Business News

Vietnam’s fast-growing beauty and personal care market is attracting thousands of international brands, with a major industry exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City bringing together more than 3,000 brands from over 24 countries and territories. The Vietbeauty, Cosmobeauté Vietnam and Beautycare Plus 2026 exhibitions officially opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, bringing together 600 exhibitors from Japan, South Korea, the United States, France, Singapore and Vietnam, among others.

Vietnam has approved a development plan through 2035 for its international financial centers, with the one in Ho Chi Minh City positioned as a comprehensive global financial hub. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, chairman of the governing board of the Vietnam International Financial Center, has signed the decision approving the development plan.

Vietnam’s crude steel production rose 26.9 percent year on year to 15.18 million metric tons in the first half of 2026, supported by stronger infrastructure spending, construction activity and a recovering property market, industry data showed. The expansion far outpaced growth of 11.4 percent in manufacturing and 9.51 percent in construction, according to the Vietnam Steel Association, or VSA.

Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly looking beyond domestic borders to scale on the international stage. HKBAV is proud to support the exclusive Outbound Investment Forum "Vietnam Go Global - Mastering Outbound Investments & Expansion from Local to Global", bringing together influential corporate decision-makers, global investors, and financial experts to navigate the practicalities of cross-border expansion!

Vietnam stands at a pivotal inflection point as global supply chains reconfigure and capital seeks resilient, innovation-driven markets. HKBAV is proud to support the exclusive Inbound Investment Forum "Vietnam Rising Star: Connecting Global Capital to Vietnam's High-Growth Frontiers", bringing together global investors, corporate decision-makers, and financial experts to unlock the next wave of foreign direct investment and strategic M&A opportunities in Vietnam!

Vietnam is no longer attracting investment solely because of its competitive costs. Today, global manufacturers are increasingly choosing Vietnam for its expanding industrial ecosystem, resilient supply chains and growing role in high-value sectors such as semiconductors, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

Vietnam's economy grew 8.18 percent in the first six months of 2026, the highest pace in 15 years, giving the country a solid foundation to pursue its target of double-digit GDP growth for the full year although significant challenges remain. Government Resolution No. 01/2026, issued in January, sets an official target of at least 10 percent GDP growth for 2026.

In the first half of 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports surpassed the US$2.3 billion mark, driven largely by booming demand from China and a lobster craze. But behind that growth figure lies a lopsided picture: Asia is carrying the load, while the U.S. and Europe have yet to break out. These days, a container of frozen shrimp leaving a Ho Chi Minh City port is more likely to cross the East Vietnam Sea to Shanghai than the Pacific to Los Angeles.