According to macroeconomic forecasts, Vietnam is expected to maintain three key growth pillars, namely exports, foreign direct investment and public investment, especially in transport infrastructure, energy and industrial development.

FDI disbursement is projected to remain around $25 billion annually, focusing on industrial manufacturing, electronics, logistics and renewable energy sectors. These industries are generating substantial demand for property, engineering, liability and cargo insurance products.

Non-life insurance segment continued to account for the largest share of nearly 63 per cent in revenue structure in Q1

Public investment continues to serve as a major driver of the economy as the government accelerates the rollout of expressways, seaports, airports, energy infrastructure and urban development projects.

Large-scale projects are driving increasingly diverse insurance demand, ranging from construction and installation insurance, engineering and property coverage to liability insurance, business interruption and cargo insurance.

An example of rising insurance demand in industrial projects emerged on May 15, when VinFast Automobile Manufacturing Complex, BeeVN Insurance Brokerage and a consortium of nine insurers signed an agreement to implement an all-risks property insurance contract for the VinFast Haiphong Manufacturing Complex for 2026-2027.

The insurance programme has been implemented for many years and has now been renewed for a new term, reflecting the growing demand for asset protection at modern industrial complexes.

According to industry experts, large-scale insurance contracts such as the VinFast Haiphong programme demonstrate the significant untapped potential of the property and engineering insurance segment amid the continued expansion of industrial investment, infrastructure and high-tech manufacturing in Vietnam.

This is also considered one of the key growth drivers for the non-life insurance market going forward.

For non-life insurers, 2026 is seen as a period to accelerate the development of two core business lines: property and engineering insurance, and marine insurance – sectors viewed as having strong growth potential thanks to the recovery of infrastructure investment and import-export activities.

PTI said it would continue building a nationwide team of consultants specialising in corporate risk insurance solutions, while also expanding business through a project insurance bidding channel.

This channel is considered to offer large contract values, strong stability and alignment with the anticipated increase in basic infrastructure investment in the forthcoming period.

Meanwhile, Military Insurance Corporation (MIC) is entering an acceleration phase, focusing on digital transformation and deeper integration within the MB ecosystem.

An MIC representative emphasised that 2026 would mark a transition from consolidation to growth expansion, with priorities centred on improving operational efficiency and laying the foundation for a new development cycle.

Similarly, Petrolimex Insurance Corporation (PJICO) has set a target of total revenue of $234.9 million in 2026, including insurance premium revenue of $209.5 million, up around 8 per cent compared to 2025 results.

In addition to expanding its retail customer base for high-deductible motor physical damage insurance products, PJICO plans to strengthen distribution channels through its petrol station network, bancassurance partnerships and cooperation with car showrooms such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and VinFast.

According to the Insurance Association of Vietnam (IAV), economic growth continues to provide an important foundation for rising insurance demand.

The association expects the insurance industry to maintain positive momentum this year, with the non-life segment potentially sustaining double-digit growth.

Data for the first quarter of 2026 showed that the non-life insurance market maintained a positive growth trajectory. Preliminary consolidated reports submitted by insurers to the IAV showed that total original premium revenue across the market exceeded $984 million in Q1, up 13 per cent on-year.

Within the revenue structure, the non-life insurance segment continued to account for the largest share, representing nearly 63 per cent of total market revenue, equivalent to $616.9 million, up 12.9 per cent from the same period last year.

Notably, property and engineering insurance has emerged as one of the market’s strongest growth drivers. Revenue from this segment reached $262.6 million in Q1, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the total market and surging 15.6 per cent on-year.

Vietnam's insurance sector reaches turning point for global integration PVI Insurance, a top non-life insurer in Vietnam, is at the forefront of adopting international reporting standards, solidifying its position in Vietnam's insurance market.

ACB proposes $20 million non-life insurance subsidiary Southern lender ACB has unveiled a formal proposal to establish a non-life insurance subsidiary as part of a strategic pivot to evolve into a comprehensive financial services provider by 2030.

Non-life insurance competition heats up as smaller players gain ground Vietnam’s non-life insurance market is seeing intensifying competition in early 2026, as fast-growing smaller players challenge incumbents, reshaping rankings and sustaining the sector’s role as a key growth driver.

Getaways are even more rewarding with exclusive Fusionlife member benefits, offering up to 25 per cent off on room bookings, spa treatments and dining.

Fusion Resort and Villas Danang will offer a day of mindful experiences on June 13, including walking meditation, surfing, yoga, energy healing, and sound healing. From June 12 to 14, the resort will also host a Global Wellness Weekend retreat led by Sophie and Sanjay Rawat, featuring a two-night stay, daily meals, spa treatments, and access to wellness facilities. The programme also includes a nutrition workshop, bonfire ritual, cacao ceremony, and guided meditation.

Recently recognised as 'Best Destination Spa' at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards, Fusion Resort Cam Ranh invites guests to celebrate Global Wellness Day with peaceful and mindful activities surrounded by the beauty of nature. The resort yoga instructors practice in a tranquil garden hidden deep within Maia Spa, surrounded by a stunning water lily pond.

Here, guests are guided through gentle introductions to Tai Chi and yoga. Every session is thoughtfully designed for beginners, featuring everything from Sun Salutations to deep-stretch and sleep-enhancement practices paired with sound therapy. Beyond the mat, the Maia Natural Lab welcomes guests to handcraft their own organic body scrubs using all-natural ingredients.

From June 1–30, Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion invites guests to embrace a month-long journey of wellbeing through three signature experiences celebrating mindfulness, gentle movement, and the restorative energy of nature. Global Wellness Day will be marked on June 13 under the theme 'Joy Magenta', featuring Qi Gong, yoga, mindful hot spring immersion, and soothing sound healing sessions.

On June 21, International Yoga Day offers a peaceful opportunity to reconnect body and mind through chakra meditation and sunrise yoga amidst the serene forest landscape of Hue. The celebration concludes on June 22 with International Bathing Day, highlighted by a calming water meditation experience in Alba’s natural hot springs, complemented by a singing bowl session for deep relaxation and renewal.

Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion was recently awarded Wellness in Travel and Tourism Certification, receiving an outstanding overall score of 97 per cent, another prestigious accolade for this highly recognised wellness resort.

In celebration of World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8), Fusion Suites Vung Tau is gifting complimentary plant seeds to guests, inviting them to grow their own greenery. This small yet meaningful gesture aims to spread awareness and inspire environmental protection. Additionally, on the morning of June 10, the hotel will host a beachfront Tai Chi session for employees, guests and locals alike, promoting health and wellness for the whole community.

Fusion Suites Saigon invites travellers to a gentle celebration of wellbeing, starting on June 14 with mindful movements, guided breathing, and restorative treatments crafted to renew body and mind. At its spa, therapists offer caring, down-to-earth service: calming facials, soothing hot-stone therapy, and mindful stretch sessions. Book any payable spa treatment and enjoy an extra complimentary 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in the business district in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, HIIVE by Fusion Binh Duong has announced the opening of the new Cham’s Spa. Inspired by Vietnamese wellness traditions, Cham’s Spa offers a calming retreat designed to help guests restore energy, relax the body, and rebalance the mind with 11 specialised treatments, including Swedish, deep tissue, and hot stone massages, facial care, and herbal remedies. Signature facials feature deep cleansing and gemstone massages for total renewal. Immersive combination packages (100–150 mins) start at VND639,000 ($24.27).

Fusion Hotels & Resorts makes strategic acquisition to create leading regional platform Fusion Hotels & Resorts has announced today that it has acquired GLOW Hotels & Resorts in a transaction that aims to create one of the region’s strongest hospitality brand and management platforms.

Fusion launches festive wellness and dining packages in Vietnam Wellness-focused luxury hotel brand Fusion is rolling out festive dining, spa packages, and special experiences for the holiday season across Vietnam.

Fusion offers guests special deals to celebrate Vietnam’s April holidays Fusion Hotel Group in Vietnam offers various curated experiences to celebrate Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and the upcoming April 30 holiday, whether guests prefer unwinding by a tranquil beach or immersing themselves in the vibrant rhythm of city life.

The scheme aims to develop the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnamese-German University, and the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City into leading regional centres for high-quality human resource training, scientific research, innovation, and technology transfer.

The institutions are also expected to drive higher education development and support the socioeconomic growth and international integration of Ho Chi Minh City and the southeast region.

Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VNUHCM

By 2035, the goal is for the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Vietnamese-German University to be key public higher education institutions in the Southeast and the whole country, with modern technical infrastructure and facilities meeting regional standards, striving to maintain their position among the leading universities in Asia.

By 2050, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnamese-German University aim to maintain their training, research, and management quality among the top 100 higher education institutions in Asia.

They, together with the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, will play a core role in training, scientific research, development, and technology transfer in areas with regional competitiveness, while also contributing to socioeconomic development, transforming Ho Chi Minh City and the southeast region into one of the leading financial, educational, and medical centres in the country and Southeast Asia.

The scheme outlines five key tasks and solutions to achieve the above objectives, including modernising technical infrastructure and facilities, expanding the development space of higher education institutions; building and developing a workforce that meets the requirements of international integration; innovating and improving the quality of training according to international standards.

Other tasks include enhancing research capacity and international publications, encouraging collaboration and commissioning scientific research tasks and technology transfer; strengthening coordination with localities and cooperating with businesses in the Southeast region in training human resources, addressing local issues, and contributing to socioeconomic development.

The scheme also emphasises application of AI in teaching, research, and management; ensuring safety, transparency, accountability, and compliance with regulations on data protection, ethics, and academic integrity.

It also highlights developing open educational resources, connecting, integrating, and sharing university databases with specialised databases on higher education and the national data centre; strengthening cooperation in training and student exchange with leading universities in Asia; encouraging joint learning and research projects in Vietnam and the wider region.

In November 2025, Quacquarelli Symonds released the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with 25 Vietnamese higher education institutions listed, including eight first-time entrants, the country's highest ever ranking.

Universities urged to drive next phase of growth Universities are increasingly recognised as key drivers of economic growth through innovation, research, and stronger links with business and government.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy develops vaccinology postgrad course The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City held a seminar on strategic directions for its vaccinology postgraduate curriculum on November 10, in collaboration with GSK Vietnam.

