Focus: How To Spur HCMC’s Maritime Economy: “The current natural, economic, and social conditions not only provide HCMC with advantages for seaward development but also place the city in a strategic position along the trans-Asia economic corridor, through the Moc Bai border gate (Tay Ninh). HCMC can supply logistics and trade services, attract tourism for the Greater Mekong Subregion, and become one of the gateways to the sea for countries in this region,” Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son told The Saigon Times.
Inside Vietnam
Expanding Oversight Of E-Commerce: On September 22, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) gave feedback on the draft E-Commerce Law, before the bill is submitted for consideration and passage at the upcoming October sitting of the 15th NA. The draft introduces a series of new regulations designed to more strictly govern e-commerce activities amid the boom of digital platform-based business models.
How Sustainability Powers Growth: As the green consumption trend becomes more evident and international policies tighten on emissions, the competitive advantages of businesses are shifting faster than ever.
Standardizing Green Credit: The green criteria outlined in Decision 21/2025/QD-TTg are established within the broader context of international efforts to develop green classification systems—such as the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Korea Green Taxonomy. These instruments are regarded as foundational tools for enhancing transparency in sustainable capital flows and preventing “greenwashing.”
Business
Market Shrugs Off Interest Cut: On September 17, the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee reduced interest rates by 0.25 percentage point, signaling the beginning of a new monetary easing cycle—just as analysts had anticipated. However, Vietnam’s stock market responded in an unusually subdued manner.
Easing Foreign Ownership Restrictions: The newly issued Decree 245/2025/ND-CP introduces a significant shift in Vietnam’s approach to foreign investor ownership. Under the new regulations, enterprises are no longer permitted to independently determine foreign ownership ratios. Instead, they must adhere to a standardized legal framework set by the State.
Living
From Guest To Guardian: When Elizabeth Homfray left Australia for HCMC nearly two decades ago, the transition was smoother than expected. Asian flavors were already staples in her kitchen, and fresh produce felt familiar rather than foreign. What truly shaped her life here, however, was not food but a calling: rescuing and rehoming dogs in a city once unaccustomed to pet care. Today, through Laws for Paws Vietnam, the animal rescue organization she founded, Homfray has helped treat more than 1,200 dogs and placed hundreds into new homes — and in the process, found a deeper sense of belonging in Vietnam.
Last Lantern Makers In Town: For generations, the traditional craft of lantern making has lit up the streets of Vietnam during the Mid- Autumn Festival, which takes place on the 14th night of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest.
Travel
Exploring A Century-Old Scarf-Weaving Village: In Dong Thap In the former Long Khanh A Commune, Dong Thap Province, the rhythmic clatter of looms has echoed for over a century. Here, generations of artisans have preserved the traditional craft of scarf weaving while adjusting to modern demands, keeping alive a cultural symbol of the Mekong Delta.
Soc Trang’s Signature Duck Rice Noodle Soup With Pepper: In the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, duck rice noodle soup with pepper (known in Vietnamese as bun tieu vit) is a popular local specialty with roots in Chinese cuisine. Over generations, the dish has been adapted to suit Vietnamese tastes while maintaining its distinctive flavor.
