Specifically, enterprises must meet financial safety requirements, including outstanding debt and equity ratios in accordance with current regulations.

The Ministry of Construction (MoC) has just responded to the proposal of Thanh Hoa province voters regarding the criteria for appraising investors of social housing projects under special mechanisms.

Specifically, enterprises must meet financial safety requirements, including outstanding debt and equity ratios in accordance with current regulations. Competent authorities will evaluate submitted dossiers and financial statements to ensure compliance with laws governing credit and real estate business.

After thorough research, the MoC clarified that according to Point b, Clause 2, Article 9 of the 2023 Real Estate Business Law, enterprises engaged in real estate business must meet conditions ensuring the ratio of credit debt and corporate bond debt to equity.

Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree 96/2024/ND-CP states that real estate businesses, based on their equity and investment plans, decide on borrowing from credit institutions, issuing corporate bonds, and maintaining the debt-to-equity ratio to ensure financial safety, complying with credit and bond laws.

For real estate businesses borrowing from credit institutions or issuing corporate bonds to execute approved projects, the total outstanding loans, bond debt, and required equity must not exceed 100 per cent of the project's total investment. The total debt ratio for projects on land under 20 ha should not exceed four times the enterprise's equity, and for projects on land over 20 ha, it should not exceed 5.67 times.

The MoC emphasized that enterprises must demonstrate compliance with these conditions, while authorities will base their assessments on the documentation provided by the enterprises to ensure adherence to financial safety ratios and legal regulations.

Additionally, the ministry highlighted the responsibilities of provincial and city governments in managing real estate business activities within their jurisdictions, as stipulated in the 2023 Real Estate Business Law and Decree 96/2024/ND-CP.

VnEconomy-Thanh Xuân

The circulars, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, provide concrete regulations for implementing the Law on Digital Technology Industry that will take effect on January 1, 2026.

In a press briefing held by the Ministry of Science and Technology on December 1, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of Quality Management at the ministry's Department of Information Technology Industry, announced that during November 2025, the ministry issued 6 circulars guiding the implementation of the Law on Digital Technology Industry that will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Circular 26/2025/TT-BKHCN outlines regulations on the import and processing of goods listed as prohibited for import in the category of used information technology products.

Accordingly, import of certain goods from the banned list for three purposes: special use, scientific research, and creating a mechanism for domestic enterprises to process used information technology goods (from the banned list) for foreign traders is allowed, provided that these products will be consumed abroad only and not circulated in Vietnam.

For the group of goods imported for special purposes, the Circular specifies six cases where import is permitted. 

Meanwhile, Circular 30/2025/TT-BKHCN, which sets criteria for importing used technology lines, equipment, machinery, and tools for two cases: (i) directly serving semiconductor chip production, packaging, and testing projects; and (ii) training, research, and development of digital technology products and services.

Under Circular 31/2025/TT-BKHCN, a list of key digital technology products and services, with 10 key product-service groups, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, quantum computing, big data, and several other core technology groups, is published.

Of these products and services, semiconductor chips, including specialized chips, AI chips, and IoT chips, are classified as a special investment priority group. 

According to Mr. Tuan,  this classification is a new "unprecedented" incentive policy to encourage businesses to invest in pioneering technology fields.

Circular 32/2025/TT-BKHCN issued a list of semiconductor materials, equipment, machinery, and tools encouraged for investment and development, aiming to promote the production of input materials, materials, and equipment for the semiconductor industry, which are essential components to form a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem.

Circular 33/2025/TT-BKHCN stipulates four criteria for enterprises implementing electronic equipment production projects to enjoy corporate income tax incentives. 

Circular 34/2025/TT-BKHCN regulates digital technology products and services that enjoy contractor selection incentives in renting, purchasing digital technology products and services using state budget capital. Accordingly,  products meeting the criteria will enjoy bidding incentives in using state budget capital.

vneconomy-Bạch Dương

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is in Laos to attend a high-level meeting between the two Parties, and to co-chair the 48th meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in Vientiane, Laos, on December 2 morning to attend a high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and to co-chair the 48th meeting of the Vietnam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

The PM’s trip takes place at a time when political relations and strategic trust between the two countries continue to be strengthened, reaffirming their core role ad overal orientations for bilateral relationship. Over more than 60 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries have inherited and upheld their special solidarity. They have agreed to elevate their ties to a new height with strategic cohesion. Meanwhile, their economic, trade and investment cooperation has been accelerated in all sectors.

Bilateral trade turnover reached $2.25 billion in 2024 and $2.56 billion in the first ten months of 2025. Both sides aim to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion in the next 2-3 years.

As of April 2025, Vietnam has 267 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of $5.63 billion.

Many Vietnamese investments are operating effectively, contributing positively to socio-economic development, creating jobs, and increasing income for thousands of workers, as well as contributing to Laos' budget, especially in telecommunications, banking, rubber planting and processing, food production and processing, and dairy.

Security-defense, education-training, culture, and tourism sectors continue to be strengthened. Vietnam and Laos consistently coordinate closely and support each other in multilateral and regional forums. Both countries are also enhancing cooperation with other ASEAN members in building the ASEAN Community and maintaining ASEAN's unity and consensus on strategic regional issues.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to attend the high-level meeting between the two Parties, and co-chair the 48th session of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee is significant in further promoting practical cooperation and consolidating the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. 

During the 48th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee , the two sides will review the implementation of cooperation agreements under the 2021–2025 Vietnam–Laos Cooperation Plan and one for 2025. They will also discuss cooperation orientations and tasks for the 2026–2030 period and 2026 specifically, in order to concretize conclusions reached at the recent high - level meeting of the two Parties.