AmCham scholarships awarded to students The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ho Chi Minh City has awarded scholarships to 60 university students.

During the first five months of the year, the SBV maintained all key policy rates unchanged, enabling credit institutions to access central bank funding at the lowest possible cost to support economic growth.

On May 21, the SBV issued a directive requiring its regional branches to convene meetings with commercial bank branches in their respective localities, reiterating and enforcing SBV Governor Pham Duc An’s instructions outlined in the April 10 notice regarding reductions in lending rates.

Rising funding costs have increased pressure on lending rates across the banking sector

The central bank is closely monitoring developments in both deposit and lending rates across the market and at individual credit institutions to introduce timely measures and policies to ensure strict compliance with its directive to lower lending rates.

However, according to SBV data, as of April 20, the average lending rate for newly originated loans stood at 8.38 per cent per year, down only 0.44 percentage points from the end of 2025. By contrast, banks had reduced long-term deposit rates by between 0.5 and 1 percentage point per year.

Banks have also noted that lending rates have been adjusted downward over the past two months, although the scope for deeper cuts remains limited because deposit rates had previously risen sharply, reaching 8-9 per cent per year for long-term tenors.

To date, 25 commercial banks have disclosed their average lending rates and the spread between average lending and deposit rates for April.

Among them, at least 15 banks recorded increases in average lending rates compared with March. TPBank raised its average lending rate by 0.7 percentage points to 10.94 per cent per year, while GPBank and PVcomBank both increased theirs by 0.42 percentage points, to 10.47 per cent and 9.35 per cent per year, respectively.

Techcombank, Agribank, VietinBank, KienlongBank, Saigonbank, BIDV, MB, Bac A Bank and ACB reported increases ranging from 0.03 to 0.32 percentage points per year.

In contrast, six banks posted slight declines in their average lending rates in April compared with March.

For instance, Viet A Bank reduced its average lending rate by 0.31 percentage points to 9.27 per cent per year, BaoViet Bank cut its rate by 0.18 percentage points to 7.76 per cent, LPBank lowered its rate by 0.05 percentage points to 8.71 per cent, while MSB reduced its rate by 0.01 percentage points to 7.57 per cent per year.

Among state-controlled banks, Vietcombank has yet to disclose its average lending rate for April. In March, the bank’s average lending rate stood at 6.6 per cent per year, with an average lending-deposit rate spread of 3.2 percentage points.

At VietinBank, the average lending rate in April was 5.98 per cent per year, up 0.11 percentage points from March, but down 0.09 percentage points from the beginning of the year. The lending-deposit rate spread in April was 2.2 percentage points.

According to financial and banking expert Huynh Trung Minh, the slight increase in average lending rates at many banks in April is not surprising, given that lending rates typically lag deposit rates, as outstanding loans were funded by deposits mobilised earlier at higher interest rates.

“The era of cheap money supposedly came to an end in 2026. Deposit rates have been on an upward trajectory since late 2025. In particular, deposit rates have continued to rise since the beginning of the year, especially in the early part of the second quarter, reaching as high as 9-10 per cent per year for deposit terms exceeding one year and 6-7 per cent per year for terms of one year or less. This reflects competition among commercial banks for funds against alternative investment channels such as gold and real estate,” Minh said.

He also noted that although banks have been striving to optimise operating costs and leverage technology to maintain relatively thin margins supporting businesses, lending rates are unlikely to decline substantially because funding costs have increased significantly.

At the same time, under a policy of tighter and more substantive credit control in 2026, the SBV has set a system-wide credit growth target of approximately 15-16 per cent, significantly lower than the level achieved in 2025.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, head of Retail Banking Division at Shinhan Bank Vietnam, said that lending rates are likely to remain stable or decline slightly during the second quarter of 2026, supported primarily by the SBV’s policy direction and stable liquidity conditions across the banking system.

However, Hai believes that interest rate trends will become more differentiated in the second half of 2026.

“Deposit rates are expected to remain at reasonable levels but could edge higher for certain maturities or at selected banks to ensure liquidity amid ongoing competition for deposits and stronger credit expansion in line with the SBV’s target of around 15 per cent.

Meanwhile, lending rates are expected to continue a selective downward trend, with reductions concentrated in priority sectors such as production and business activities, exports, and household businesses. This reflects the SBV’s flexible policy approach aimed at supporting economic growth while safeguarding the stability of the banking system,” he said.

In addition, interest rate movements in the upcoming period will be influenced by funding cost pressures, competition for deposits, and external factors, including global interest rate trends.

Against this backdrop, the interest rate environment is expected to become more flexible and increasingly segmented, reflecting differences in liquidity positions and funding structures among banks, rather than maintaining the relatively uniform market conditions seen in previous years.

No more “cheap money” for real estate, experts say The real estate market is facing an exceptionally challenging period under dual pressure: a clear upward trend in lending rates and mounting growth pressure, while monetary policy space is gradually narrowing, a forum has heard.

Banks strengthen provisions as bad debt risks re-emerge Vietnamese banks are strengthening risk management and provisioning buffers as rising bad debt signals prompt the sector to focus more closely on asset quality and long-term financial resilience.

Ministry of Finance seeks World Bank budget lending support The Ministry of Finance has called on the World Bank to expand a state budget lending mechanism to accelerate public investment, as both sides prepare a new framework to guide cooperation over the next five years.

On June 5, the University of Economics and Business (UEB) under Vietnam National University, Hanoi announced its 2026 Annual Policy Advisory Report and held a seminar on boosting science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Policies and Strategies, said Vietnam had set a high growth target of 10 per cent or more. In that context, transforming the growth model towards rapid, sustainable and knowledge-based development, driven by sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation, has been identified as a core engine for generating productivity, competitiveness and new added value.

However, he noted that this transition required urgent improvements in institutions, stronger technological absorption capacity among businesses, the development of suitable personnel and more effective implementation of public policies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truc Le, rector of the UEB, raised the question of what Vietnam should rely on to achieve economic growth of 10 per cent or higher in the coming years.

He stressed the need to turn sci-tech into a direct productive force, make innovation a source of national competitiveness, and position digital transformation as a key driver of productivity growth across the economy. Research outcomes, new technologies and innovative ideas, he said, must be translated into economic growth, jobs, higher incomes and better living standards for Vietnamese people.

Luu Quoc Dat from the UEB argued that the new development model places knowledge, technology, data and innovation at the centre of growth. Under this approach, total factor productivity would increase, with growth increasingly generated by governance, technology, skills, data and continuous learning.

At the same time, a lower ICOR ratio would reflect more efficient use of capital and reduced dependence on pure investment expansion. Domestic enterprises, he added, would gain stronger control over production processes, products, data and markets.

“Transforming the growth model is not about simply adding more technology, but about reorganising the way growth is generated, with productivity and value-added serving as the central benchmarks,” Dat said.

He proposed a five-layer model linked into an integrated ecosystem in which the state serves as the foundation builder, the innovation system connects stakeholders and science, technology, innovation and digital transformation together create a continuous value cycle.

According to the proposal, the three pillars of the new economic development model would help Vietnam move away from extensive growth towards growth based on productivity, knowledge, innovation and data.

Sci-tech generates new knowledge, while technology transforms that knowledge into tools, processes and productive capacity. Innovation serves as the central mechanism for converting knowledge and technology into socioeconomic value. Meanwhile, digital transformation is not simply about digitalisation, but about restructuring governance, production and innovation based on data.

“The new development logic is no longer just about adding capital and labour, but about building the capability to create knowledge, convert knowledge into value and amplify that process through digital technologies,” Dat said. “The three pillars do not replace one another, but interact and complement each other to enhance productivity, value-added and new competitive capabilities. High and sustainable growth can only emerge when all three pillars continuously interact within the national innovation system.”

The UEB proposed that the government expand public procurement for innovation, create an institutional “green lane” and adopt KPI-based governance mechanisms.

“The focus should not be on issuing more policies, but on creating fast, measurable implementation mechanisms and building markets for innovation,” Dat said.

The seminar also highlighted major obstacles to growth driven by science, technology and innovation, including limited technological absorption capacity among businesses, inconsistent digital infrastructure and institutions, gaps between research and practical application, and barriers related to capital, staff and digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Experts called for breakthroughs in institutional reform, the development of digital infrastructure and national data systems, as well as stronger linkages among the government, universities, research institutes and businesses to encourage innovation and improve the economy’s competitiveness.

At the seminar, the UEB also launched its 2026 annual policy advisory publication series, consisting of three thematic reports: “Vietnam’s Growth Outlook and Economic Structure”; “Innovation, Digital Transformation and National Governance Capacity”; and “Sustainable Development and New Economic Models.”

The publications are the result of interdisciplinary research conducted by UEB experts, combining theoretical foundations, international experience and Vietnam’s development realities. They focus on strategic issues such as growth model reform, private sector development, institutional reform, digital transformation, and improving resource allocation efficiency.

Assoc. Prof. Le Trung Thanh, vice rector of the UEB, said science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must become the core foundation of Vietnam’s new growth model, providing momentum for rapid and green development while enhancing national competitiveness.

"Scientific research should be more closely linked with practical governance and business needs to help transform knowledge into productivity, technology and new economic value," he said.

World Bank projects Vietnam’s growth to moderate to 6.8 per cent in 2026 While headwinds are expected to temper the pace of expansion, World Bank's latest Vietnam Economic Update, released on May 15, projects growth will moderate to a 6.8 per cent in 2026, following an 8 per cent expansion in 2025.

Vietnam’s digital growth bet As Vietnam races towards an ambitious double-digit growth target, policymakers and tech leaders are pushing to turn digital transformation, AI and regulatory sandbox reforms from long-term strategy into immediate economic momentum.

ADB president backs Vietnam’s 'Era of National Rise' President of the Asian Development Bank Masato Kanda met Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on May 31, congratulating him on his historic re-election and expressing strong support for Vietnam’s new phase of high-quality, innovation-driven growth under the “Era of National Rise” agenda.

Speaking at the conference, To Tran Hoa, deputy head of the Standing Committee, Market Management Board of Cryptocurrency Asset Trading under the SSC, said regulators were currently focused on three key priorities: completing the legal framework, coordinating licensing, supervision and market oversight, and implementing periodic reporting to the government in accordance with Resolution No.05/2025/NQ-CP.

