Focus: Decoding DNA Saigon-HCMC: Around the world, some cities are known for their iconic architecture. Others are recognized by skylines of soaring skyscrapers. But there are also cities that, the longer one lives in them, the more one realizes that what defines their identity does not lie in physical form, but in something more intangible, deeper, and more enduring: the “core codes” that govern how a city functions, how people interact, how the economy grows, and how society absorbs shocks and renews itself. Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is one such place.
Inside Vietnam
Funding Gap Or Allocation Problem? Estimates that Vietnam will need trillions of U.S. dollars to sustain growth over the coming decades have fueled debate. The figure tends to draw two predictable responses: skepticism over feasibility – where such vast resources will come from; and concern that it signals a severe capital shortage.
Pressures On Construction Materials: Although National Assembly (NA) deputies late last month voted to approve the mid-term public investment plan for 2026–2030, concerns remain about the mounting pressure on the supply and pricing of construction materials for public investment projects.
Flexible Tax Threshold For Household Businesses: On the morning of April 24, 2026, the National Assembly approved amendments to several provisions across four tax laws. Notably, the ‘fixed’ taxable threshold for household businesses—formerly set at revenues of VND500 million and above for personal income tax and value-added tax—is no longer stipulated in the law. Instead, it will be flexibly determined by the Government. This change raises questions not only about the specific threshold itself but also about the broader philosophy and policy approach underpinning it.
Business
Drivers Behind Banks’ Business Plans: The disclosure of business plans—highlighting core objectives such as credit growth, profit expansion, and the management of non-performing loan ratios—draws the attention of markets and investors during the shareholder meeting season. Yet beneath these headline figures lies a far more intricate challenge: each bank must carefully balance shareholder expectations with regulatory credit growth limits, its own capital strength and asset quality, and the strategic direction set by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
Sustaining Growth In Tough Times: As the nation pursues double-digit economic growth amid global geopolitical uncertainty, companies—especially large listed firms—are repositioning their strategies and market roles.
Living
Learning To Say No: The forthcoming issuance of environmental management and protection regulations for the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve in Danang City marks an important legal milestone. It offers a moment to reflect on over two decades of persistence by an island community that chose to treat nature with care, crafting a remarkable story of recovery from the ocean floor to the forested hills.
Hue Citadel Shines At Night: As part of Hue Festival 2026, the “Royal Palace by Night” program offers a striking new perspective on the Hue Imperial Citadel after dark.
Travel
Tradition alive in Van Quan Village: Van Quan Village in Dien Ha Commune, Hung Yen Province, is home to one of the region’s long-standing incense-making traditions, passed down through generations. More than a livelihood, the craft has become a cultural hallmark of the rural landscape.
Banh Gai Dai Dong: A Sweet Taste Of Hung Yen: Alongside well-known local treats, banh gai Dai Dong stands out as one of the most memorable specialties of Hung Yen Province, prized for its gentle sweetness and its chewy, fragrant texture.