VnEconomy -Hà Lê

During a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on December 1 in Vientiane as part of his State visit to Laos, Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam highlighted the two countries should raise bilateral trade to $5 billion, with a longer-term target of $10 billion…

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam had a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane, on December 1, as part of his ongoing State visit to the neighboring country, according to a report from the Government News.

During the meeting, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone congratulated the Vietnamese leader for being honored with the Lao National Gold Order, a noble reward from the Lao Party and State in recognition of his contribution to the bilateral relations.

Mr. Siphandone vowed to direct Lao ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant agencies to create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises operating in Laos.

Party General Secretary To Lam, for his part, reiterated that Vietnam always gives the top priority to enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

The Vietnamese leader suggested that the two sides continue reinforcing political trust, maintain high-level mutual visits and contacts, and ensure the successful organization of the 48th Viet Nam–Laos Intergovernmental Committee meeting.

He emphasized the need to step up collaboration in key areas including strategic connectivity in development visions, spatial and infrastructure integration, economic corridors, logistics, energy, and green transition.

The countries should strengthen transport and energy linkages, and raise bilateral trade to $5 billion, with a longer-term target of $10 billion, General Secretary To Lam said, calling for stronger collaboration to maintain political and social stability, and effective border management.

VGP-Khanh Van

Institutional reform will be crucial if Vietnam hopes to achieve sustainable growth.

As traditional growth drivers near their limits, institutional barriers have emerged as the greatest obstacle to development, meaning that institutional reform is not merely about removing bottlenecks and has become a “vital imperative” - the key to creating new growth momentum and guiding Vietnam into a phase of rapid and sustainable development.

The 15th National Assembly (NA) is currently holding its final session, during which it is expected to review and pass 49 draft laws and four resolutions. Once again, institutional reform is placed at the heart of all development efforts. In a global economy increasingly driven by productivity, knowledge, and innovation, Vietnam’s growth trajectory will be difficult to sustain unless institutions themselves become a source of dynamism. The Party and the State are urgently transitioning from an administrative system to a facilitative one - the foundation for new drivers and vitality of growth.

Bottlenecks a barrier

Nearly four decades of “Doi Moi” (Economic Renewal) have proven that institutions are the decisive factor shaping a nation’s development capacity. The institutional reforms of the early 1990s opened up market space, unleashed productive potential, and fueled an economic miracle that has lasted for almost 40 years. However, in this new phase of development, when traditional growth drivers such as capital, labor, and land are gradually running out, institutions themselves have become the bottleneck to progress.

The root causes behind this “bottleneck of all bottlenecks” lie in three key aspects: First, management thinking remains heavily administrative and top-down, while a market economy requires the State to play a facilitative and service-oriented role. Second, policy formulation and implementation processes lack coordination and consistency. Third, accountability and enforcement oversight remain weak, creating a large gap between “laws on paper” and “laws in practice”. When transparency and enforcement efficiency are low, even the most well-intentioned reforms struggle to translate into tangible outcomes.

These institutional “bottlenecks” not only constrain the business and investment environment but also distort market signals, reduce Total Factor Productivity, and prolong the economy’s dependence on traditional growth drivers. Therefore, to achieve sustainable growth, Vietnam must move beyond a patchwork approach to institutional reform and instead treat it as a foundational breakthrough - the pillar that underpins future economic dynamism.

Growth imperative

Public investment is considered a vivid illustration of the “institutional paradox”. During the 2021-2025 period, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, public investment became regarded as a key driver of economic growth. But in reality, year-after-year, the disbursement of allocated capital has fallen short. The funds are available, but “locked up” in procedures, legal overlaps, and the cautious mindset of implementing agencies.

Despite numerous directives and repeated urgings from the Prime Minister to accelerate progress, the situation lingers like a “chronic illness”. The reason lies in the fact that fundamental institutional bottlenecks have yet to be removed. When a project must pass through countless layers of appraisal and approval, and when decision-makers fear accountability, no project can begin, even when capital is ready.

Public investment thus stands as the clearest and most vivid evidence of this paradox: abundant resources that remain untapped, and opportunities missed for growth.

At its core, institutional reform is about renewing the “rules of the game” to unlock and safeguard business freedom, promote fair competition, and strengthen confidence in the rule of law. At the macro-economic level, it means restructuring the balance of power between the State, the market, and society - clarifying the boundaries of public intervention and placing citizens and enterprises at the center of policy-making.

International experience shows that no country has ascended to a higher stage of development without institutional reforms that match the sophistication of its economy. South Korea, Singapore, and China each underwent periods of “great institutional reform” that triggered breakthroughs in productivity. Vietnam now stands at a similar juncture, as its growth model based on public investment and natural resource exploitation has reached its limits.

Institutional reform is therefore not merely about amending laws, it is about transforming the mindset and governance model of development. Every law passed at this NA session should not be seen simply as a “legal document” but as “institutional energy” - a force that builds trust, activates social resources, and turns development visions into concrete action.

If public investment is seen as a “mirror” reflecting the institutional bottlenecks, the key lesson is clear: Vietnam can no longer afford to delay institutional reform. Without it, all development efforts will remain mere “firefighting” measures. The economy needs a true breakthrough, one that is fundamental, comprehensive, and coherent.

Institutional breakthroughs are not only about removing barriers for the private sector or improving the investment climate, they are about creating new growth drivers grounded in science and technology, the digital economy, the green economy, and the circular economy - the pillars of sustainable development in the new era.