“In the next phase, regulators will continue studying new products for the market, including margin lending, digital asset-backed lending and derivatives products when market conditions are appropriate,” Hoa said.

He added that the current framework was a pilot mechanism, and that authorities would continue reviewing higher-level legislation to gradually establish a more comprehensive and permanent legal foundation for the market. At the same time, regulation alone would not be sufficient to support the sector’s long-term development. Building investor awareness and market understanding will be equally important as digital assets become widely adopted.

“Licensed service providers, issuers and market participants need to work closely with regulators to improve information disclosure, enhance public understanding and strengthen coordination among state management agencies,” he said.

The conference brought together regulators, industry experts and businesses to discuss Vietnam’s digital asset market

As policymakers move to establish the market’s legal foundations, law enforcement agencies are also stepping up preparations to address potential risks arising from digital asset activities.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi The Hoang, deputy head of Division 2 under the Ministry of Public Security’s Department of Police Investigation of Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes, said authorities had identified four main categories of violations involving digital assets.

These include fraudulent investment schemes, multi-level marketing models, market manipulation and ransomware attacks demanding payment in digital assets. Other risks involve scams conducted through social media groups, fake websites and malicious applications designed to steal user assets and information.

Authorities have also identified the use of digital assets for money laundering, tax evasion and other criminal activities, often involving offshore wallets and complex transaction structures that make tracing funds more difficult. A fourth category relates to corruption and misconduct associated with licensing, supervision, inspection and tax administration.

According to Hoang, managing these risks will require broad cooperation across the market ecosystem rather than relying solely on enforcement actions.

“Building a safe market is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Regulators, industry associations, service providers and the media all have an important role to play in identifying risks early and strengthening market integrity,” she said. “Effective prevention is just as important as enforcement. When investors and businesses are equipped with the necessary knowledge and awareness, the market becomes more resilient against fraud and financial crime.”

The focus on risk prevention and market integrity is becoming increasingly important. Phan Duc Trung, chairman of the Vietnam Blockchain Association, said Vietnam has established the foundations of a legal framework for digital assets within a relatively short period.

However, translating that framework into a sustainable market will require substantial investment in infrastructure, operating standards, risk management and workforce development.

“The biggest gap today is not technology, but human capital,” Trung said. “Digital assets are closely linked to financial technology and operate very differently from traditional securities markets.”

He added that digital asset platforms were capable of handling vast volumes of data and large numbers of user accounts, while compliance, cybersecurity and financial crime risks remain constant challenges. Without sufficient expertise in risk management, compliance, technology and crime prevention, operational risks could emerge as the market expands.

“For that reason, workforce development must be placed at the centre of market development, alongside regulatory reform and technological innovation,” Trung said.

As authorities continue refining regulations and exploring new products, participants agreed that investor education, professional standards and market discipline will be essential to building a transparent, resilient and sustainable digital asset ecosystem.

Exchanges core to building trust and transparency in Vietnam's digital asset market As part of the Danang Finance and Tech Week 2025, a panel discussion was held to discuss the development of the digital asset market, and how exchanges will play a key role in ensuring a fair and transparent playing field.

Five-year test run for Vietnam’s digital asset market Vietnam has launched a five-year pilot of its digital asset market, marking a pivotal step in shaping regulations for the country’s emerging financial landscape.

SSC and Thai SEC exchange experience on digital asset markets and gold derivatives The chairwoman of Vietnam's State Securities Commission has held talks with her Thai counterpart during the official visit of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to Thailand.

The country's agro-forestry-aquatic product imports were estimated at $22.28 billion, up 12.6 per cent, resulting in a trade surplus of $8.41 billion for the sector.

Among major product groups, agricultural product exports reached $16.38 billion, forestry products with $7.65 billion, and aquatic products with $4.65 per cent, signifying increases of 6.1 per cent, 4.5 per cent and 10.6 per cent, respectively.

Exports to key markets continued to expand. China remained Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for 20.5 per cent of total turnover and recording growth of 28.4 per cent. The United States ranked second with an 18.5 per cent market share, although export value declined by 3.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, exports to the European Union accounted for 11.8 per cent of total turnover and increased by 4.2 per cent, while shipments to Japan, which represented 6.8 per cent of exports, rose 3.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that ago-forestry-aquatic production saw positive results during the period, ensuring supply-demand balance and meeting domestic consumption and export requirements.

Favourable production conditions and promising market prospects in several sectors are expected to support the industry's growth targets for 2026.

In crop production, the area under winter-spring rice cultivation reached 2.98 million hectares, up 0.3 per cent on-year, with output estimated at 13.96 million tonnes. Summer-autumn rice cultivation covered 1.29 million ha, an increase of 3 per cent.

In the livestock sector, pig and poultry herds both expanded by 3.7 per cent, reflecting stable recovery and development. However, buffalo and cattle herds declined by 2.9 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively.

Forestry continued to grow, with newly planted concentrated forests covering 101,400 ha, up 1.9 per cent, while timber output was estimated at 8.7 million cu.m, a rise of 3.8 per cent.

Aquatic production was estimated at 3.9 million tonnes in the first five months, up 3.1 per cent on-year. Of the total, aquaculture output reached 2.3 million tonnes, increasing 5 per cent and remaining the sector’s main growth driver, while catch output edged up 0.5 per cent to 1.6 million tonnes.

Asia-Pacific ministers meet FAO to boost food security Ministers from across Asia and the Pacific have gathered in Brunei to discuss collaboration on food security and agricultural development with the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

MAE urges thermal power plants to review their emissions The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment asked thermal power plants to review their emissions, strengthen environmental protection, and ensure that the operation of power generation units is not affected during the peak months of the hot, dry season.

Vietnam urged to shift from sourcing base to food hub Vietnam should offer more policies to encourage a new generation of foreign investment in agriculture and food, including sourcing, processing, technology, traceability, and quality standards, according to an executive at Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) Vietnam.

Agribank and AFD sign climate finance deal to boost green growth Agribank and the French Development Agency have signed a climate finance credit facility, marking a new step in international financial cooperation to promote green growth in Vietnam.

Phu Tho lays groundwork for next investment wave Phu Tho province is stepping up investment promotion efforts with a pipeline of 175 priority projects for the 2026-2030 period across industry, urban development, infrastructure, and high-tech agriculture.

Through the partnership, Chubb Life’s portfolio of life, health, and critical illness products will be distributed through Ignite, Igloo’s AI-powered platform for insurance agents.

Agents in both markets will gain access to long-term life insurance, critical illness cover, and health protection products, adding to the general insurance products currently distributed through the Ignite platform.

Ignite by Igloo currently operates an agency network across both markets and works with more than 40 insurer partners and over 75 distribution partners across the region. The platform automates the selling process, provides in-app training through its iLearn modules, and gives agents access to products from multiple insurer partners in a single interface.

This partnership marks Igloo’s expansion from its predominantly general insurance portfolio into the life insurance segment, aligning with the company’s strategy to diversify into life and health product categories and deepen its role in closing the protection gap in Southeast Asia.

Life insurance penetration in Southeast Asia remains low. In Vietnam, life premiums represent approximately 1.3 per cent of GDP, while in Indonesia, the figure sits at approximately 1 per cent of GDP. Addressing this gap, the collaboration combines Chubb Life’s underwriting expertise and product design with Igloo’s on-the-ground agent network and digital distribution reach to make life insurance more accessible for individuals across both countries.

“This partnership with Chubb Life is a significant milestone in Igloo’s journey to become the operating system for insurance in Southeast Asia,” said Raunak Mehta, CEO of Igloo.

“By combining Chubb Life’s premium insurance solutions with Igloo’s technology and agency platform, we are enabling agents in Vietnam and Indonesia to offer life, health, and critical illness coverage in ways that are convenient, affordable, and relevant to their customers. Our aggressive AI-native drive will also see AI applied across the entire agency management cycle, simplifying onboarding, learning and selling agency teams.”

The partnership demonstrates Igloo’s role as a technology infrastructure provider of choice for global insurers seeking to reach mass-market consumers in Southeast Asia. For Chubb Life, the collaboration offers access to Igloo’s on-the-ground agency capabilities and digital distribution network in Vietnam and Indonesia, enabling the company to provide expanded access to insurance solutions for individuals and families in these markets. This approach supports Chubb Life’s commitment to making quality life and health insurance more accessible and relevant to customers, wherever they are.

Sang Lee, president of Chubb Life Southeast Asia and New Zealand, and country president of Chubb Life Vietnam, said, “Vietnam and Indonesia are home to millions of families seeking greater financial security and access to quality health protection. By partnering with Igloo and leveraging the Ignite platform, we can deliver Chubb Life’s trusted life, health, and critical illness solutions to people where and how they need them. This collaboration enables us to support customers at every stage of life, helping them protect what matters most and plan confidently for the future.”

The parties will commence rollout activities from June this year, with further details on product launches and local initiatives to be announced at a later stage.

Igloo raises $36 million in funding Igloo, an insurtech firm headquartered in Singapore, has successfully concluded its Pre-Series C funding round, securing a substantial $36 million.

Insurtech startup Saladin wraps up Series A funding round Vietnamese insurtech startup Saladin has raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding led by SBI Ven Capital through its joint fund with Kyobo Securities from South Korea and NTUitive from Singapore.

Vietnam's life insurance industry to surpass $7 billion by 2030 Vietnam's life insurance industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.9 per cent, increasing from $6 billion in 2026 to $7.2 billion by 2030 in terms of gross written premium, according to a report by GlobalData on April 15.

According to VinaCapital, the VN-Index is trading at an attractive 13x forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio valuation versus 15 per cent expected earnings growth, but that headline figure obscures a deeper discount: over 70 per cent of the market is trading below 10x P/E, a valuation that is consistent with past Vietnam stock market shocks.

The market is trading as if Vietnam were experiencing an economic crisis – which is a sharp disconnect from Vietnam’s resilient economy and booming high-tech exports in 2026. This bifurcation stems from the stellar stock price performance of the Vingroup family of companies, which now account for nearly 30 per cent of the VNI’s market cap.

