Focus: Unlike passwords or bank card numbers, which can be changed, biometric data is inherently linked to the human body. Once it is collected, used, or compromised, individuals have little or no ability to revoke or reset their biological identifiers. As a result, many legal systems, including Vietnam’s, classify biometric data as sensitive personal data subject to the highest level of legal protection.
Inside Vietnam:
The Path Of Credit In 2026: Amid strong credit growth in 2025, stakeholders have increasingly raised concerns about the risks posed by the scale of capital flows from credit institutions into the broader economy, even as a double‐digit GDP growth target has been set for 2026.
The Path To Digital Economy: “Vietnam should not pick a single spearhead sector but instead build a digital-economy foundation for the whole of society. A qualitative transformation of the economy into a digital environment will spur creativity, help narrow gaps, and gradually enable us to catch up with developed countries,” said Prof. Ha Ton Vinh, director of the Executive Education Program at California Miramar University in Vietnam and a senior Asia-region consultant to the World Bank, in an interview with The Saigon Times.
Trade Barriers Cast Shadow Over Growth: Vietnam’s growth outlook this year is clouded by uncertainty in global trade, despite forecasts from international financial institutions that the country’s economic growth will remain among the highest in the region.
Business:
Bank Stocks Surge: With expectations of robust growth in both the stock market and the broader economy, bank stocks are anticipated to once again serve as the primary driving force of the market this year.
Merger Tests Leadership Role: The HCMC wood industry has entered a new phase after the Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA) merged into the HCMC Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (HAWA).
Living:
Luxury Beyond Labels: Rejecting the traditional non-profit model, Arief Gunawan positions his global hospitality network as a business alliance built on independence and pride of ownership. Drawing on decades of experience in international hotel chains, he argues that true luxury today is not in logos or price tags, but in mindset, leadership culture, and a destination’s ability—like Vietnam—to preserve its soul while engaging with the world.
A Century- Old Sculpture Village In HCMC: HCMC is home to a distinctive statue-casting village with a craft history that spans nearly a century. Although it was once considered a village, it is now a close-knit community nestled in a small alley at the foot of Ong Buong Bridge in the Phu Lam area (formerly part of District 6). This neighborhood mainly produces religious statues, includ – ing figures like Sakyamuni Buddha, Bodhisattva, Maitreya Buddha, Earth Store Bodhisattva, the Goddess of the Realm, and various other statues for Mother Goddess worship, all in different sizes. These statues are commissioned not only by large pagodas and temples but also supply smaller shrines and places of worship throughout the southern region. Despite facing many ups and downs along with economic changes, the production facilities have maintained their ances – tral traditions. Although the community no longer enjoys the prosperous period of its golden age decades ago, their steadfast commitment guarantees the livelihood of these skilled arti – sans, keeping the traditional flame burning.
Travel:
Sustainable Tourism At Thanh Dong Organic Village: Beyond the old brick walls of Thanh Dong, a pioneering organic village where “green living” isn’t just a trend, but a cherished tradition that encourages travelers to reconnect with the earth through responsible and soulful experiences.
Cao Lau: The Culinary Mystery Of Hoi An: Among the countless Central Vietnamese delicacies, Cao Lau is a dish that can only be truly mastered in one place: the ancient town of Hoi An.