To achieve this, reform must continue across three core pillars: First, improve the legal framework governing property rights, business rights, and the right to innovate - these are the “first conditions” for markets to function efficiently. Second, reform the administrative apparatus towards greater streamlining, transparency, and accountability, with a decisive shift from ex-ante control to ex-post supervision. Third, enhance the quality of policy-making under the principle of “one policy - multiple benefits”, avoiding parochial or short-term thinking and placing national and citizen interests at the center.

In parallel, strengthening policy evaluation capacity and expanding social consultation mechanisms are also vital to reduce “institutional lag” and ensure that policies are truly practical and effective in real economic life.

The NA must maximize its legislative and oversight roles. It should truly act as the “guardian of institutions” and gradually become the “architect of institutions”, ensuring that laws and sub-law documents align with the Constitution and embody the spirit of reform, free of vested interests and market distortions.

There can be no sustainable growth without institutional breakthroughs, and no institutional breakthroughs without the courage to innovate, to take responsibility, and to relinquish the privileges of the old system.

Institutions are now the foundation of development. A comprehensive, consistent program of institutional reform, underpinned by independent oversight and strong political commitment, must therefore be initiated and implemented. Every law passed should help reduce transaction costs, enhance transparency, and strengthen market confidence, because only when institutions are unblocked can all resources flow freely.

Institutional breakthroughs are not a mere technical exercise in governance, they are a vital imperative for development. Only by dismantling both visible and invisible constraints and creating a transparent, enabling legal framework can Vietnam fully unlock its potential. The NA, the government, and the entire political system must act together to turn institutions from “the bottleneck of all bottlenecks” into “the driver of all drivers”. This is the key for the economy to seize valuable opportunities in deeper global integration and to advance towards a new phase of rapid, sustainable, and modern growth.

(*) Dr. Nguyen Bich Lam is the former Director General of the General Statistics Office (now the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance)    

VET-Dr. Nguyen Bich Lam (*)

The central province's port is capable of handling up to 100 vessels per day, with an annual seafood throughput of approximately 16,000 tons.

Cua Nhuong fishing port, built with a total investment of VND280 billion ($11.04 million) in the central province of Ha Tinh, has officially been put into operation.

As one of the most modern fishing ports in the central region, it spans five hectares in Thien Cam Commune and is capable of handling up to 100 vessels per day, with an annual seafood throughput of approximately 16,000 tons.

The port is expected to significantly enhance the province’s capacity for seafood exploitation, procurement, transportation, and preservation, while improving the efficiency of fisheries logistics services.

Its operation marks an important step in Ha Tinh’s strategy to develop the marine economy, while ensuring vessel safety and supporting the livelihoods of local fishermen.

VnEconomy-Nguyễn Thuấn

If the investment policy is approved, Amazon will proceed with subsequent procedures, including enterprise establishment, investment registration, and application for a telecommunications license...

Amazon on November 24 resubmitted its proposal dossier to the Ministry of Science and Technology for appraisal  of its participation in the controlled pilot program to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite telecommunications services in Vietnam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, announced at a press briefing on December 1. 

Previously, on August 26, during a working session with Amazon Group, the ministry and Amazon representatives discussed Project Kuiper, an initiative to provide broadband Internet services via LEO satellites in Vietnam.

At the working session, Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long assigned the VNTA and the Authority of Radio Frequency Management to urgently guide the project team in resolving obstacles and finalizing the project dossier in order for the ministry to submit the pilot dossier to the Prime Minister by September 2025.

"Immediately after the working session between the two parties, the VNTA and the Authority of Radio Frequency Management developed a detailed set of guidelines regarding dossier requirements and the content Amazon needs to provide. However, it was not until November 24 that Amazon finalized and resubmitted the dossier," Mr. Cuong explained at the press briefing.

Pursuant to Article 13 of the National Assembly's Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 and Article 20 of the Government's Decree No. 88/2025/ND-CP, the ministry has coordinated with the Ministries of National Defence, Public Security, and Finance to research and evaluate Amazon's  proposal.

Based on the opinions of these ministries, the VNTA has notified Amazone and requested the latter to supplement and clarify certain contents of its dossier.

Currently, Amazon Kuiper Vietnam Co., Ltd. is finalizing the dossier and will return it to the ministry for continued review and processing in accordance with regulations.

Subsequently, the ministry will submit the pilot dossier for the deployment of Amazon’s LEO satellite Internet service to the Prime Minister. The PM will then decide whether or not to authorize the pilot project, based on evaluation results concerning national defense, security, and socio-economic development impacts.

If the investment policy is approved, Amazon will proceed with subsequent procedures, including enterprise establishment, investment registration, and application for a telecommunications license, similar to the process applied to Starlink.

Mr. Cuong emphasized that the ministry is striving to support Amazon as quickly as possible. The next steps will depend largely on Amazon finalizing and providing full information at an early date so that the management agency can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the project.

Vneconomy-Ngô Huyền

The program, running from December 1 to January 18, aming to support businesses to boost trade and production.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade launched the national trade promotion program – Vietnam Grand Sale 2025 in Hanoi on December 1.

The program will run through January 18, 2026, covering the peak shopping period before the New Year and the Lunar New Year (Tet), with nationwide participation.

The most notable feature of the program is that all traders and businesses from all economic sectors are allowed to offer discounts of up to 100% on goods and services instead of the usual 50% limit under regular regulations.

The program is aimed at supporting enterprises to boost the consumption of goods and expand production, and facilitating consumers’ access to quality goods at reasonable prices.