VN-Index earnings grew 51 per cent on-year in the first quarter, dwarfing the 15 per cent consensus expectation. That surge was partly driven by Vinhomes (VHM), but even when stripping out VHM, earnings grew by around 30 per cent – or double consensus expectations.

This reflects the sound fundamentals of these stocks amid the tail risk to the global economy that the US-Iran war presents. The growth is driven by broad-based strength in real estate, materials, retail, energy, and consumer staples.

VinaCapital highlights that Vietnam’s stock market is currently facing multiple headwinds, including the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s trade deficit has more than doubled from 3 per cent of GDP pre-war to over 6 per cent/GDP as of mid-May.

The war contributed more than 2 percentage points towards the widening of Vietnam’s trade deficit because oil prices and the value of China’s currency have both soared (Vietnam sources over one-third of the production materials it uses to produce exports from China), but rising imports of production materials and capital goods required to produce high-tech products account for most of Vietnam’s current trade deficit.

Foreign-invested high-tech companies are increasingly importing capital goods used in the production of precision components. This important but nuanced point helps explain why the currency and stock markets are brushing off the recent jump in the trade deficit.

In addition, inflation in Vietnam is now well above 5 per cent, which is pushing interest rates higher. Another headwind is persistent foreign outflows, with investors selling roughly $2 billion of Vietnamese equities year-to-date (following $5 billion of outflows last year).

Nevertheless, VinaCapital believes the Vietnamese government has the capacity to counter these issues and achieve 7 per cent GDP growth this year.

Vietnam is advancing a wide-ranging series of reforms that are aimed at improving the efficiency of state-owned enterprise, that are tied to FTSE EM inclusion, that target restarting stalled real estate projects, etc.

Still, the full impact of these reforms has yet to be priced into the stock market. The benefits will accrue gradually through better liquidity, more listings, state-owned enterprise restructuring, and the reactivation of delayed projects.

Vietnam moves closer to MSCI upgrade Vietnam’s stock market is gaining momentum for a potential MSCI Watchlist inclusion as regulatory reforms, foreign ownership improvements and resilient earnings strengthen its emerging-market upgrade case.

Stock market enters selective phase driven by earnings quality With earnings quality emerging as the key driver of valuations, Vietnam’s stock market is entering a more selective phase in which capital is expected to concentrate in industry leaders benefiting from structural growth trends and policy tailwinds.

Net fund outflows ease in April as Vingroup rally polarises performance Net outflows from Vietnam investment funds slowed significantly in April despite a persistent net selling trend, buoyed by a sharp turnaround in equity fund performance engineered by Vingroup-related stocks.

Hoang Viet Phuong, director of Research and Investment Advisory at VNDIRECT Securities, noted that double-digit earnings growth for the overall market in Q2 is entirely achievable as business activities across many sectors continue to improve.

The main growth drivers are expected to come from large-cap sectors, including real estate, securities, banking and oil and gas, supported by a low comparison base from the same period last year as well as a more favourable business environment.

Banks continue to be the major growth driver of the stock market in Q2

Meanwhile, Tran Anh Tuan, director of Research at PetroVietnam Securities (PSI), believes overall market earnings growth of around 18 per cent is consistent with current conditions.

The recovery, however, is unlikely to be broad-based and will instead be concentrated in a number of leading sectors.

“Banking will remain the market’s most important growth driver. The State Bank of Vietnam’s shift towards a more flexible credit management mechanism, no longer allocating credit growth quotas on a quarterly basis as in the past, has created conditions for banks to accelerate lending and improve net interest income,” Tuan said.

In addition, Circular No.08/2026/TT-NHNN issued by the State Bank of Vietnam allows 20 per cent of term deposits from the State Treasury to continue being included in the loan-to-deposit ratio calculation. This has significantly eased liquidity pressures across the banking system, particularly among state-owned commercial banks.

Although net interest margins may face some pressure from rising funding costs, major banks with strong asset quality, such as Vietcombank, VietinBank, and ACB, are still expected to report double-digit earnings growth in Q2.

In the real estate sector, positive prospects are being supported by the continued removal of legal delays, faster project implementation, and revenue recognition from projects sold in previous periods.

Leading developers such as Vinhomes and Nam Long are expected to record substantial profit improvements thanks to the handover of large-scale projects.

At the same time, the ongoing wave of public investment and infrastructure development is creating additional momentum for the property market, particularly in areas benefiting from increasingly well-developed transportation connectivity.

According to market experts, housing demand is increasingly shifting towards integrated urban developments, satellite mega-urban areas, and the mid-range apartment segment, creating opportunities for developers with clean land banks and strong project execution capabilities.

In addition to banking and real estate, a number of non-financial sectors are also expected to post positive earnings growth as commodity prices remain elevated.

According to PSI, Brent crude oil prices continuing to trade around $100 per barrel is creating better conditions across the entire oil and gas value chain.

Exploration and production activities are gaining momentum as oil prices remain attractive, while major projects such as the Block B – O Mon gas-to-power chain are entering the implementation phase after years of delay.

In the upstream segment, oilfield service providers are benefiting from increased investment demand. Meanwhile, oil and gas transportation companies continue to be supported by elevated freight rates driven by ongoing geopolitical uncertainties around the world.

For the refining and petrochemical sector, refining margins, or crack spreads, for many products remain significantly higher than levels seen before recent geopolitical conflicts, providing support for business performance.

Beyond oil and gas, the materials and construction materials sectors are also expected to benefit as prices of many key commodities rebound amid rising demand from infrastructure construction and public investment projects.

Phuong of VNDIRECT Securities said construction materials represented one of the sectors with particularly attractive prospects, supported by faster public investment disbursement this year.

“As a series of major transportation infrastructure projects enter peak construction phases, demand for steel, cement, construction stone, and materials will continue to increase. In addition, the shipping sector is benefiting from freight rates remaining at elevated levels, while logistics companies have opportunities to improve profit margins as cargo volumes continue to grow,” Phuong said.

However, analysts caution that part of the strong earnings growth expected in Q2 reflects a low comparison base from the previous year. As a result, investors should carefully assess the quality of earnings growth rather than focusing solely on the headline growth rate.

Against a backdrop of continued market divergence, investors are advised to prioritise companies with strong financial fundamentals, solid cash flow generation, sustainable earnings growth, and leading positions within their respective industries.

These are expected to be the companies best positioned to attract capital inflows as Q2 earnings results are gradually released.

Weighing up stock appeal in June and beyond Le Duc Khanh, director of Analysis at VPS Securities, delves into market prospects and stock appeal in June and beyond.

Industrial real estate tickers eye bright prospects in 2025 Industrial real estate is expected to be one of the leading ticker groups this year, driven by rising foreign direct investment (FDI) and robust infrastructure and logistics development.

Generous dividend plans warm investor sentiment Following a period of steep decline and modest recovery, shareholders of Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) were buoyed by a gain of just under 5 per cent on the share price during the May 12 trading session.

The commitment was made following a high-level meeting between Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang at the Government Headquarters in Hanoi on June 4.

The meeting marks the second official engagement between Bybit and Vietnamese authorities within the past year, reflecting continued dialogue as Vietnam advances its regulatory framework for digital assets and virtual asset markets.

The discussions followed the government's issuance of Resolution No.05/2025/NQ-CP, which established a pilot framework for the country's crypto-asset market. During the meeting, DPM Thang explained Vietnam's balanced regulatory approach towards digital assets – recognising the sector's innovation and economic potential while underscoring the importance of investor protection, anti-money laundering safeguards, anti-fraud measures, and transparent market supervision aligned with international standards.

He noted, "Vietnam is actively seeking cooperation with reputable international industry participants to support the development of legal frameworks, supervisory systems, transaction monitoring capabilities, technology infrastructure, and talent training necessary for the safe implementation of the pilot programme."

Participation in the pilot market will be subject to stringent requirements covering capital adequacy, operational track record, technological capability, cybersecurity standards, and international compliance experience.

Zhou welcomed Vietnam's progress in establishing a structured legal framework for digital assets and reaffirmed Bybit's long-term commitment to regulatory collaboration and responsible market development.

"Vietnam is taking a forward-looking and measured approach towards digital asset innovation by prioritising transparency, investor protection, and regulatory readiness from the beginning," said Zhou. "At Bybit, we believe the future of the digital asset industry depends on close collaboration with regulators and institutions. We are honoured to continue supporting Vietnam through international best-practice sharing, institutional capacity building, compliance expertise, and talent development as the country builds a secure and globally competitive digital asset ecosystem."

Bybit also reiterated its readiness to collaborate with Vietnamese stakeholders and local partners in areas including market surveillance, operational governance, risk management frameworks, and workforce training.

DPM Thang expressed his expectation that, "Bybit could become a trusted partner to Vietnamese regulatory agencies during the pilot phase, contributing to the development of a healthy, transparent, and efficient crypto-asset market that balances the interests of the state, investors, and the broader public."

The meeting reflects Vietnam's accelerating efforts to establish a controlled and internationally aligned regulatory framework for digital assets as the country positions itself as one of Southeast Asia's emerging digital innovation hubs.

OKX Ventures and HashKey invest in Vietnam crypto exchange CAEX Vietnam Prosperity Crypto Asset Exchange JSC on April 10 announced that OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital have agreed to invest in the company and become its strategic partners.

'The Allure of Asset Classes’ workshop maps Vietnam’s financial outlook As global headwinds continue to test investor confidence, Vietnam’s financial markets are adapting to shifting capital flows and evolving asset dynamics.

South Korea's Bithumb ties up with SSID to develop virtual asset exchange in Vietnam Bithumb, South Korea's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, has signed a deal with SSID, a subsidiary of SSI Securities, to enter Vietnam's cryptocurrency market.

Japfa Group first invested in Vietnam in 1996. Over the past three decades of continuous investment and expansion, it has been a pioneer in developing a fully integrated feed - farm - food value chain in Vietnam.

The company currently operates eight feed and aqua feed mills, four central hatcheries, and cooperates with more than 1,400 partner farms.

Speaking at the event, Renaldo Santosa, executive chairman and CEO of Japfa Group, said that Japfa was one of the largest animal protein producers in the region, with operations across five countries across Asia, and headquarters in Singapore.

