Focus: GDP Is A Means, Not An End: When economic growth slows, policymakers often seek to lower interest rates to support credit, investment, and consumption, thereby boosting GDP growth. This approach is based on the assumption that higher GDP will automatically translate into greater social welfare. However, that is not always the case.
Inside Vietnam
Trade First, Finance Follows? There are few major financial centers in the world that emerged from finance alone. History offers a clear pattern: behind London stood global trade; behind Singapore stood its port and logistics ecosystem; and behind Hong Kong stood its role as China’s gateway for international commerce. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s decision to begin with maritime finance and aviation finance may reflect a more pragmatic approach to its ambition of building an international financial center.
Financing A Special Megacity: “Financing the development of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) cannot be adequately provided by isolated sources alone. It must be treated as a system and designed as a multi-layered architecture, with streams of capital flowing through project pipelines that are predictable and sustained over many years,” Dr. Le Dat Chi, Dean of the School of Finance at the College of Business, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, told The Saigon Times.
Breaking The Vicious Cycle: While policymakers have sought to lower interest rates to support manufacturing and economic growth, much of the additional credit has historically flowed into the real estate market rather than productive sectors.
Business
Growth Drivers And Fiscal Paradox: Vietnam has set an ambitious goal of achieving economic growth of up to 10% during the 2026-2030 period. Yet with nearly half of 2026 already behind it, the economy is still grappling with a familiar problem: getting public investment money out the door.
Trust In Age Of AI: As advances in AI make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fabricated content, the question is no longer what AI is capable of creating, but whether people can recognize what is real.
Living
Turning Wild Shrub Into Opportunity: Along the banks of shrimp ponds in Ca Mau, an overlooked plant is inspiring a new model for livelihoods and sustainable development.
Mud, Strength And Tradition In Van Village: Held from May 28 to 30 (the 12th to 14th days of the fourth lunar month), the Water Ball Wrestling Festival in Van Village, Bac Ninh Province, is a centuries-old folk celebration rooted in local prayers for favorable weather and abundant harvests.
Travel
Dinh Cau Shrine: A Spiritual Landmark On Phu Quoc Island: Perched on a rocky outcrop at the mouth of the sea in Phu Quoc Special Zone of An Giang Province, Dinh Cau Shrine is one of the island’s most iconic spiritual and cultural landmarks. The centuries-old shrine has long served as a symbol of protection for local fishermen venturing into often unpredictable waters.
Phu Quoc Pepper: The Fragrant Black Pearl Of Vietnam: Phu Quoc Island, a special zone of An Giang Province, is known not only for its beaches and tropical landscapes but also for a centuries-old pepper- growing tradition that has earned it the reputation of being Vietnam’s “Kingdom of Pepper.”
