Focus: Foreign Capital Returns: The return of net buying by foreign investors further reinforced the local stock market’s rebound, reflecting optimism about Vietnam’s economic outlook in the coming months.
Inside Vietnam
When To Scrap Credit Growth Caps? On July 6, 2025, in Directive No. 104 on enhancing the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policy management, the prime minister directed the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to strive for a 2025 credit growth target of approximately 16% compared to 2024. The directive also sets a vision for 2026: to manage credit growth through market-based tools, moving away from the current administrative credit growth quota system.
A Safety Buffer Needed: The mechanism of controlling credit growth through administrative quotas has led to suboptimal capital allocation in the economy via the commercial banking system. It neither prioritizes nor incentivizes well-performing banks while failing to limit underperforming ones. Removing credit growth ceilings is necessary, said Ph.D. Le Dat Chi, Head of the Finance Department at the School of Business, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, in an interview with The Saigon Times.
Removing Barriers To E-commerce: After more than a decade of development, e-commerce has become a key sales channel for hundreds of thousands of businesses. However, certain unnecessary administrative procedures with limited regulatory value are still hindering the digital transformation of the economy.
Business
Foreign Capital Boosts Market Sentiment: Vietnam’s stock market got off to a good start in July with a flurry of noteworthy developments. Market breadth remained positive, fueled by solid upward momentum across key sectors—including seaports, securities, information technology, and banking.
Overcoming “Cheap Product” Stereotype: Vietnam is globally recognized for its rich supply of high- quality raw materials such as rice, coffee, cacao, and seafood. While local firms have leveraged these strengths to tap into international markets, many still face a lingering challenge: the perception of Vietnamese products as “cheap.”
Living
Singing In A Second Home: When Kyo York first arrived in Vietnam, the air was thick with humidity, the streets buzzed with the symphony of honking scooters, and the scent of street food wafted through the evening air.
Endless Escapes On Pearl Island: Nicknamed “Pearl Island,” Phu Quoc is celebrated not only for its untouched coastal beauty but also for offering a tapestry of extraordinary experiences tinged with Mediterranean charm. Visitors might feel as though they have stepped into a slice of Italy, surrounded by vivid, architecturally distinctive landscapes. One of the island’s crown jewels is Sunset Town, renowned for its breathtaking twilight vistas. As dusk falls, the experience crescendos with the Kiss of the Sea—a dazzling spectacle that marries world-class sound design, dynamic lighting, and choreographed fireworks in perfect harmony.
Travel
Exploring Hung Thoong Cave In Quang Tri Province: Hung Thoong Cave is part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri Province that has been expanded by combining Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces. Renowned for its pristine beauty and vast cave system, Hung Thoong is emerging as a new destination for adventure tourism.
Neem Leaf Salad – A Must-Try Specialty In An Giang: The Mekong Delta province of An Giang is known for its scenic landscapes and distinctive cuisine. Among the region’s specialties is a dried fish salad mixed with neem leaves, a dish popular with locals and increasingly introduced to curious visitors.
