Focus: Underground Infrastructure Vital For Megacities: Editor’s note: Facing new challenges, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) needs a major shift in thinking — to restructure its ground space for more efficient use while expanding its vision into five new development dimensions: the sea, the sky, the underground, the digital, and the cultural. When these spaces are planned and connected in a coordinated way, they will not only ease the burden on the ground but also open up new horizons for a more dynamic, sustainable, and creative HCMC in the new era.
Inside Vietnam
Higher Interest Rates In Sync With Macro Stability: Interest rates have been gradually rising. In the context of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) continuously injecting liquidity through open market operations to fully meet the system’s short-term capital needs, the increase in interest rates generally reflects the reality of strong money demand in the economy. Rising money demand may signal expanding business activity. In this context, higher interest rates can be considered normal.
Reflection On Public Investment: “Public investment should focus on large, strategic, high-priority projects — those capable of shifting the landscape or generating major breakthroughs in science and technology, expanding the growth frontier, and laying a vital foundation for future socio-economic development,” said Dr. Le Duy Binh, managing director of Economica Vietnam, in an interview with The Saigon Times.
To Accelerate Social Housing Supply: With the National Assembly’s Resolution 201 introducing pilot mechanisms and policies for social housing development—alongside the Government’s draft guidance resolution—the policy framework is poised to enter a transformative new phase. The convergence of political will, prioritized mechanisms, and legislated targets for each locality is expected to break the longstanding stalemate in social housing supply.
Business
Banks In Corporate Bond Market: The slowdown in the corporate bond market—where banks supply the vast majority of such securities—reveals a striking dynamic within capital markets, especially against the backdrop of robust credit growth in the broader economy.
Opportunity For Coffee Trade?: U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate coffee import tariffs paves the way for Vietnam to access the US$9 billion market more easily, where rising food prices and increased duties on Brazilian beans are shifting demand. The move gives Vietnam an edge, but also signals tougher competition ahead and calls for better preparation from producers.
Living
Capitalizing On Market Opportunities: The Mekong Delta, long celebrated as Vietnam’s rice and seafood bowl, is facing pressures unseen before. Rising seas creep ever further inland, saltwater intrusion corrodes once- fertile fields, and the unpredictable whims of climate change threaten the livelihoods of millions. For the farmers, processors, and exporters who sustain the region, the stakes could not be higher: the delta is not just a source of food, but a linchpin of national security and economic growth.
Beauty Around The Country: The “Vietnam’s Top 7 Impressions” program, organized by Saigon Tiep Thi, a publication of the Saigon Times Group, continues its mission to discover and honor new, unique, and compelling destinations and travel experiences across the country.
Travel
Hunting Cloud In Ta Xua: Ta Xua Commune in Son La Province has long been recognized as a “sea of clouds,” attracting travelers with its cool climate and rugged mountain scenery. The area’s consistent mild weather year-round, along with its pristine landscapes, makes it a favorite spot for nature enthusiasts looking for expansive views and peaceful mountain air.
Ga Dot La Chuc – A Khmer Specialty In An Giang: In An Giang Province, ga dot la chuc, also known as ga dot O Thum—a chicken dish grilled with chúc leaves—has become a well-known specialty closely tied to the culinary traditions of the local Khmer community.
