HCMC SET TO START WORK ON SEVEN MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Ho Chi Minh City plans to simultaneously break ground on seven major infrastructure projects worth a combined VND380 trillion on the occasion of Vietnam’s Reunification Day (April 30). The projects are highly expected to unlock public investment and fuel economic growth. To prepare for the simultaneous launch, relevant departments and authorities have worked to streamline administrative procedures while maintaining legal compliance, with the goal of meeting conditions for groundbreaking on the occasion of the national holiday.
ADB FORECASTS VIETNAM GROWTH ABOVE 7% THROUGH 2027
Growth is projected at 7.2% in 2026 and 7% in 2027, remaining above 7% despite global risks, the Asian Development Bank reported. The forecast, published in the April 2026 Asian Development Outlook on April 10, is lower than the estimated 8% expansion in 2025 but reflects resilience to external shocks. ADB attributed the outlook to steady exports, especially ahead of potential U.S. tariff adjustments, along with stable domestic policies and continued investment.
VIETNAM GETS US$2.64 BILLION FROM SEAFOOD EXPORTS IN Q1
Vietnam’s seafood sector booked around US$927 million in export revenue in March, bringing the total in the first quarter of this year to US$2.64 billion, showed data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). China was the primary export market in Q1. Other markets such as the U.S., Japan and South Korea imported less due to weakened consumer spending and stringent technical barriers.
HCMC LOOKS TO BREAK GROUND ON THREE MAJOR PORTS IN APRIL
While investors want to break ground on these projects, the HCMC Department of Construction has warned that only one project is currently eligible for commencement, while the other two face significant regulatory bottlenecks. These projects are the Cai Mep Ha General and Container Port (Phase 1), the Gemadept-Terminal Link (Phase 2) and the Can Gio International Transshipment Hub.
VIETNAM RAISES OVER VND80 TRILLION THROUGH G-BONDS IN Q1
The Vietnam State Treasury mobilized VND80.1 trillion through Government bond issues in the first quarter of 2026, fulfilling 73% of the quarterly plan and 16% of the annual target. This capital mobilization, unveiled by the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), underscores a strong start for the domestic sovereign debt market.
CHINA SURPASSES U.S. AS VIETNAM’S TOP AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY PRODUCTS BUYER IN Q1
China overtook the United States as Vietnam’s largest market for agro-forestry-fishery products in the first quarter of 2026, as shipments to the northern neighbor surged, data showed. Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports in January-March reached US$16.69 billion, up 5.9% versus the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
HCMC TO ESTABLISH CULTURAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND
The HCMC People’s Committee has tasked relevant departments with establishing a cultural industry development fund and developing a 150-hectare film studio complex. The move follows an instruction by HCMC Party Committee Secretary Tran Luu Quang. The city’s cultural industry development fund will be structured under a venture capital model.
EMPLOYEES’ AVERAGE INCOME INCREASES
Average monthly income of workers in the first quarter reached VND9 million, up 3.8% from the previous quarter and 8.5% from a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office. Male workers earned an average of VND10.1 million per month, compared with VND7.7 million for female workers. In urban areas, average income reached VND10.7 million per month, while in rural areas it was VND7.9 million.