Vietnam is Japfa’s second major market in the region, with a fully integrated value chain that has been invested in at scale and supported by modern technology.

“We have strong feed and poultry operations here. Vietnam is also the group’s centre of excellence for swine. Last year, we inaugurated the Vaksindo veterinary vaccine factory in Vietnam. All of this represents thirty years of presence, investment, and trust in Vietnam,” Santosa said.

“Thirty years of shared growth teach us one thing above all else: growth is only worth building if it lasts. That is why we continue investing in innovation, technology and green farming systems to support the long-term development of Vietnam’s livestock industry.”

Over the past 30 years, innovation, sustainability, and partnership for shared prosperity have been central to Japfa Vietnam’s growth, helping drive the company’s long-term development. Among these, innovation has been identified as a key driver of Japfa Vietnam’s growth.

Leveraging the group's strong technological capabilities, including the Centre of Excellence for AI and Quantum Computing in Singapore, Japfa Vietnam is accelerating the digitalisation of farm operations. This initiative aims to facilitate real-time monitoring, AI-enabled alerts, and data-driven insights for timely decision-making.

At poultry hatcheries, Japfa applies an AI-integrated camera system to monitor and assess chick quality in real-time. In-ovo vaccination technology is being deployed to enhance biosecurity standards.

At its swine farms, Japfa is progressively digitalising operations through real-time data monitoring, automated alerts, and decision-making increasingly driven by data analytics and AI, helping ensure greater accuracy.

These innovations not only help Japfa improve productivity and operational efficiency, but also contribute to transforming the future of Vietnam’s livestock industry, making it more modern, precise, and sustainable.

Clemens Tan, general director of Japfa Vietnam

At the event, Clemens Tan, general director of Japfa Vietnam, outlined the company’s long-term strategy and emphasised the importance of responsible development. “We believe that every innovation in the food and livestock industry must ultimately serve a greater purpose: sustainable growth,” he said.

Vietnam is entering a critical phase of transformation in agriculture and animal husbandry. The national livestock development strategy towards 2030 envisions large-scale farming models contributing the majority of production output. The roadmap to eliminate antibiotic growth promoters is approaching. Export markets are also demanding greater traceability and transparency across the value chain.

“Japfa Vietnam is not standing outside this transformation. We choose to move with it and help lead it,” Tan said.

Currently, renewable energy accounts for 37 per cent of Japfa Group’s total energy consumption. In Vietnam, Japfa has completed life cycle assessments for its entire poultry and swine value chains, thereby identifying improvements to reduce environmental impact.

Many of Japfa’s farms are now operating circular wastewater treatment systems combined with solar energy solutions. These are concrete steps supporting Japfa Vietnam’s long-term ambition towards net-zero.

Beyond the environmental dimension, sustainability for Japfa is also about maintaining livelihoods for farmers, rural communities, and the broader agricultural ecosystem.

“More than 1,400 partner farms across Vietnam are working together with Japfa to build a new livestock farming model that provides more stable income, lower risks, and access to a more transparent and modern value chain,” Tan said.

Sanjeev Kumar, deputy general director of Japfa Vietnam, delivered a presentation on comprehensive solutions that integrate technology across the company’s entire value chain. Following the presentation, a panel discussion on green growth and green development, featuring leaders of Japfa Vietnam and international experts, offered valuable perspectives and insights that can be applied to the livestock industry in Vietnam as the sector undergoes a transformation towards a greener future.

After a 30-year journey, Japfa Vietnam identifies cost leadership, value creation, and people development as the three core pillars for its sustainable growth in the next phase. On this foundation, the company remains committed to its purpose of “Growing Towards Mutual Prosperity” for farmers, customers, and Vietnam.

Japfa Long An Feed Mill marks 20 years of fostering sustainable agriculture Japfa Long An Feed Mill is marking two decades of growth, affirming its role as one of the company's key production facilities in southern Vietnam.

Japfa maintains position in top 10 animal feed firms Japfa Comfeed Vietnam has been named among the country's top animal feed producers for 2025, reflecting strong performance and industry credibility.

Japfa Vietnam hosts annual customer conference On January 27-28 in Ho Chi Minh City, Japfa Comfeed Vietnam hosted the Customer Conference 2026, welcoming more than 300 customers and strategic partners from the southern region.

Issued in December 2024, Resolution 57 focuses on science and technology development and national digital transformation.

One of the most significant achievements has been the strong performance of the digital economy. In 2025, the digital economy had a share of GDP estimated at 14.02 per cent, equivalent to approximately $72.1 billion, a 1.64-fold increase compared with 2020.

The digital economy in 2025 was worth $72.1 billion

This growth has occurred both in breadth and depth. Core digital economy sectors accounted for 8.42 per cent of GDP, equivalent to around $43.3 billion, representing more than 60 per cent of the total value of the digital economy.

At the same time, the level of digitalisation across industries and sectors has continued to expand.

The digital economy also demonstrated superior growth momentum, expanding by 18.4 per cent at current prices and 11.8 per cent at constant prices in 2025. The effectiveness of the digital economy is further reflected in tax revenues generated from e-commerce activities.

Through the establishment of integrated management mechanisms and data-sharing arrangements with ministries and agencies, tax collections from organisations and individuals engaged in e-commerce reached nearly $8.35 billion in 2025, showing a sharp increase of 66.5 per cent.

During the first four months of 2026, collections continued to rise, reaching nearly $4.57 billion, up 9 per cent on-year.

At the local level, the digital economy has emerged as a differentiating factor in economic growth, with several localities reporting digital economy contributions exceeding 20 per cent of their regional GDP.

To create a supportive legal framework for the digital economy, institutional reforms have been implemented at an accelerated pace.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has completed a comprehensive overhaul of financial and state budget legislation, while issuing a series of regulatory guidelines to institutionalise the Party’s policies.

In public investment, full authority to approve investment policies and investment decisions has now been decentralised to ministries, sectors, and local authorities, except for nationally significant projects.

The elimination of capital notification procedures has shortened project approval and fund allocation timelines by as much as nine months.

In public procurement, new regulations grant investors greater autonomy in selecting procurement methods and expand the scope of special direct contracting.

As a result, overall procurement timelines have been shortened by 30 to 80 days, while the actual direct-contracting process now takes only three to seven days.

Notably, the highest levels of incentives for corporate income tax, personal income tax, import-export duties, and land-use fees have been introduced for digital enterprises and digital investment projects.

Regarding digital administrative reform, the MoF has issued five legal documents aimed at eliminating physical paperwork and replacing traditional applications with digital data.

The new regulations also recognise the legal validity of electronic administrative decisions automatically generated by digital systems.

These changes have enabled the Taxation and Customs sectors to transition from a management model based on manual declarations to a system driven by data, risk analysis, and electronic invoices.

As a result, 236 administrative procedures have been abolished and 556 procedures simplified, with estimated savings of more than $1.57 billion.

The 2026 state budget approved by the National Assembly ensures the minimum requirement of 3 per cent of total state budget expenditure for sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation. This amounts to approximately $3.8 billion, meeting the requirements set out in Resolution 57.

Nevertheless, one of the major challenges remains fund disbursement. Although sufficient funding has been allocated, the detailed allocation process and actual disbursement rates have progressed slowly.

To date, agencies and organisations have completed detailed allocations totalling approximately $1.52 billion. Actual disbursements have reached $339.6 million, equivalent to 22.3 per cent of allocated funding and approximately 9 per cent of the total budget.

According to the report, one of the primary causes of delayed allocation and disbursement is the need for many large-scale digital transformation projects to review and revise their documentation to comply with centralised infrastructure requirements at the National Data Centre under the Ministry of Public Security. In addition, challenges persist in achieving real-time interoperable data sharing across agencies.

To address implementation delays and accelerate disbursement, the MoF has proposed several tasks.

Among them, the government is urged to issue criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of investments in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation projects to ensure they deliver economic breakthroughs.

The Ministry of Science and Technology should establish principles for allocating the remaining funding in a targeted manner, prioritising digital platforms and avoiding fragmentation of resources.

Relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities must also urgently coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to review digital transformation documentation, clearly defining the scope of implementation at the local level and integration with the National Data Centre, providing a basis for fund disbursement.

Government agencies are required to register their capital requirements promptly for the 2026-2030 public investment plan, which includes more than $108 billion in central government funding and more than $176.8 billion in local government funding. They must also prepare and consolidate the 2027 state budget estimates to ensure continuity in technology investment.

PM sets five key tasks to accelerate sci-tech development Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has outlined five key tasks for ministries and agencies to accelerate sci-tech and digital transformation.

Vietnam enters next phase of e-commerce export growth Vietnam’s fast-growing e-commerce sector is increasingly viewed as a contributor to export growth.

Vietnam targets $300 billion digital technology industry by 2030 Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung approved a key decision on May 13, approving the digital technology industry development programme for 2026-2030.

Microinsurance is poised for wider adoption as market conditions evolve

Dinh Nhu Tuynh, CEO of Military Insurance Corporation (MIC), told VIR that fewer than 3 per cent of Vietnam’s population currently hold insurance policies.

“With a population of more than 100 million, an estimated 20-25 million people fall into the low-income and vulnerable segments, including informal workers, industrial park employees, farmers and small household business owners. These groups are also among the most exposed to risks arising from natural disasters, illness and accidents.

However, a significant proportion of workers remain uninsured because insurance costs are still relatively high to their ability to pay, enrolment procedures and documentation requirements remain cumbersome, while insurance benefits are often difficult for consumers to understand and access,” he said.

In fact, insurance companies have targeted these groups for years as a potentially attractive customer base due to their strong demand for protection against risks and health-related contingencies.

According to the MIC, around 23 per cent of the population – equivalent to approximately 23 million people – incur medical treatment expenses each year, with average costs of about $140 per case.

Yet, the market remains notably short of genuinely mass-market insurance products offering broad coverage at affordable premiums.

In Vietnam, micro-insurance has been available for many years but has achieved only modest success. One reason is that a strong focus on profitability has reduced insurers’ willingness to develop this segment actively.

