Focus: The Year Of Gold Fever: Gold prices climbed to successive record highs in 2025, continuing an upward trajectory that analysts believe is far from reaching its peak.
Inside Vietnam
Springboard For Growth In 2026: The year 2025 drew to a close with significant reform milestones. Against a backdrop of global turbulence driven by geopolitical conflicts and trade fragmentation, Vietnam remained steadfast in pursuing foundational reforms, strengthening internal capacity, and restructuring its development space—thereby laying the groundwork for acceleration in 2026.
Resilient In Tariff Storm: In the first half of 2025, the dominant keywords across most analytical reports I read were “tariffs,” “trade war,” and “U.S.– China confrontation.” At that time, many institutions were pessimistic, forecasting that global trade growth would fall close to zero, or even slip into negative territory. Alongside this, numerous organizations sharply downgraded their global and country-level growth projections. And yet…
Eight Challenges To Overcome: Setting a target of double-digit GDP growth for the 2026–2030 period is a major aspiration for Vietnam—one that aligns with the country’s vision of becoming an upper- middle-income economy by 2030 and a developed nation by 2045. However, achieving such high and sustainable growth will require Vietnam to confront a series of unprecedented challenges amid a rapidly changing and increasingly complex global economic environment.
Business
HOSE Bustling With Listings: After a quiet spell, the Hochiminh Stock Exchange (HOSE) is buzzing with new listings, reaffirming its role as the powerhouse behind 90% of Vietnam’s market value.
Still Hungry For Skilled Workers: Factories keep expanding but lack workers. Though labor is abundant, skills are weak and commitment low. The issue of surplus yet poorly skilled manpower is not new and factories struggling to find suitable staff is even older.
Living
Waking Up Heritages: HCMC is entering a pivotal phase as it expands its administrative boundaries and seeks to redefine its urban identity. Yet, amid rapid development, the city’s cultural heritage—the foundation of its character— remains fragile and too often overlooked.
First Dedicated Cycle Path In HCMC: On the final day of 2025, the HCMC Department of Construction officially inaugurated the city’s first dedicated bicycle lane. The purpose-built route runs along Mai Chi Tho Boulevard, extending from Nguyen Co Thach Street to D1 Street in An Khanh Ward, HCMC. Spanning six kilometers and measuring two meters in width, the lane features distinctive red-painted sections and reflective markers on bridges and at intersections, enhancing visibility and ensuring separation from motorized traffic.
Travel
Cherry Blossoms On Cau Dat Tea Hills: The Central Highlands region of Dalat transforms into a poetic wonderland with the blooming of mai anh dao (Prunus cerasoides), the local signature cherry blossoms.
Grilled Mudskipper: A Rustic Delicacy Of Ca Mau: Deep within the mangrove forests of the southernmost province of Ca Mau, lives a creature as strange as it is delicious: the mudskipper (locally known as Cá thòi lòi).