VnEconomy-Vũ Khuê

Within the economic zone, 14 industrial parks have been established, 7 of which are currently in operation, attracting 165 projects with registered capital exceeding VND82 trillion ($3.1 billion).

Under Prime Ministerial Decision No. 2609/QĐ-TTg of November 28, 2025, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha,  central Da Nang city's Chu Lai Open Economic Zone Management Board has been established on the basis of the reorganization of the Management Board of Economic Zones and Industrial Parks of former Quang Nam province, which has been merged with Da Nang city since July 1, 2025.

The Management Board is an administrative agency under the People's Committee of Da Nang city. It performs the function of direct State management over economic zones within the city; manages and organizes the provision of public administrative services and other support services related to investment, production, and business activities for enterprises within the economic zones, in accordance with the law.

The Chu Lai Open Economic Zone was established in June 2003. Currently, the zone covers an area of over 27,000 ha and has attracted 237 investment projects, including 63 FDI projects,  with a total registered capital of approximately VND94 trillion (nearly $3.56 billion). 

Within the economic zone, 14 industrial parks have been established, 7 of which are currently in operation, attracting 165 projects with registered capital exceeding VND82 trillion ($3.1 billion).

According to economic experts, the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone is currently one of the key economic development areas of Da Nang City. 

VNeconomy-Ngô Anh Văn

The country’s tourism sector is experiencing robust expansion fueled by surging domestic travel and a sharp recovery in foreign arrivals, especially from Asia.

Vietnam is ranked as one of Asia’s fastest-growing tourist destinations, according to the Vietnam Hotel Investment Guide 2025 published by Savills Hotels and international law firm Watson Farley Williams, the Vietnam News Agency has reported.

The country’s tourism sector is experiencing robust expansion fueled by surging domestic travel and a sharp recovery in foreign arrivals, especially from Asia, the report says.

Vietnam welcomed 17.6 million foreign visitors in 2024 and another 15.4 million in the first nine months of 2025, putting it on track to hit the 25 million target by year-end.

As of the third quarter, Vietnam had more than 192,000 midscale-to-luxury hotel rooms, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 10.9% over the past decade, one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

VNA-Khanh Van

Vietnamese and Swedish energy experts convened in Hanoi to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration.

A forum titled "EnergyConnect – Building Efficient Electricity Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future" forum was organized in Hanoi on December 1 by  Team Sweden, under the Sweden–Vietnam Energy Alliance, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and technical specialists from both countries.

The forum focused on practical solutions for grid modernization, including long-distance transmission, power quality, and renewable energy integration, as well as lessons learned from  international  best practices. 

In his opening speech, H.E. Mr. Johan Ndisi, Ambassador of Sweden to Vietnam, noted that Vietnam’s energy sector is transforming at remarkable speed. With electricity demand projected to grow by 10–15% next year and installed capacity nearing 88 GW, Vietnam is emerging as one of Asia’s most dynamic power markets.

He also said that these achievements are remarkable, yet they also bring new challenges such as grid stability, long-distance transmission, and renewable integration. And as Vietnam faces the realities of climate change, sustainable resource management becomes not just a priority but an imperative.

“Sweden highly values the opportunity to share experiences and learn together. By working collaboratively, we can support Vietnam’s efforts to build a reliable and sustainable electricity system,” the ambassador emphasized.

During the discussion sessions, speakers emphasized the importance of partnerships and knowledge exchange.

In his presentation, titled “Revised Power Development Plan 8: Grid Targets for 2030 and 2050," Mr. Cao Duc Huy, a researcher from the Power System Development Department, the Institute of Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), noted that each year, the institute implements around 200 projects, providing strategic consulting, planning, and investment advisory in the energy sector, while maintaining cooperation with numerous domestic and international partners, including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

“The revised Power Development Plan 8 sets highly ambitious goals, which come with significant challenges in investment, technology, and policy. In this context, international cooperation - including collaboration with Sweden - will play a crucial role in helping Vietnam achieve these objectives,” Mr. Huy emphasized.

Echoing the sentiment from the private sector, Mr. Chandan Singh, CEO of Hitachi Energy Vietnam, added: “Innovation thrives when expertise is shared. We look forward to working alongside Vietnam to explore technologies and approaches that support a cleaner energy future.”

The forum also addressed financing frameworks, regulatory requirements, and international case studies, opening pathways for new partnerships, pilot projects, and commercial collaborations that will support Vietnam’s energy transition and long-term net-zero ambitions.

VnEconomy-Anh Hoang

This aims to upgrade their economic cooperation model, effectively leveraging each country's comparative advantages, and creating new momentum for bilateral trade and investment.

During the state visit by Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, marking the 50th anniversary of Laos' National Day (02/12/1975 – 02/12/2025), top leaders from both parties and states witnessed the signing of several important cooperation documents on December 1st.

The documents include the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Ministries of Industry and Trade on developing an industrial chain linkage, aiming to upgrade their economic cooperation model, effectively leveraging each country's comparative advantages, and creating new momentum for bilateral trade and investment.

The MoU outlines six main areas of cooperation:

Firstly, to establish the Vietnam-Laos industrial chain linkage. This model promotes multi-dimensional cooperation among businesses from both countries in manufacturing and commercial activities, creating a tightly-knit network across all stages of the value and supply chains. This includes, but is not limited to, raw material supply, production, processing, manufacturing, design, and product distribution in domestic and international markets of both countries. The industrial chain encourages active participation from small and medium enterprises and businesses in industrial parks, special economic zones, and border economic cooperation zones of both countries.

