Located within AEON MALL Thanh Hoa, the store covers approximately 10,300 square metres and will offer shopping, dining and entertainment options for residents and tourists.

Thanh Hoa's role as a regional economic hub, together with its tourism appeal, including Sam Son Beach, is expected to support demand for retail services. The new store aims to meet residents' daily shopping needs while catering to visitors from across Vietnam.

The supermarket on the first floor will open from 8am to 10pm daily. The second and third floors will operate from 10am to 10pm on weekdays and from 9am to 10pm at weekends.

Photo: AEON Vietnam

Truong Khanh Xuan, store manager of AEON Thanh Hoa, said the store aims to offer new experiences and create value for the local community. “Our team will continue to listen to customers and improve our services to deliver convenience and a positive shopping experience,” she said.

The store is designed to serve a broad customer base, including young families, multi-generational households, people relocating to Thanh Hoa and tourists from across Vietnam.

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In a macro note released on October 13, United Overseas Bank (UOB) said data from the National Statistics Office showed GDP growth of 9.95 per cent on-year in the third quarter, up from a revised 8.8 per cent in the second quarter and above both the Bloomberg consensus of 8.65 per cent and UOB's forecast of 9 per cent.

It was the fastest quarterly pace since 2022, with upward revisions to the first and second quarters meaning growth accelerated in every quarter this year and nine-month growth reached 9 per cent, against 7.8 per cent a year earlier.

By sector, industry and construction expanded 12.5 per cent in the third quarter, services by a little over 9.5 per cent, and agriculture by 4.2 per cent. Over nine months, industry and construction grew by more than 11 per cent and accounted for just under half of the increase in gross value added, while services grew 8.7 per cent and contributed 45 per cent, and agriculture grew 4 per cent.

On the expenditure side, final consumption rose 8.5 per cent over nine months and gross capital formation by 17.9 per cent, the latter reflecting the public investment drive. Exports of goods and services increased 21.3 per cent, while imports rose 27.2 per cent. Growth is also spreading regionally, with 12 of 34 provinces and cities recording nine-month GDP growth of at least 10 per cent.

"Vietnam remains the fastest-growing economy in ASEAN by a wide margin," UOB noted.

Industrial production rose 16.7 per cent in September, with manufacturing up 17 per cent and electricity output up 15.5 per cent. Over nine months, industrial production was up 12.3 per cent and retail sales of goods and services rose 13.4 per cent. Electronics remain the anchor, with exports of computers, electronics, and components reaching about $111 billion by mid-September, underscoring Vietnam's exposure to the global AI build-out.

"Forward-looking indicators, however, are softer," UOB noted. The S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) eased to just under 51.9 in September from 53.3 in August, a three-month low, and new export orders fell for a second month at the fastest pace since April. Business confidence, though, rose to its highest since February, and output price inflation eased for a fifth month.

The investment pipeline remains strong, reflecting continued supply chain diversification into Vietnam. Registered foreign direct investment surged 76.4 per cent to $50.36 billion over nine months, while disbursed investment rose 12 per cent to just over $21 billion, the highest nine-month level in five years. State-budget investment disbursement reached 50.5 per cent of the annual plan by end-August, up 18.5 per cent on-year, and rose 20.4 per cent in September, leaving roughly half of the record $42 billion plan for the fourth quarter.

September exports rose 39 per cent to $59.5 billion, beating the 26.6 per cent consensus, while imports increased almost 46 per cent to $58.2 billion. "The resulting $1.27 billion surplus is the first after nine straight monthly deficits and broadly in line with our July call for the balance to return to surplus towards end-2026," UOB noted.

Over nine months, exports grew 24.5 per cent to $434.3 billion and imports rose 36.7 per cent to $453.7 billion, leaving a record $19.4 billion deficit against a near $17 billion surplus a year earlier. Energy remained the main drag, with refined fuel import values surging close to 80 per cent despite an 11.5 per cent rise in volumes, while crude oil volumes fell 13.5 per cent, but values rose 14.4 per cent. Production inputs made up 94 per cent of imports, consistent with capacity expansion rather than a consumption-led import boom.

The US remained the largest export market at $140 billion, with the bilateral surplus up nearly 24 per cent to over $122.6 billion, keeping Vietnam exposed to the Section 301 tariff regime and the 40 per cent transshipment penalty. With the fourth quarter seasonally strong for exports and energy prices off their peak, UOB expects further monthly surpluses, though the full-year balance is likely to remain in deficit.

