The southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City has gained significant socio-economic accomplishments since the liberation of the South and national reunification on April 30, 1975.
HCM City (VNA) – The southernmetropolis of Ho Chi Minh City has gained significant socio-economicaccomplishments since the liberation of the South and national reunification onApril 30, 1975.
Over the past 42 years, HCM City has maderemarkable contributions to national building, defence, industrialisation,modernisation, and international integration.
The city was one of few localities in Vietnam torecord double-digit growth for many consecutive years from 1991-2010 thanks tothe creative implementation of the Party’s guidelines on developing thesocialist-oriented market economy.
It recorded annual average growth of 9.6 percentbetween 2011 and 2015, 1.66 times higher than the national average.
In 2016, the city achieved economic growth of8.05 percent. The economic structure was shifted to services andindustry-construction, which made up 54.8 percent and 28.76 percent of themunicipal gross domestic product (GDP) respectively. The agricultural sector onlycomprised 0.8 percent of GDP.
HCM City has long been one of the mostattractive foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations.
In 2016, the city lured 3.7 billion USD, raisingtotal FDI to approximately 41 billion USD, with 6,485 foreign investmentprojects.
The FDI sector contributed 23.8 percent to thecity’s GDP.
Per capita GDP increased to 5,428 USD in 2016from 712 USD in 1995-1996.
HCM City is considered a bridge connecting thesouthern region with the south central and Central Highland regions and plays acrucial role for the development of the southern key economic region.
These achievements were attributed to the city’sfocus on planning urban areas, industrial and processing parks, and developingtransport infrastructure.
The southern economic hub has also made stridesin culture, society, education-training, and human resources.
It is one of the leading localities in nationaluniversal secondary education.
The healthcare system has been developed with the increasing useof modern technologies in medical examination and treatment.
So far, 54 out of the 56 communes in the city have beenrecognised as new-style rural areas.-VNA
Ho Chi Minh City and the Japanese prefecture of Nagasaki are looking to enhance bilateral cooperation in economics, as heard at a meeting between leaders of the two sides on August 27.
According to targets adopted at the fifth Party Congress of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) on June 22, the zones aim for average capital attraction of 8–10 million USD per hectare, with a 70% disbursement rate of registered capital achieved on schedule.
This year’s event attracted more than 350 entries from cities and provinces across the country, reflecting growing interest in and commitment to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
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.
A corner of HCM City (Photo: VNA)
