and disconnection among ministries, sectors and localities.