VIETNAM TARGETS 5,000 NEW AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES BY 2031
Vietnam aims to support the establishment of at least 5,000 agricultural enterprises during the 2026-2031 period as part of efforts to build a digital agriculture sector and more sustainable value chains. The target was announced at the ninth National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, which opened in Hanoi on June 8.
INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT POSTS STRONGEST FIVE-MONTH GROWTH IN FOUR YEARS
Industrial production rose 9.1% in the first five months of 2026 from a year earlier, marking the strongest growth for the period in four years, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance. The index of industrial production (IIP) increased in all 34 provinces and centrally governed cities during the January-May period.
OUTBOUND INVESTMENT JUMPS 2.5-FOLD
Vietnam’s outbound investment reached US$794.6 million in the first five months of 2026, up 2.5 times from a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance. The total comprised US$760.8 million in newly registered capital and US$33.8 million in additional capital for existing projects.
HCMC’S FDI JUMPS 20%, PUBLIC INVESTMENT LAGS
Ho Chi Minh City maintained solid economic growth in the first five months of 2026, with several key indicators posting strong gains, notably foreign direct investment (FDI), which increased 20.3% year-on-year. However, public investment disbursement remains a major bottleneck, reaching only 16.9% of the annual target. The figures were released by the HCMC government at a socioeconomic review meeting on June 4.
NEW MARKET ENTRANTS JUMP 42% IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS
Nearly 95,000 businesses were newly established in the first five months of 2026, up 42.1% from a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance. More than 94,800 new businesses were registered during the January-May period, with total committed capital of nearly VND1.07 quadrillion, an increase of 64.8% year-on-year.
OVER VND219 TRILLION IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT DISBURSED
As of May 31, Vietnam had disbursed VND219.358 trillion in public investment funds, equivalent to 21.6% of the annual plan. While the disbursement rate was unchanged from the same period last year, the result came against a record public investment target of VND1.08 quadrillion for 2026. In absolute terms, the amount disbursed was nearly VND34.82 trillion higher than a year earlier.
RETAIL SALES EXCEED VND3.18 QUADRILLION IN JAN-MAY
Vietnam’s retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reached an estimated VND3,185 trillion in the first five months of 2026, up 11.2% from a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office. Retail sales of goods accounted for the largest share, contributing 75.9% of the total revenue at VND2,418.1 trillion. Sales of petroleum products increased 12.7% from a year earlier, while garment sales rose 10.2% and food and foodstuff sales climbed 9.6%.
US$2.33 BILLION IN FOREIGN INVESTMENT FLOWS INTO HCMC THROUGH M&A DEALS
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including capital contributions, share purchases and equity stake acquisitions, brought US$2.33 billion in foreign investment into HCMC in the first five months of the year, accounting for more than 60% of total foreign capital inflows. According to the HCMC Statistics Office, the city attracted more than US$3.8 billion in foreign investment in the first five months of 2026, up 20.3% from the same period last year.