By contrast, in the Philippines – a country with a broadly similar economic structure and population size to Vietnam – micro-insurance has developed strongly, achieving one of the highest penetration rates in Asia.

One insurer in the country has reportedly provided micro-insurance coverage to 24 million customers, generating annual revenue of around $40 million.

A key obstacle to the development of micro-insurance in Vietnam is customer acquisition cost. Under traditional business models, micro-insurance revenue is often insufficient to offset these costs because premiums are low while claim ratios tend to be high.

However, this situation could change as digitalisation makes it easier and more cost-effective to distribute micro-insurance products.

Many insurers are seeking to expand sales through digital channels, with annual premiums of just over $4.

Some companies have redesigned existing products into more affordable offerings by reducing coverage amounts and corresponding premiums.

For example, MIC recently launched its MIC 360 product suite with an ultra-low premium of less than $5 per year, distributed through the insurer’s mobile application.

Talking to VIR, MIC executive said they expect the low-cost product range to reach 2.5 million workers, including around 100,000 customers in 2026 alone.

Notably, under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy for 2026-2030 approved by the government on May 25, insurance premium revenue is targeted to reach approximately 3.3-3.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

The Ministry of Finance has been assigned to lead implementation, monitor progress and report on the achievement of this objective.

Regarding micro-insurancee, the MoF is also responsible for reviewing and proposing amendments to relevant mechanisms to establish a coherent legal framework and improve access for vulnerable groups, poor and near-poor households.

Once the new policy framework is completed and effectively implemented, the goal of providing micro-insurance coverage to 20-25 million low-income and vulnerable individuals by 2030 is expected to become achievable.

Income Insurance explores strategic partnership opportunities to expand in Vietnam Income Insurance, a composite insurance company in Singapore, is exploring potential partnership opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), to expand its presence in Vietnam.

Life insurance market heats up despite slowing new sales Vietnam’s life insurance market posted a double-digit decline in new business premiums in early 2026, but rising competition from emerging insurers is rapidly reshaping market share dynamics.

Vietjet and Muang Thai Insurance join hands on community development and Vietnam–Thailand friendship On May 28, Vietjet and Muang Thai Insurance, Thailand’s leading insurance company, signed a strategic cooperation agreement to boost insurance, sports, cultural exchange, and community development initiatives in Vietnam, Thailand and the wider region.

Exports totalled $215.6 billion, while imports reached $229.4 billion, up 19.5 per cent and 30.8 per cent, respectively, from the same period last year.

The figures underscore the resilience of Vietnam’s trade despite challenges facing the global economy and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

Mobile phones and components continued to be among the largest contributors to Vietnam’s export value

Of the country’s total export value of $215.6 billion, the domestic sector contributed $43.5 billion, up 2.5 per cent and accounting for 20.2 per cent of total exports.

The foreign-invested enterprises, including crude oil exports, generated $172.16 billion, up 24.7 per cent and representing 79.8 per cent of total export turnover.

During the first five months, 26 categories recorded export value exceeding $1 billion, accounting for 90.7 per cent of total exports.

Among them, seven categories surpassed the $5 billion mark: electronics, computers and components ($56.19 billion); machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts ($26.97 billion); mobile phones and components ($26.37 billion); textiles and garments ($15.13 billion); footwear ($9.78 billion); transport vehicles and spare parts ($7.99 billion); and wood and wood products (more than $7 billion).

Imports also posted strong growth. Of the total import value of $229.4 billion in the first five months, the domestic sector accounted for $64.2 billion, up 22.7 per cent, while the foreign-invested sector imported goods worth $165.2 billion, an increase of 34.3 per cent.

Over the same period, 36 import categories recorded values exceeding $1 billion, accounting for 91.2 per cent of total imports. Of these, six categories posted import turnover of more than $5 billion, representing 60.7 per cent of the total.

Overall, Vietnam’s trade performance remained robust. However, speaking at the government’s regular monthly meeting for May on June 3, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan noted that exports of several key products produced by local businesses, including textiles and garments, seafood, rice and coffee, either declined or posted only modest growth during the first five months.

Specifically, exports of textiles and garments worth $5.41 billion, were down 1.4 per cent on-year; seafood exports reached $4.29 billion, up 11.3 per cent; wood and wood products valued at $3.82 billion, up 8.4 per cent; coffee exports amounted $2.61 billion, down 18.7 per cent; and rice exports stood at $1.96 billion, down 7.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, import growth was driven primarily by computers, electronic products and components, which reached approximately $88.22 billion, up 57.1 per cent from a year earlier, as well as energy imports, including coal, crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas, which approximated $13.3 billion, an increase of 31.7 per cent.

According to Minister Tuan, the trade deficit continued to widen. Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of $5.21 billion in May, higher than the $4 billion deficit recorded in April and the $3.65 billion deficit posted during the first quarter of the year. For the first five months of 2026, the cumulative trade deficit reached $13.8 billion.

“If the trade deficit remains at its current elevated level, it could affect economic growth. The situation needs to be closely monitored and assessed so that appropriate measures can be adopted,” Minister Tuan said.

Progress clear on Vietnam’s trade path After more than two decades of robust growth, Vietnam has again shown an exceptionally strong economic development in the past year. In the last 10 years, the volume of trade with the European Union has increased 2.3 times, and the EU is now Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner.

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Michelin unveiled the 2026 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City – Danang at The Ascott Tay Ho, Hanoi on June 4.

Now in its fourth edition in Vietnam, the latest selection features 193 establishments, including 11 One MICHELIN Star restaurants, 72 Bib Gourmand eateries, 110 MICHELIN Selected venues, and three MICHELIN Green Star restaurants recognised for their commitment to sustainable gastronomy.

This year’s selection includes two new One MICHELIN Star restaurants, 11 new Bib Gourmand establishments, and nine newly recognised MICHELIN Selected venues. Hanoi contributed seven new additions, Ho Chi Minh City added 11, while Danang welcomed four new entries.

One restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City also joined the MICHELIN Green Star community in recognition of its commitment to a zero-waste philosophy and plant-based gastronomy.

Most notably, 2026 marks the first time since the MICHELIN Guide arrived in Vietnam that the number of starred restaurants has exceeded 10, reflecting the rapid development and increasing sophistication of the country’s culinary landscape.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guide, said Vietnam had evolved from an emerging culinary discovery into a confident gastronomic destination over the past four years.

“What excites us most this year is the talent and passion behind each restaurant. A new generation of Vietnamese chefs is leading the way, with young cooks who have trained abroad and returned home to create cuisine that is deeply rooted in local ingredients, memories, and identity,” Poullennec said.

He added that the MICHELIN Guide had always sought to celebrate authentic culinary stories and that Vietnam was becoming one of the most dynamic destinations where such stories continue to unfold.

A representative of Sun Group, the destination partner of the MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam, said cuisine had become an increasingly important element in shaping the attractiveness and identity of tourism destinations.

“The most encouraging achievement after four years of the MICHELIN Guide’s presence in Vietnam is not simply the growing number of recognised restaurants, but the fact that more Vietnamese chefs are establishing their own distinctive voices through local ingredients, culture, history, and Vietnamese identity,” the representative said.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Sun Group has partnered with the MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam. According to the group, the partnership forms part of broader efforts to elevate the quality of Vietnam’s tourism offerings, with gastronomy playing an increasingly important role in enhancing visitor experiences and strengthening the country’s destination brand.

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On June 4, LG Innotek signed an MoU with Haiphong city. Under the agreement, LG Innotek will expand its semiconductor substrate factory in the city, directly funded by LG Innotek’s Vietnamese subsidiary.

Covering approximately 330,000 square metres, the facility is scheduled to begin construction in July 2026 and be completed by May 2027.

The factory will specialise in producing semiconductor substrates, including radio frequency system-in-package (RF-SiP), flip chip-chip scale package (FC-CSP), and flip chip-ball grid array (FC-BGA).

The company’s representative said, “Under the dual-manufacturing strategy, our local facility in Gumi will serve as a mother factory dedicated to developing new technologies and producing new models and high-value products, while the expanded Vietnam facility will function as a mass-production base for general-purpose semiconductor substrates.”

The dual-manufacturing strategy is expected to improve the company’s productivity and profitability while raising its competitiveness.

The expansion is driven by the growing global demand for semiconductor substrates. RF-SiP demand is on the rise amid the widespread 5G adoption and future rollout of 6G.

Meanwhile, FC-CSP growth is fuelled by on-device AI drives that require low-power, high-performance chips. FC-BGA substrates are also experiencing rising demand as global big tech companies ramp up AI infrastructure investment.

LG Innotek is currently operating its semiconductor substrate production lines at its Gumi facility near full capacity. The company seeks to expand production capacity through additional investment.

The company has selected Haiphong for various reasons, including ease of infrastructure construction, proximity to major semiconductor back-end companies, and relatively low production costs.

Vietnam making the leap into AI and semiconductors Vietnam is increasingly focusing on AI and semiconductor-related activities as part of a broader recalibration of its industrial development model. Among European and international investors, this ambition is no longer seen as aspirational. It is increasingly seen as executable, underpinned by a clear national strategy and two decades of industrial upgrading.

AIC to build $2.1bn AI data centre in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City continues to attract billions of dollars in foreign investment, with a key focus on data centres, semiconductors, and high-tech sectors.

AI and semiconductors drive new wave of Vietnam-South Korea business ties Vietnam and South Korea are entering a new phase of business cooperation, with companies from both sides expanding investment and partnerships in AI, semiconductors and digital infrastructure.

Under the MOU, Nature's Miracle and FF will collaborate to develop a network of Robotics PAR facilities, including showrooms, user operation centers, and service centers designed to support robotics deployment, customer engagement, after-sales service, and operational infrastructure. The partnership is expected to leverage Nature's Miracle's nationwide operational capabilities and infrastructure development expertise to support FF's robotics ecosystem.

The Robotics PAR program introduces an innovative internet-based platform designed to align the interests of robotics manufacturers, promoters, operators, and end-users. In addition to traditional hardware and service revenues, participants may have opportunities to share in ecosystem-generated revenues and future value creation throughout the lifecycle of robotics deployments, subject to the terms of definitive agreements.

