The Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research and the Centre for Development and Integration on July 8 released the 2019 Provincial Open Budget Index (POBI), which assesses how transparently localities spent their allocated public funds last year.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Researchand the Centre for Development and Integration on July 8 released the 2019Provincial Open Budget Index (POBI), which assesses how transparentlylocalities spent their allocated public funds last year.
The averagetransparency score was 65.55 out of 100 points, up from 51 points in 2018 and30.5 in 2017.
The southern-coastaland southern regions boasted the highest average POBI scores, of 77.16 points and73.81, respectively.
The north-centralregion placed last among Vietnam’s seven regions, with 52.62 points.
The Mekong Deltaprovince of Vinh Long continued to have the most transparent administration interms of budget spending, posting 90 points.
Meanwhile, centralPhu Yen province and northern Thai Binh province were ranked last, with just 10points each.
Researcherssurveyed 63 cities and provinces regarding two main pillars - budgettransparency and civil participation - to evaluate localities’ efforts to fullydisclose all relevant fiscal information in a timely and systematic manner.
The index is builton the five main criteria of completeness, timeliness, availability,convenience, and reliability in providing seven documents that the 2015 Law onState budget mandates be disclosed and three other documents that need to bepublished under international best practices.
The POBI is anational initiative implemented independently by non-profit research institutessince 2017. Along with other indexes such as the PCI (provincialcompetitiveness index), it has become a tool to enhance openness, democracy,and transparency and also helps Vietnam demonstrate its internationalcommitment to promoting open government./.
An estimated 577 trillion VND (24.86 billion USD) was collected for the State budget in the first five months of the year, equal to 38.2 percent of the estimate and down 9.2 percent compared to the same period last year.
Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung verified some issues regarding socio-economic development and State budget during the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly on June 15.
Ho Chi Minh City witnessed a sharp fall in the State budget revenue but a surge in spending during the first half of 2020 due to COVID-19 impact, according to the municipal Statistics Office.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
