Business

Viet Nam’s benchmark VN-Index fell by 1.12% to 1,874.85 points on May 5.

A Vietnamese delegation has held a working session with senior US officials on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston to explore opportunities for US energy investments in Viet Nam and discuss trade and investment policy issues, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

Global gold prices on May 5 were trading at 4,534.5 USD per ounce amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, fuelling concerns over escalating inflation. Domestically, SJC gold bars and gold rings both recorded sharp declines, with prices listed at 165 million VND per tael and 164.5 million VND per tael, respectively.

The special zone of Kien Hai, off the coast of An Giang Province, serves as a steadfast shield for the provincial centre and is steadily emerging as a dynamic engine of economic growth.

Government Decree No. 141/2026/ND-CP, issued on April 29, 2026, is already generating a clear ripple effect across the small-scale economic sector.

Becoming a centrally governed city from early 2025 has not only opened up new development space, but has also imposed higher demands on Thua Thien Hue (now Hue City) to establish a model for rapid and sustainable growth.

Amid complex geopolitical developments globally, the logistics sector, both worldwide and in Viet Nam, is being strongly affected by energy shocks and supply chain disruptions. Green transformation has become an urgent requirement, serving both immediate needs and the sector’s long-term strategy.

State budget revenue in the first four months of 2026 is estimated to have increased by 15.2% year on year. State budget expenditure is estimated to have risen by 11.6%, ensuring funding for socio-economic development, national defence and security, state management, repayment of due debts, and timely disbursement to beneficiaries in accordance with regulations.

According to newly released data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Viet Nam’s import turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products in April 2026 was estimated at 5.06 billion USD, down 1.4% compared with the previous month but up 19% year on year.

The Viet Nam space was opened at the Foire de Paris on May 4 by the Viet Nam Cultural Centre in France, marking the country’s continued presence at one of Europe’s most prominent trade and cultural events.

Moody’s said Viet Nam is well-positioned to windstand shocks from energy prices, transport costs and inflationary pressures arising from geopolitical movements, backed by solid growth fundamentals, strong external buffers, low foreign currency risk exposure and a diversified energy and export mix.

From lands once deemed barren and difficult to cultivate, biotechnology-based agricultural models are gradually bringing about tangible change. Not only do they help reduce costs, increase yields, and enhance the value of farm produce, but farms growing passion fruit, strawberries and tomatoes are also opening up new pathways for green, sustainable agriculture.

Viet Nam recorded a strong rebound in business activity in the first four months of 2026, with 41,600 enterprises resuming operations, up 8.6% year on year, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

The border gate economy is increasingly asserting itself as a key driver of growth for frontier provinces. Yet, advancing this sector in the new phase requires not only resources but, more importantly, innovative thinking and a determined spirit of action.

Agricultural, forestry and fisheries production in Viet Nam remained broadly stable in the first four months of 2026, according to the National Statistics Office.

As importing countries tighten environmental standards, extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become a critical compliance obligation for Vietnamese businesses exporting agro-forestry-fishery products. In particular, new packaging regulations are emerging as significant technical barriers, directly affecting exporters’ ability to maintain and expand their market access.

The index of industrial production (IIP) in April 2026 was estimated to rise by 3% compared with the previous month and by 9.9% year-on-year. Overall, in the first four months of 2026, the IIP increased by 9.2% compared with the same period last year, according to the Statistics Office of Viet Nam.

Total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) into Viet Nam, including newly registered and adjusted capital, plus foreign investors’ contributions and share purchases, hit 18.24 billion USD as of April 27, up 32% year-on-year, reported the Ministry of Finance’s National Statistics Office (NSO) on May 3.

Viet Nam recorded a trade deficit of 7.11 billion USD in the first four months of 2026, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

Soaring domestic gas prices, riding a global fuel rally, alongside steeper costs for dining-out services and construction materials drove Viet Nam’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) up 0.84% in April from the previous month, the Finance Ministry’s National Statistics Office reported May 3.