Secondly, to develop the industrial chain linkage on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, respecting each other's national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in accordance with each country's laws and international treaties to which they are members. Both sides agree to build and develop the industrial chain to encourage and enhance cooperation among manufacturing, import-export, and commercial businesses, contributing to a breakthrough in boosting bilateral trade turnover, making the Vietnam-Laos relationship more substantive and effective. The development of the industrial chain aims to maximize the potential and comparative advantages of both sides, promote technology, innovation, and create breakthroughs in improving productivity and quality for businesses. Additionally, it aims to enhance the capacity of businesses to participate more deeply and valuably in the global supply chain.

Thirdly, to establish specific mechanisms and policies to identify and develop industrial chain linkages, ensuring focus and priority, initially selecting to develop business cooperation models that have established production and commercial relationships. When identifying and selecting linkage projects, both sides will encourage consideration of priority industries and regions, such as agricultural processing, light industry, businesses in special economic zones, and border economic cooperation zones. Pilot studies on industrial chain models for certain products in priority industries based on competitive advantages, specialization, and value chains between the two sides are encouraged. Creating a favorable investment and business environment, promoting trade development between the two countries, and encouraging cooperation in customs procedures to facilitate trade activities at border gates and logistics connections between Vietnam and Laos, including production corridors connecting Laos with Vietnamese seaports, are also emphasized.

Fourthly, in the period up to 2030, both sides will select the following industrial chain models to encourage development in fields such as materials (cement, iron, steel, etc.), chemicals, textiles and footwear, mechanical production, transportation vehicles, dairy industry, electronics (electronic components, hardware, etc.), processing industries (agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, food, etc.), mineral extraction and processing, renewable energy (hydropower, wind power, solar power), as well as electricity transmission and business.

The MoU also specifies that during the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos industrial chain, both sides commit to supporting each other in implementing key initiatives such as jointly developing a pilot model of the Vietnam-Laos Industrial Park and coordinating research to provide information and serve the policy development of the Vietnam-Laos industrial chain.

Fifthly, Vietnam will organize training programs for Lao officials, civil servants, and businesses in related fields to develop the Vietnam-Laos industrial chain. Laos will be responsible for identifying and selecting participants for training courses in Vietnam.

Lastly, the implementation of training programs will be coordinated by the Institute for Industry and Trade Strategy and Policy (VIOIT) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Institute of Industry, Commerce, and Energy (IICE) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos. To ensure effective and prompt cooperation, a Joint Working Group may be established, co-chaired by VIOIT and IICE, to coordinate the implementation of the MoU, develop annual or biennial work plans, and submit periodic reports to the ministers of both sides.

The MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos on developing an industrial chain linkage is considered a strategic step in restructuring bilateral economic cooperation towards a more substantive and sustainable direction.

Vneconomy -Nguyet Ha

FinFan and Neutron partner to deploy Lightning Network tech, accelerating cross-border remittances and reducing costs to advance transactions across Vietnam.

Neutron, a global provider of enterprise-grade Lightning Network infrastructure, has entered into a strategic partnership with FinFan, a licensed Vietnamese , in a move aimed at speeding up and lowering transaction costs across Vietnam.

The partnership brings together Neutron’s high-performance, internet-native rails and FinFan’s regulatory experience and nationwide financial connectivity. he two companies will jointly implement Lightning Network solutions designed to enhance the speed, security and affordability of cross-border payoutss and digital flows.

Under the initiative, institutions using the joint infrastructure will gain access to immediate or near-real-time settlement. The companies say this will . By leveraging Lightning Network rails, organisations can also reduce per-transaction fees, improve liquidity management and accelerate cash conversion cycles.

The partnership includes compliance-ready integration templates equipped with enterprise-grade controls and audit features designed to align with Vietnamese regulations and international financial standards. Through streamlined APIs, banks, payment service providers and fintech platforms will be able to integrate wallet-based systems with more predictable liquidity and improved interoperability.

The system is designed to scale from high-volume institutional activity to daily use cases, including family-support transfers, digital earnings and .

“This partnership reinforces the Lightning Network as the emerging standard for real-time ,” said Mr. Albert Buu, CEO of Neutron. “Together with FinFan, we aim to redefine how value moves across Vietnam - instantly, securely and with full compliance.”

“Our collaboration with Neutron merges global capabilities with local trust,” said Dr. Tuyen Nguyen, Founder CEO of FinFan. “ will benefit from faster service levels, lower operational costs and stable, predictable rails.”

About FinFan: FinFan is a licensed Vietnamese fintech specialising in cross-border and digital solutions. The company secure, transparent and efficient  for into Vietnam.

About Neutron: Neutron provides enterprise-grade Lightning Network infrastructure, enabling instant , liquidity management and compliance-ready integrations for financial institutions and fintech companies.

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Such a proposal is raised during the National Assembly's discussions on a draft law amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Geology and Mineral Law on December 1.

The National Assembly (NA) on December 1 discussed a draft law amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Geology and Mineral Law, during which  many NA deputies expressed strong agreement with the addition of a separate chapter on rare earths to the draft law,  recognizing rare earths as a particularly important resource that requires unified national management aligns with the country's long-term development needs.

MANDATORY TECHNICAL SAFETY THRESHOLDS NEEDED

According to Deputy Trinh Thi Tu Anh (Lam Dong Province's National Assembly Delegation), the draft law should affirm the principle of managing rare earth resources based on scientific foundations and strict risk control, with the highest requirements for environmental protection. She proposed mandatory technical safety thresholds, such as closed-loop separation technology, radiation dispersion modeling, continuous monitoring systems, waste sludge treatment plans meeting IAEA standards, and environmental restoration requirements post-extraction from the licensing stage.