As part of the collaboration, Nature's Miracle will support robotics promotion activities, customer operations, infrastructure deployment, and service network development in accordance with FF's operational standards and branding requirements. FF will provide product training, operational support, and customer acquisition resources to help accelerate adoption.

Tie "James" Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nature's Miracle, commented:

"We are excited to partner with FF AI-Robotics as we continue to expand our strategic focus beyond agriculture into high-growth technology sectors including robotics, AI infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing. We believe autonomous robotics will play a critical role in transforming industries such as agriculture, logistics, data centers, and public infrastructure. Through this partnership, Nature's Miracle is positioned to participate in the development of a scalable robotics ecosystem while leveraging our operational footprint and infrastructure expertise."

Chris Chen, Chief Executive Officer of FF AI-Robotics, added:

"We are pleased to partner with Nature's Miracle to support the expansion of our Robotics PAR program. Nature's Miracle brings valuable operational capabilities, infrastructure experience, and customer service expertise that will help us accelerate deployment and enhance user engagement throughout North America."

A key highlight of the event was the launch ceremony, where Dr. Jimmy Li, WuXi XDC CEO and Chairman of BioDlink; Dr. Jian Zhang, BioDlink Acting CEO; and fellow leadership representatives, including Dr. Marie Zhu, WuXi XDC CTO; Lily Yin, BioDlink CTO; and Dr. Jun Hu, Head of APAC Business Development & Global Commercial Operations and Head of Singapore Site Management, officially inaugurated the "Stronger Together" initiative. The ceremony symbolized the successful transition from strategic integration to operational collaboration, reinforcing the companies' commitment to delivering seamless support from development through commercial manufacturing.

During the leadership presentations, Dr. Jimmy Li, CEO of WuXi XDC and Chairman of BioDlink, shared the long-term strategic vision for the integrated platform, outlining how the combination of complementary expertise, global resources and industrial capabilities will create greater value for customers across the bioconjugate development lifecycle. Dr. Jian Zhang, Acting CEO of BioDlink, introduced BioDlink's strategic positioning within the combined organization, highlighting its technology platforms, manufacturing capabilities and proven track record in supporting complex ADC/XDC programs from process development to commercial supply.

The event also featured perspectives from biotechnology partners. Dr. Junhua Qiao, CTO of GenSci shared insights on effective collaboration models between biotech companies and CDMO partners, drawing on experience from both biotech and biopharma environments. Dr. Yu Zhang, CMC Head of DualityBio, analyzed the trends of the global XDC market, the differentiated competitive landscape of the industry, and the strategic collaboration considerations for long-term cooperation between Biotech and CDMO, drawing on his own practical experience.

A panel discussion on "The XDC Era: Opportunities, Challenges and New Collaboration Models" was moderated by Dr. Jian Zhang, Acting CEO of BioDlink , and featured Dr. Changjiang Huang, CSO of BioCombo Therapeutics ; Dr. Zheng Wu, CEO of ArkBio; Dr. Tao Xu, CEO of SmartNuclide; Dr. Jifeng Zhang, CTO of Lepu Biopharma; and Dr. Jimmy Li, CEO of WuXi XDC and Chairman of BioDlink. Discussions focused on key industry topics including molecular complexity, CMC challenges, cross-functional collaboration and emerging partnership models. Panelists agreed that integrated development and manufacturing capabilities will play an increasingly critical role in enabling the next generation of bioconjugate innovation.

Guests also conducted a guided tour of BioDlink's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, gaining first-hand insight into the infrastructure, operational excellence and quality systems that support commercial-scale production.

The event marked the first joint appearance of WuXi XDC and BioDlink since the integration and underscored their shared commitment to advancing bioconjugate innovation. Moving forward, the two organizations will continue to expand their integrated CRDMO capabilities and empower global innovators to bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide.

For more information about WuXi XDC, please visit: www.wuxixdc.com

To celebrate the 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival, Taobao Malaysia is offering an additional 700,000 shipping vouchers, available daily at 12 PM, together with air delivery that can reach key cities in as fast as five days. This enables Malaysian users to easily shop for celebrity-inspired fashion and lifestyle products from top stars such as Zhang Linghe and Esther Yu without leaving home.

Ye Tian, General Manager of Taobao & Tmall Overseas said: "More than 200 markets worldwide now offer access to high-quality Chinese goods through Taobao. Last April, the Taobao app ranked first in downloads in 16 overseas markets. Thanks to the efforts made in recent years to improve the localized experience in various markets, Taobao's overseas market business has achieved a milestone of doubling in size. These achievements demonstrate that the global demand for purchasing China's most innovative and distinctive products through Taobao continues to grow steadily."

He further emphasised: "Malaysia is one of Taobao Overseas' key markets. This year, we will continue strengthening our differentiated merchant and product offerings, investing in localised services, increasing marketing efforts, and accelerating the adoption of AI applications. We hope to encourage more users to discover the unique merchants and products available on Taobao and experience the appeal of cross-border shopping on the platform."

This "treasure hunt" browsing and shopping trend, driven by platform optimization, is also reflected in the booming popularity of celebrity-related stores on Taobao. Malaysian consumers often start with celebrities they are familiar with and then gradually explore more niche brands and categories. For example, sunglasses and other products endorsed by Zhang Linghe in China, as well as Esther Yu-inspired pyjamas, dresses, shapewear often serve as entry points for discovery. Lifestyle products such as premium home-care brand LYCOCELLE, associated with Cheng Yi, further showcase the diversity of products users encounter as they browse across categories.

On the shopping experience, Taobao continues to enhance its platform features while introducing exclusive offers tailored for Malaysian consumers, serving as a key driver behind this growing trend. For instance, during the 618 mid-year shopping festival, a limited number of RM12 shipping vouchers, totalling approximately 700,000 throughout the campaign, were made available daily at 12pm for users to redeem. This, coupled with air freight delivery services that can arrive in as fast as five days, has significantly improved the convenience and enjoyment of cross-border shopping, further encouraging Malaysian users to embrace more exploratory purchasing behaviours.

Against this backdrop, Taobao Malaysia's 618 mid-year shopping festival, held from 21 May to 21 June, is widely recognised by Malaysian consumers as the most worthwhile and value-driven shopping window of the year. After weeks of building up their wish lists, users are now presented with a wide array of promotions and sitewide surprise discounts, making it easy for browsing behaviour to translate into actual purchases, marking the perfect moment to finally check out their carts.

Key 618 Campaign offers include:

• 700,000 exclusive shipping vouchers: A limited number released daily at 12pm for redemption. Users can enjoy an instant RM12 off air freight shipping, with delivery to major cities in as fast as five days.
• Limited-Time Instant Discount (18 June & 21 June): Spend RM340 to enjoy RM68 off, or RM300 to enjoy RM30 off, unlocking greater savings with higher spend.
• Limited-Time 3% transaction fee waiver: Eligible orders can enjoy a waiver of up to RM8 payment processing fee.
• Exclusive Promo Code for Malaysian Consumers: Enjoy RM15 off with a minimum spend of RM150 by entering the promo code TB618WOW at checkout.
• Exclusive RHB Credit Card Rewards: Customers who pay with an RHB credit card during the campaign period stand a chance to win a luxurious two-day, one-night stay for two at the prestigious Merdeka 118 Park Hyatt hotel, valued at over RM1,950.

For full details on the 618 campaign and updates, follow Taobao Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit the app.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, male factors are the sole cause of infertility in approximately 20% of cases and contribute to another 30 to 40%, with the World Health Organization placing overall male factor involvement at roughly half. Yet most consumer fertility tools focus exclusively on one partner's data. Soonr is built around dyadic health, a category Vespexx has been advancing in recognition that conception, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term family health are shaped by both partners' biology and behavior.

From Signaling to Soonr Health

Soonr builds on Vespexx's flagship app Signaling, which has pioneered couple-based period tracking since 2023 and now serves more than 800,000 users across Asia and beyond. As Vespexx prepared to enter the U.S. market, the team identified preconception as the moment when dyadic health matters most, when a couple's biology, behavior, and daily decisions most directly shape an outcome they share. Soonr is purpose-built for that moment.

"Most fertility products were designed for a woman to use alone, often with the quiet assumption that her partner would cheer her on from the sidelines," said Scarlett Joowon Jung, CEO of Vespexx. "We've spent the last three years proving with Signaling that couples want to share this experience, and Soonr brings that conviction into the moment that matters most. The science backs it up, and the experience of trying to conceive deserves to reflect that."

Built as a behavioral platform, not just a tracker

Beyond cycle and hormone tracking, Soonr is structured as a behavioral platform that both partners actively use. Habit, symptom, meal, and exercise logging gives each partner a way to contribute to their shared fertility picture, alongside a gamified visualization that grows as the couple's data accumulates. The result is a preconception experience that reflects how couples actually live, with both people engaged in the same daily rhythm.

A platform designed to grow with the science

Soonr connects with at-home testing so couples can bring real biological signals into their daily routine. The first integrated device is Surearly SMART, an at-home hormone testing device that reads ovulation and key reproductive hormone markers. Test results flow into Soonr, where both partners can view and track them together.

Surearly SMART is manufactured by Sugentech (KOSDAQ: 253840), Vespexx's parent company and a publicly listed Korean biotech with 15 years of in-vitro diagnostic expertise spanning ovulation, pregnancy, and clinical testing.

Additional device integrations are planned across the preconception spectrum, including male reproductive health testing, as Soonr expands its platform.

Availability

Soonr Health is available now as a free download in the U.S. on iOS and Android. Premium features are available at $12.99 per month or, as a limited-time launch offer, $65.99 per year. The Surearly SMART Starter Kit (Test Reader and Test Sticks) is available now on Amazon at a limited-time launch price of $119, reduced from the regular price of $169.

For more on Soonr Health and the dyadic health framework, visit https://soonr.health/.

As early-stage development programs of peptides and their conjugates continue to expand, the need for downstream process scale-up and manufacturing has become increasingly significant. The first peptide pilot-scale GMP will robustly support client programs transitioning from early-stage R&D and kilogram-scale GMP manufacturing to pilot-scale GMP production.

