HCMC – HCMC ranked 98th in the global startup ecosystem rankings for 2026, entering the world’s top 100 for the first time after rising 12 places from a year earlier, according to StartupBlink.
The ranking, published in StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, marked the city’s highest position to date and allowed it to achieve its top-100 target about four years ahead of its 2030 plan, according to the city’s Department of Science and Technology.
The report assessed more than 1,500 cities and 100 countries based on factors such as ecosystem scale, quality and the business environment for innovation.
HCMC ranked second in Southeast Asia for ecosystem maturity, third in the region for fintech and fifth for blockchain.
StartupBlink ranked the city’s fintech sector 60th globally and its blockchain sector 70th worldwide.
Vietnam climbed five places to 50th globally, its highest ranking so far, with ecosystem growth reaching 67.9%, the fastest in Southeast Asia.
The city’s Department of Science and Technology attributed the result to support from startups, investors, universities, research institutes, technology firms, support organizations and state agencies.
HCMC’s startup ecosystem is valued at around US$7.4 billion and has attracted more than US$260 million in venture capital, according to the department. The city has dozens of incubators, innovation hubs and startup support organizations.
The city accounts for nearly half of Vietnam’s startups and leads the country in the number of innovative enterprises.
In April, HCMC established a venture capital fund with initial charter capital of VND500 billion, with plans to raise the figure to VND5 trillion by 2035.
Authorities described it as Vietnam’s first venture capital fund designed specifically to support startups from incubation to growth stages. The fund will operate under market principles and aims to attract an additional VND3-VND5 in private and international capital for every VND1 invested.