"Only enterprises with technological capability, financial capacity, and international-standard environmental management systems should be allowed to participate," emphasized the Deputy. Additionally, she suggested emphasizing the role of independent oversight throughout the entire chain of rare earth selection, separation, and processing activities, from technology appraisal, risk assessment, field inspection, to waste treatment supervision and environmental restoration.

Regarding this issue, Deputy Nguyen Tam Hung (Ho Chi Minh City's National Assembly Delegation) proposed considering and clearly supplementing a mechanism for controlling exports and minimum domestic deep processing ratio. This aims to ensure that rare earths truly serve as a strategic resource for national industrial development, avoiding the risk of raw exports and dependence on foreign technology in the rare earth value chain.

According to Deputy Hung, the draft law does not clarify a mechanism for selecting enterprises to explore, exploit, and process rare earths based on technology security criteria, deep processing capacity, and environmental management capacity; while this is a sensitive field with the risk of resource acquisition or leakage of foundational technology.

"Therefore, it is necessary to consider adding an economic-technology security approval process before transferring technology, exporting deep-processed products, or international joint ventures; to ensure resource sovereignty - national economic security - self-reliance in the rare earth industry," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap Province's National Assembly Delegation) emphasized that while other minerals may still be abundant, rare earths are very limited, with not much reserve. If exploited without strict management and stringent protection measures, it will easily lead to indiscriminate exploitation. Therefore, he suggested that the drafting agency and environmental management agency pay attention to and manage rare earths well, with policies in place to protect rare earths.

EARLY ISSUANCE OF NATIONAL STRATEGY ON RARE EARTHS

In response to the National Assembly Deputies' opinions, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang stated that the Geology and Mineral Law was issued in 2024 and  took effect from July 1, 2025. The current amendment mainly focuses on resolving certain obstacles and bottlenecks related to national key projects and programs, and the strategy for managing, exploiting, and using rare earth resources to serve national development.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has basically delineated and fully identified areas with mineral deposits for strict management. The Ministry is drafting a national strategy on rare earths, to be submitted to the Government and competent authorities for issuance in early 2026.

After completing the delineation of mine locations, the crucial task now is to commence deep processing to bring benefits to the country. "The draft law separates the 'rare earths' section into a separate chapter, with provisions for the Government to issue sub-law documents that will concretely regulate the management, exploration, exploitation and use of rare earths as an important resource for national development in the future, based on forming a closed value chain, minimizing raw material exports," Minister Tran Duc Thang added.

vneconomy-Nhu Nguyet

The signing of the agreements is part of activities within Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam's two-day state visit to Laos.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, and Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on December 1 witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents between the two countries' ministries, agencies and localities, following their talks in Vientiane on the same day, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

This is part of activities within the Vietnamese Party chief’s two-day state visit to Laos, where he will attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Lao National Day and co-chair a high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

The documents include a 2026 cooperation plan between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and its Lao counterpart, an agreement between the two ministries on building a command center of the Lao Ministry of Public Security, a 2026 cooperation plan between the two Ministries of National Defense, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Lao Ministry of National Defense on building a Vietnam - Laos friendship road, and cooperation agreements between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and the two Ministries of Justice in the next five years.

Others are an MoU on cooperation in key banking activities in 2026-2030; another between the two Ministries of Industry and Trade on developing industrial linkage chains; cooperation agreements between Vietnam Television and the LPRP’s Commission for Propaganda and Training, between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Lao Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission, and between Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa province and Houaphanh province of Laos; and an MoU on strengthening cooperation in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and border security between the People's Committee of Da Nang city, and Sekong province of Laos for the next five years.

In recent years, alongside strengthened cooperation in politics, defense, and security, the two countries have made strong efforts to elevate and create breakthroughs and great strides in economic cooperation, especially the effective implementation of key connectivity projects—especially in transport, energy, trade, investment, high-quality human resource training, and sustainable supply chains.

Trade and investment ties have maintained robust growth, with two-way trade in the first ten months of 2025 hitting nearly $2.5 billion, surging by 50.4% from 2024, elevating Vietnam to Laos’ third-largest trading partner. The two countries are striving toward the targets of $5 billion and, in the longer term, $10 billion in two-way trade.

Regarding investment, Vietnam currently has 274 projects in Laos with a total registered capital of over $5.8 billion. Newly operational transport-infrastructure projects connecting the two countries mark important progress in strategic development spatial linkage, helping drive shared development in the near future.

Cooperation in other fields—including education and training, culture, transport, energy, and agriculture—has also progressed with promising outcomes. People-to-people exchanges and growing ties between localities of the two countries are further deepening mutual understanding and strengthening connections, particularly among young people.

VNA-Khanh Van

The Law on Personal Data Protection will take effect from January 1, 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Decision 2623/QD-TTg of November 29, 2025, approving  an implemetation plan for the Law on Personal Data Protection, which will take effect on January 1, 2026.

The Plan's objectives include defining responsibilities and establishing a tight coordination mechanism among ministries, governmental agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees nationwide in executing the Law.

Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness about the Law and the responsibilities of various levels, sectors, and localities in personal data protection.

According to the Plan, in 2025 and subsequent years, the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam News Agency, and other media outlets, will work with ministries, sectors, and localities to disseminate and popularize the law.

The Personal Data Protection Law was passed by the 15th National Assembly during its 9th session on June 26, 2025.

