Business News

As Việt Nam’s export turnover has yet to fully reflect its potential within the ASEAN region, enhancing the presence of Vietnamese goods and seizing opportunities in this market is essential, particularly amid tariff fluctuations. This issue demands greater attention from businesses, along with a proactive and flexible approach to market access, deep market understanding and the ability to overcome trade barriers.

With a population of over 240 million Muslims, ASEAN has become a fertile ground for Vietnamese businesses looking to tap into the potential of halal product exports, particularly farm produce and processed foods. The region is seen as a gateway for made-in-Việt Nam products to better integrate into the international halal supply chain.

As the real estate market enters the second quarter of 2025, a noticeable divergence is emerging between different housing segments. While apartment prices in key urban centres are stabilising after years of sharp increases, land plots and individual houses in many provincial areas are heating up again and not necessarily for healthy reasons.

Despite an unfavourable global economic climate and ongoing challenges facing foreign investment flows, Việt Nam continues to present strong opportunities that could drive a significant boost in investment, according to analysts. One key source of optimism stems from a series of strategic cooperation agreements signed between Vietnamese and Thai partners during the recent official visit of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to Việt Nam.

Financial leasing reached nearly VNĐ40.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) at the end of the first quarter of this year, representing an increase of 8.4 per cent year-on-year, Vietnam Financial Leasing Association (VFLE) said, urging solutions to promote the role of financial leasing in the economy. The increase came amid a complicated global landscape, with geopolitical pressures and spiralling trade tensions, but with a robust domestic market with a solid GDP growth of 6.93 per cent in the quarter, supported by strong public investment and a trade surplus of $5 billion.

Việt Nam has seen strong growth in its air transport market over the past decade, jumping from the 11th largest air passenger market in the Asia-Pacific region in 2014 to the eighth largest in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It also registered the highest growth rate among the top 10 markets in the region at 121 per cent, driven by the country’s strong economic performance and growing appeal as a travel destination.

Policies must ensure property rights, freedom of business, and freedom of movement for all entities participating in the financial centre. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday requested the establishment of an international financial centre in Việt Nam with a transparent and open legal environment, modern and seamless infrastructure that meets development needs and aligns with global trends and Vietnam's specific conditions.

In the first four months of this year, Việt Nam exported 195,600 tonnes of cashew nuts, worth US$1.33 billion, according to the General Department of Customs. This represents a 10 per cent decrease in volume, but a 14.4 per cent increase in value compared to the same period in 2024. In April alone, Việt Nam exported 73,410 tonnes of cashew nuts, up 31.5 per cent in volume and 28.6 per cent in value compared to March and up 9.6 per cent in volume and 37.9 per cent in value year-on-year.