End-to-End GMP Facility: Integrated Capabilities from Synthesis and Cleavage to Purification and Lyophilization

1. Core Synthesis Platform:

The facility is equipped with a core cluster of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) reactors with a total volume of 600 L, comprising 100 L, 200 L, and 300 L configurations. This flexible setup supports scalable needs ranging from process development to production campaigns over 10 kilograms. The platform integrates automated fluid handling systems and high-purity inert gas protection technology, ensuring efficient, stable and batch-to-batch consistency.

2. Full-Chain Processing and Downstream Capabilities

• Cleavage and Purification: The facility is equipped with two integrated cleavage systems, which are constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, enabling fully enclosed processing from cleavage and concentration to precipitation, to maximize product purity and operational safety.
• Separation and Drying: High-speed centrifuges and 12-tray large-scale drying ovens support large-scale post-processing needs.

3. Classified Clean Areas

The facility is zoned and managed in accordance with Grade D and Class C cleanroom standards, with Grade D areas enabling flexible front-end production operations. Class C areas comply with stringent production control requirements and are dedicated to critical downstream steps including purification, lyophilization and packaging of peptide APIs.

4. Advanced Preparative Chromatography

• High-Resolution Preparative Purification Platform: High-performance prep-HPLC systems featuring GMP-compliant flow-path designs and outstanding corrosion resistance. Engineered for multi-system, complex-process purification environments.

5. Intelligent Sterile Lyophilization Platform

Equipped with a fully automatic lyophilizer that integrates multiple functions. Through precise control of lyophilization process parameters, it efficiently ensures the reliability and stability of the lyophilization process.

Dr. Minmin Yang, Chairman of PharmaBlock Group, commented:

"The commissioning of the first peptide pilot-scale GMP plant is a major milestone in PharmaBlock's strategic expansion into new molecular modalities. Since our founding in 2008, we have taken building block design as our core competitive edge and gradually built up a full-process CRDMO service system. Following our IPO in 2017, we accelerated our platform upgrades and expanded into new modalities, including oligonucleotides, peptides, and complex conjugates, culminating in the establishment of the OPC (Oligonucleotides, Peptides, Conjugates) Division.

In the peptides field, our deep expertise in building block and proven synthetic capabilities enable us to deliver differentiated chemical solutions for peptide and peptide conjugates programs. Based on the extensive unnatural amino acid library and green and intelligent peptide synthetic technologies, PharmaBlock has built up its strong differentiated advantages in this area."

Built around the core principles of green chemistry and intelligent manufacturing, PharmaBlock's Next-Generation Peptide CRDMO Platform extends beyond conventional SPPS routes. It innovatively integrates multiple cutting-edge technologies including LPPS (liquid-phase peptide synthesis), CF-LPPS (continuous-flow LPPS), and EAPS (enzyme-assisted peptide synthesis), enabling flexible customization of optimal manufacturing processes tailored to each client's unique peptide structure.

The program expansion reflects a critical need: while treatment may end, the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer often do not. According to Osara Health's The Cancer Care Cliff whitepaper, nearly 54% of cancer survivors live with clinically relevant fear of recurrence and 1 in 4 experience psychosocial distress. Osara's new survivorship product helps individuals navigate the often overlooked transition after diagnosis, offering personalized support to rebuild confidence, manage uncertainty and move forward in daily life. This can look like fear of recurrence, lingering fatigue, reduced confidence in the body and emotional adjustment.

The new survivorship extension combines one-to-one human coaching with digital tools and personalized content. The enhancement also comes alongside Osara's latest outcomes, reinforcing the value of structured support throughout and beyond treatment:

• An independently validated 25:1 return on investment
• New published research showing improvements to physical and mental health from ~66% of participants

Together, these outcomes highlight both the human and business value of cancer-specific support, helping deliver meaningful impact while strengthening benefit offerings in an increasingly competitive market.

"Each June, we recognize National Cancer Survivors Day and Cancer Survivors Month, a time to celebrate the growing number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis while acknowledging that the end of treatment is often not the end of the cancer experience," said Dr Raghav Murali Ganesh, CEO and Co-Founder of Osara Health and Radiation Oncologist. "Many survivors continue to face challenges as recovery does not begin and end in the clinic. People need support not only to get through treatment, but to live well beyond it. Our survivorship expansion reflects our commitment to evidence-based support throughout every stage of their journey."

Addressing an international delegation of telecom executives, Frank Zhang, Senior Director of Product Development at uCloudlink, introduced two high-efficiency strategic frameworks engineered to resolve traditional industry bottlenecks:

1. Terminal-Side Solutions:

Shifting network scheduling intelligence entirely to the device edge via uCloudlink's proprietary All-SIM Architecture (Based on uCloudlink's patented CloudSIM technology) and cloud-orchestrated SaaS/PaaS layers. This asset-light approach structurally bypasses sluggish network-side bilateral agreements, granting operators instant multi-network aggregation across 200+ countries and 390+ carriers. Backed by AI HyperConn® routing, the framework delivers mission-critical fault tolerance and highly resilient handovers, slashing single-network blind spots and user churn with zero upfront infrastructure cost.

2. New Business Blue Oceans:

Monetizing breakthrough product innovations to capture premium adjacent markets beyond the smartphone. Anchoring this framework is the global release of the GlocalMe eSIM Trio Integrated Card. This hardware-level Multi-IMSI scheme establishes a powerful technological foundation designed to potentially bring digital-first eSIM capabilities to the world's 4 billion legacy physical-SIM devices—a massive blue ocean that uCloudlink envisions driving and realizing through deep, joint collaboration with global operators. Additionally, uCloudlink showcased The PetPhone—the world's first AI-powered smartphone for pets leveraging Emotion AI to drive fresh subscriber lines—and the MeowGo G50 Max hotspot, delivering Air-Ground-Satellite connection assurance for executive business travel and enterprise disaster preparedness.

The strategic frameworks received widespread praise from the MVNO World Congress committee and international exhibitors, cementing uCloudlink's leadership and practical service-delivery capabilities. Guided by its core ideal—"Connecting everything is technology; caring for life is the ideal"—uCloudlink solidifies its market position, utilizing structural innovation to ensure an always-connected digital fabric in the accelerating AI era.

The alliance comes as demand in Ho Chi Minh City’s commercial real estate market continues to favour high-quality projects backed by developers with strong execution capabilities and long-term stability. As one of Vietnam’s leading banks in terms of scale, financial strength, and brand reputation, Vietcombank is regarded as a trusted financial provider that shares UOA Group’s commitment to quality developments and sustainable growth.

Nguyen Chi Linh (left), director of Vietcombank, Tan Son Nhat Branch and Wyeren Yap, CEO of UOA Vietnam

Beyond providing a solid financial foundation, the alliance is also expected to strengthen market confidence in UOA Group’s projects. According to Wyeren Yap, CEO of UOA Vietnam, Vietnam is one of UOA Group’s key markets in its long-term growth plans.

“Our current portfolio in Vietnam includes three office developments and one residential project, delivering more than 120,000 square metres of office space and 3,500 residential units. To date, our total investment in Vietnam has reached more than $470 million. We aim to expand and target to double our investment scale over the next three to five years with a focus on high quality residential, commercial and office development,” Yap said.

“Our alliance with Vietcombank secures the financial resources for the two office developments currently under construction and establishes a foundation for broader collaboration opportunities in the future as UOA Group continues to expand,” he added.

Wyeren Yap, CEO of UOA Vietnam

The current arrangement focuses on two projects: UOA Parc Tower and Millennial Tower.

UOA Parc Tower is located in the central area of Ho Chi Minh City, with a gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 20,160 sq.m. The project is positioned as a Grade A office tower featuring modern architecture and a sustainability-oriented development approach. With its prime central location, the undertaking is expected to capture demand from financial institutions and international enterprises as Ho Chi Minh City advances its ambition to become an International Financial Centre.

UOA Parc Tower is designed to cater to multinational corporations, professional service firms, and high-growth technology companies.

In the southern part of the city, Millennial Tower is being developed within the Phu My Hung urban area, with a gross floor area of approximately 60,495 sq.m. The initiative is envisioned as one of the largest office developments in the area. Rising 24 storeys, Millennial Tower features contemporary architecture and flexible workspace solutions that accommodate diverse operational needs of businesses.

Inspired by the dynamic pace of the new generation of enterprises, Millennial Tower aims to create a working environment that emphasises connectivity, flexibility, and adaptability. The development contributes to expanding office supply in the southern corridor of Ho Chi Minh City while strengthening UOA Group’s portfolio in Vietnam.

The combination of UOA Group’s development expertise and Vietcombank’s financial strength is expected to accelerate project delivery while elevating development standards within Ho Chi Minh City’s office sector.

In the long term, this alliance extends beyond the two current developments, opening up opportunities for further collaboration between the two parties in future projects, while contributing to the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s commercial real estate market.

Dang Hoai Duc, deputy CEO of Vietcombank said that Vietcombank highly valued the project development capabilities of UOA Group and expresses strong confidence in its long-term investment direction in Vietnam.

“UOA Parc Tower and Millennial Tower are well-positioned to meet the growing demand from both domestic and international enterprises, particularly as the market increasingly prioritises quality, operational standards, and sustainability considerations,” said Duc.

"The collaboration with UOA Group underscores Vietcombank’s focus on partnering with professionally developed projects that are underpinned by solid market fundamentals, directed towards delivering sustainable, long-term value," he added.

The announcement of the collaboration between UOA Group and Vietcombank therefore represents a milestone for both organisations while reflecting a broader transformation of the market, where financial capability, brand credibility, and development standards are becoming increasingly interconnected.

UOA expands Vietnam presence with $68 million land deal in Ho Chi Minh City United Overseas Australia has expanded its footprint in Vietnam with a $68-million acquisition of a prime land site in central Ho Chi Minh City. The move strengthens the developer’s long-term growth strategy and positions it to capitalise on the city’s future as a regional financial hub.

UOA recognised for standout M&A deal in Ho Chi Minh City United Overseas Australia Ltd (UOA Ltd) has been recognised for one of 2024-2025's standout transactions, earning accolades for its latest move to strengthen its commercial real estate footprint in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

CBD office demand drives fresh development in Ho Chi Minh City Tighter office supply and resilient demand from international occupiers are creating fresh development opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City.