Focus: Sustainability Works Best When It Comes From Within: While institutions and macro policies are the driving forces behind green growth, it is businesses that need to act proactively to capture emerging opportunities. Firms are urged to start with small steps and shed the notion that the green transition is only for large corporations.
Inside Vietnam
Orientations For The Private Sector: Often likened to the locomotive that determines the economy’s speed and direction, Vietnam’s private sector, after many years of relatively solid growth, is now showing signs of losing steam. Identifying and addressing the bottlenecks has become an important task as Vietnam sets ambitious targets for the next 20 years.
Exchange Rate Pressure And Response: The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Vietnam dong has surpassed VND26,350 to the dollar, up 3.3% since the beginning of 2025, despite the U.S. dollar index declining nearly 10% globally. The sharp upward pressure on the exchange rate is forcing the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to take stronger actions to stabilize the market, and the option of selling foreign currency on a forward basis has been chosen.
Removing The Curse: Gone are the days when Vietnam’s automotive supporting industries were unable to produce nuts and bolts. Now, these industries can supply metal and plastic parts, electric cables, electric motors, and electronic displays, among other things. The number of Vietnamese companies meeting the IATF (International Automotive Task Force) standards now ranks second in Southeast Asia after Thailand and surpasses Malaysia, two of the region’s automotive powers.
Business
Technology Shifts Reshape Banking Jobs: The first half of 2025 has seen a wave of staff layoffs and personnel restructuring at many banks. This is not just a short-term response to economic challenges but a clear sign of a comprehensive overhaul in their operating models, with resource efficiency and technology utilization playing key roles.
Startups Still On Bumpy Roads: Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth, establishing itself as a rising force in Southeast Asia. However, persistently low survival rates underscore an urgent need for more robust policies, more capital, and a deeper talent pool to help startups thrive and scale.
Living
When Temporary Becomes Timeless: For Sawano Newell, what began as another stop in an international journey became a home she never expected. Fourteen years after she first left Tokyo, she remains deeply connected to HCMC— drawn by its energy, embraced by its people, and inspired to give back through teaching, photography, and animal rescue. In this conversation with The Saigon Times, she reflects on the kindness that has anchored her life in Vietnam and the everyday moments that continue to shape her story.
How To Run Longer: Tips on how to run long distances without getting tired.
Travel
A Glimpse Into A 500-Year-Old Village In Danang: Phong Nam, a 500-year-old village located about 10 kilometers southwest of downtown Danang, still maintains features of a traditional central Vietnamese community, with bamboo hedges, ancient temples, rice fields, and houses that are over a century old.
Squid Hotpot: A Coastal Specialty In Khanh Hoa: The coastal commune of Dai Lanh in Khanh Hoa Province has become both a scenic spot and a food stop for travelers, especially known for its squid hotpot.