The Ministry of Public Security will lead specialized training sessions, enhancing legal knowledge and skills related to personal data protection for ministries, sectors, and localities, starting regularly from 2025. Furthermore, the Ministry will compile materials to support the dissemination of the Law and its guiding documents, along with materials to raise awareness about personal data protection in 2025 and beyond.

Following the review phase, from 2026 to 2027, the Ministry of Public Security will develop a national information portal on personal data protection. This portal will provide information on the Party's guidelines, State laws on personal data protection, and support in raising awareness and skills for personal data protection for agencies, organizations, and individuals. It will also receive and handle feedback and suggestions from related entities and perform other activities as per the Law on Personal Data Protection.

During this period, the Ministry of Public Security will coordinate with the Government Office and related agencies to draft a national program for personal data protection, to be approved by the Prime Minister, which is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.

Additionally, the Ministry will lead and coordinate with ministries, governmental agencies, provincial-level People's Committees, and other related organizations to inspect the enforcement of the Law and its detailed regulations and guidelines. This will be conducted from 2026 onwards.

vneconomy-Mộc Đình

A third successive monthly increase in new orders helped to drive production growth again in November.

The SP Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI®) posted 53.8 in November, down slightly from 54.5 in October but still signalling a solid monthly improvement in business conditions in the manufacturing sector, according to a report released by the SP Global on December 1.

Operating conditions have been now strengthened in five consecutive months.

A third successive monthly increase in new orders helped to drive production growth again in November, although rates of expansion in both output and new business eased from October.

New export orders, meanwhile, increased at a faster pace, with the rate of growth quickening to a 15-month high. Panellists noted improving demand from mainland China and India in particular.

Some firms reported that stormy weather conditions during November had limited production growth, but output nonetheless increased for the seventh month running.

The severe weather conditions mainly impacted supply chains and the ability of manufacturers to complete work on time.

Another impact of the storms was to contribute to higher costs for raw materials as supply was restricted. Input prices increased sharply, and at the second-fastest pace since July 2024, despite the pace of inflation easing from October.

The rate of output price inflation also softened in November, but remained solid as firms passed on higher input costs to their customers.

Firms increased their purchasing activity for the fifth month running in November as output requirements rose. Moreover, the rate of expansion quickened to a four-month high.

Stocks of inputs also increased, accumulating for the second successive month. The rise was only slight, however, as inputs were often used to support production.

Expected improvements in new orders and hopes for calmer weather conditions supported optimism in the year-ahead outlook for output. Close to half of respondents predicted a rise in production, with overall sentiment hitting a 17-month high.

VnEconomy-Mạnh Đức

Total annual capacity will reach 297 million passengers by then.

Under a newly adjusted master plan from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the country is set to have 33 airports with a total annual capacity of 297 million passengers by 2030, according to a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

The CAAV’s plan, submitted recently to the Ministry of Construction for review, outlines adjustments to the national airport and seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

It is estimated that nearly VND500 trillion ($19 billion) will be needed to develop the country’s airport system by 2030, sourced from the State budget, non-budgetary capital and other legal sources.

Under the new plan, Mang Den and Van Phong airports will be added to the national system.

Previously, under a planning system approved by the Prime Minister, Van Phong Bay in Khanh Hoa province was designated as a service-logistics centre, while Mang Den town in the former province of Kon Tum (now part of Quang Ngai province) was identified as a national tourist area, with infrastructure including an airport to connect the Central Highlands and the Central Coast.

The CAAV said the inclusion of the Mang Den and Van Phong airports in the master plan is necessary to align with national, regional and provincial development goals, attract private investment, support tourism and logistics, strengthen regional connectivity, and bolster national defence and security in the south central and Central Highlands regions.

The Mang Den Airport is estimated to cost nearly VND5 trillion and cover about 350 hectares, while the Van Phong Airport will require more than VND9.2 trillion and occupy over 497 hectares.

VNA-Khánh Vân

Vietnam is determined to strengthen core drivers to position itself as a regional AI powerhouse.

At the Ministerial Roundtable on AI Governance, held within the framework of Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 from October 27-29, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung delivered a powerful message to representatives from the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ASEAN countries, and global tech giants: “Vietnam is ready to become the AI Competence Center of the Asia-Pacific region.”

The country’s commitment to AI is not new. Back in 2021, it approved its National Strategy on the Research, Development, and Application of Artificial Intelligence, setting a goal of joining the Top 4 ASEAN nations and Top 50 worldwide in the field by 2030. This vision was reinforced by Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, issued on December 22, 2024, which raised the bar even higher, aiming to position Vietnam among Southeast Asia’s Top 3 in AI research and development by 2030.

Strategic technologies

Mr. Tran Anh Tu, Deputy Director General of the Authority of ICT Industry at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), underscored that Vietnam sees science, technology, and innovation as the core drivers of its “Second ‘Doi Moi’” - a pivotal stage in breaking through the “middle-income trap” and realizing its ambition of becoming a high-income, developed nation.

According to Mr. Tu, mastering strategic core technologies is essential to this vision. Vietnam cannot depend on technology transfer alone if it aims to build genuine competitive advantages. A key milestone in this effort came with Decision No. 1131/QD-TTg, issued on June 12, 2025, which approved a list of eleven strategic technology groups - placing AI at the very top. The focus now is on developing four core AI products: a Vietnamese large language model (LLM), a virtual assistant, domain-specific AI, and analytical AI.

