Focus: Dealing With Carbon Trap: Effective 2026, the European Union will implement the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on imports of steel, cement, aluminum, electricity, and fertilizer—key export products for Vietnam.
Inside Vietnam
Interest Rates Under Pressure: As liquidity continues to tighten, banks are prioritizing capital mobilization to meet peak lending demand in the final months of the year. This is expected to be the key factor driving upward pressure on interest rates.
Critical Public Space In HCMC: At the conference marking 50 years of the arts and literature sector of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Tran Luu Quang announced an important update that drew strong public attention: the city will halt plans to develop housing projects in the Nha Rong Wharf – Ho Chi Minh Museum area. Instead, the area will be planned as a “Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space,” incorporating green parks, widening Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, and expanding public services.
When Public Land Becomes Social Capital: There is a simple principle often forgotten when we think about public land: when a city invests in its people, it is investing in itself. A comfortable living environment creates happiness; happiness fuels productivity. The more livable a city becomes, the more investment it attracts — because true value does not lie in land prices, but in the vitality that radiates from that land. Public spaces allow people to meet, share, and connect; nature returning to the urban core strengthens resilience in the face of change.
Business
Market Upbeat On Q3 Growth: Securities companies delivered impressive business results in the third quarter of 2025, fueled by vibrant trading activity and remarkable profit growth. Looking ahead, planned capital increases and the anticipated market upgrade are setting the stage for a new era of sustainable development in the sector throughout 2026.
Paradox In Mushroom Sector: Mushroom cultivation has been present in Vietnam for over 150 years, dating back to the French colonial era. Despite this long history, the industry remains relatively modest, with only around 25,000 mushroom-growing establishments nationwide. Vietnamese mushrooms continue to face stiff competition from imported varieties.
Living
Feel Like Coming Home: Arriving in Vietnam more than three decades ago in search of silk, Pier Laurenza found something far more enduring — a sense of belonging. From Paris to Saigon, from fashion campaigns to UNESCO cultural projects, his camera has become a bridge between worlds. In this conversation, he reflects on how Vietnam reshaped his art, his rhythm, and his understanding of beauty.
Hue Imperial Citadel In Historic Flood: The central city of Hue, renowned for its ancient imperial citadel, has been enduring the flooding that has not been seen in over 25 years.
Travel
Hmong’s Linen Weaving Craft In Tuyen Quang Province: Nestled among rugged limestone mountains and the Mien River, Lung Tam Commune in Tuyen Quang Province (formerly Ha Giang Province) is home to the Hmong community, who have kept alive their tradition of linen weaving.
Savoring Pa Pỉnh Tộp – The Thai People’s Iconic Grilled Fish: Pa Pỉnh Tộp is a signature dish of the Thai ethnic community in Vietnam’s northwestern mountains. The dish reflects the rich culinary traditions of the region, featuring the distinctive aroma of mắc khén—a native forest spice often referred to as “the soul of northwest cuisine.”