MoST has also adopted a bold action framework built on four strategic pillars: putting enterprises at the center; taking national major challenges as the driving force; viewing talent as key - with mechanisms that reward scientists for research outcomes; and building ecosystem strength through “triple helix” collaboration between government, academia, and business. “Our goal is clear: by 2027, Vietnam is to master at least 20 strategic technology products, with AI as the spearhead,” he emphasized.

Within this roadmap, the Vietnamese LLM is considered the foundation of the country’s AI ecosystem - designed to capture the linguistic, cultural, and intellectual nuances of Vietnam, rather than relying on imported technologies. By 2027, Vietnam plans to fine-tune open-source models such as Llama, Mistral, DeepSeek, and Qwen; build a national data corpus; and train models with up to 30 billion parameters. By 2030, this will expand to 100 billion parameters, integrating multimodal data including images, video, and audio - paving the way for a comprehensive AI model that bears a distinct “Vietnamese signature”.

Charting Vietnam’s AI ascent

Amid Vietnam’s strategic vision and decisive policy moves in AI, UNESCO has commended the country’s strong political will and dynamic approach to technological development. In its RAM (Readiness Assessment Methodology) Report, released on October 27, the body praised Vietnam’s top-level commitment and described it as a “dynamic and determined” country in the global AI landscape.

The report highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable progress in AI research over the past decade, with the country’s scientific output surging dramatically between 2018 and 2024. From just 134 AI-related papers in 2010, the number nearly quadrupled to over 520 per year by 2017-2018. By 2023, Vietnamese researchers were publishing more than 4,000 AI studies annually.

In global rankings, Vietnam placed 26th in 2022 for AI publications - a major leap from its fifth-place standing within ASEAN during 1996-2018. The country’s academic influence is also on the rise: in 2024, 60 Vietnamese scientists made it into the world’s Top 100,000 most-cited researchers, including nine in the global Top 10,000 - clear evidence of Vietnam’s growing credibility on the international AI map.

Yet UNESCO cautioned that research quality remains a key challenge. Vietnam must focus on producing higher-impact work and investing strategically in advanced AI talent, rather than simply expanding its research volume.

At the same time, private investment in AI startups is accelerating. Funding soared eight-fold, from $10 million in 2023 to $80 million in 2024, reflecting investor confidence in Vietnam’s AI potential.

Under Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Vietnam aims to lift research and development (RD) investment to 2 per cent of GDP by 2030, with over 60 per cent sourced from private capital and at least 3 per cent of the State budget devoted to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Notably, 15 per cent of science and technology spending will be directed towards AI, big data, and high-performance computing, signaling a clear commitment to technological self-reliance and global competitiveness.

Despite its reputation as a vibrant tech hub, Vietnam faces a shortage of high-level AI talent, especially in machine learning and natural language processing. The country currently has around 300 AI PhDs and post-doctoral researchers, 5,000 AI engineers, and roughly 7,000 AI specialists, far short of market demand. With only 28-30 per cent of students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) majors, the gap between talent supply and industry needs continues to widen. Vietnam therefore needs a comprehensive national strategy for reskilling, upskilling, and career support to prepare its workforce for an AI-driven economy.

UNESCO also urged Vietnam to address the environmental footprint of AI. The current National AI Strategy has yet to integrate sustainability goals, and the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection does not account for the energy-intensive nature of large data centers and AI model training. Incorporating “green AI” criteria into national planning, UNESCO noted, will be crucial for aligning Vietnam’s ambitions with the global push towards sustainable, energy-efficient AI development.

Minister Hung reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to serve as the AI Competence Center of the Asia-Pacific region, promoting research, training, and technology cooperation. He emphasized that it views AI governance as a platform for collaboration, trust-building, and sustainable growth towards a safe, humane, and creative digital future for all. His message before international delegates underscored Vietnam’s ambition to lead while embracing an inclusive vision: seeing AI not as a race but as a shared journey of knowledge and progress.

VET-Ngo Huyen

Regarding industry sectors, manufacturing enterprises account for approximately 33% of the participants.

The Hanoi Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Hanoi DoLISA) has coordinated with the Center of Overseas Labor (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) to organize a job fair specifically for workers returning from South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) program and technical interns returning from Japan under the IM Japan program (Public Interest Foundation International Manpower Development Organization - abbreviated as IM Japan).

According to the organizing committee, the fair on November 28 featured 54 units and enterprises with a total recruitment demand of 1,880 positions.

Notably, 22 enterprises with South Korean and Japanese investment capital (FDI) are recruiting for various positions, including electronic manufacturing workers, mechanical technicians, machine operators, CNC technicians, interpreters, and electrical-electronics staff, offering attractive income levels.

Regarding industry sectors, manufacturing enterprises account for approximately 33% of the participants. The remaining companies operate in fields such as commerce and services, electrical-electronics, construction, and transport.

Enterprises are seeking workers across various segments with a relatively balanced distribution: 32.3% of the demand is for university and college graduates, 34.8% for intermediate and technical workers, and the remainder for general labor.

The majority of recruitment offers fall within the income range of VND10–15 million ($380 - 570) per month. This salary range applies to stable positions such as accountants, office staff, receptionists, hospitality staff, technical staff, and skilled general labor.

Deputy Director of Hanoi DoLISA Nguyen Tay Nam stated that Hanoi consistently prioritizes job creation by dispatching workers abroad under labor contracts, particularly to the South Korean and Japanese markets.

In recent times, approximately 8,000 workers have returned to the city after completing their terms in South Korea and Japan under the EPS and IM Japan programs, respectively. These programs have provided good employment opportunities and stable incomes, significantly helping to improve the lives of the workers.

Vneconomy-Thu Hằng