Source: UOB

Headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.62 per cent on-month in September, lifting inflation to 5.1 per cent on-year from 4.9 per cent in August, the highest since May. Transport led the increase at 4 per cent on-month due to higher domestic fuel prices, with new academic-year tuition fees adding to education costs. Core inflation was steadier at 4.45 per cent on-year.

The brief relief in June and July has reversed. Third-quarter CPI averaged 4.8 per cent on-year, and the nine-month average of 4.52 per cent now sits at the 4.5 per cent ceiling, with core averaging 4.26 per cent. Over nine months, fuel prices rose 11 per cent, resulting in housing and construction materials rising almost 6.7 per cent, food 4.7 per cent, and education 3.36 per cent.

The picture is mixed for the fourth quarter. Pass-through from energy remains visible, demand is strong, and credit growth is still running near 16 per cent on-year as of late August. In contrast, PMI output price inflation has eased for five months, and the base from the final quarter of 2025 is higher than earlier in the year.

"We expect headline CPI to hover around 5 per cent in the fourth quarter, pushing the full-year average to roughly 4.7 per cent, above the official target of 4.5 per cent," UOB forecasted.

Given the third-quarter upside surprise and upward revisions to the first half, UOB has raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 9.2 per cent from 8.5 per cent. This implies fourth-quarter growth of about 9.7 per cent, supported by year-end public investment disbursement, a seasonally strong export quarter, and record foreign investment inflows. It also allows for a slower pace than the third quarter given the high base of almost 8.5 per cent and softening export orders.

"For 2027, we raise our forecast to 8.8 per cent from 8.4 per cent, as the foreign investment pipeline translates into capacity and Resolution No.19-NQ/TW keeps the policy push on growth, industrial upgrading, and higher-value manufacturing," UOB noted.

"The official 10 per cent target would require roughly 12.5 to 13 per cent growth in the fourth quarter and likely remains beyond reach, though 2026 growth is set to beat last year's 8 per cent by a clear margin," UOB forecasted. Key risks include energy price spikes given the unresolved US-Iran conflict, a harsher US tariff outcome, power supply constraints, and delays in public investment execution.

Photo: Nghiem Lan

Running concurrently until October 15, the exhibitions follow a “One Destination - Three Exhibitions” model, bringing together technologies, solutions and business opportunities across precision engineering and manufacturing, electronics and semiconductors, and processing and packaging.

Supported by regulatory authorities, industry associations, professional organisations and domestic and international businesses, the exhibition series covers 10,000 square metres and features more than 300 exhibitors from over 20 countries and territories, alongside five international pavilions.

The event is expected to pull in more than 8,000 trade visitors, including manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, experts and business partners from Hanoi and key industrial centres in northern Vietnam.

Ian Roberts, senior vice president for Asia at Informa Markets, said the decision to hold the three exhibitions concurrently reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of manufacturing industries.

“Our choice of Hanoi is equally deliberate. Northern Vietnam has emerged as one of the most dynamic manufacturing regions in Asia,” he said. “Across Bac Ninh, Haiphong, Thai Nguyen and Hung Yen, industrial capacity continues to expand, supply chains continue to mature, and international investors are actively seeking capable domestic partners. Vietnam's strategic commitment to developing its semiconductor and high-technology industries further strengthens this momentum.”

Photo: Nghiem Lan

Chu Viet Cuong, director of Industrial Development Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Vietnam's industrial sector had achieved positive results in recent years, with the country remaining an important destination for international investment, particularly in processing and manufacturing.

“Foreign-invested enterprises have contributed significantly to economic growth, exports and technology transfer, while helping establish production networks with regional and global reach,” he said.

However, strengthening the capabilities of domestic enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and supporting industry suppliers, remains a key priority for the next stage of industrial development.

Vietnam's industrial development priorities include foundational industries, processing and manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electronics, high technology and other sectors capable of generating high added value. The policy also aims to strengthen the economy's autonomy.

Meanwhile, Decree No.205/2025/ND-CP further develops the policy framework for supporting industries, creating better conditions for businesses to invest, adopt new technologies, improve production capacity and develop supporting industrial products in priority sectors.

“In the coming period, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will shift its approach to supporting industries from providing individual assistance towards strengthening enterprise capabilities and developing supply chains,” Cuong said.

“The focus will be on helping businesses improve their technological capabilities, quality, management, digital transformation, automation, traceability and ability to meet the standards required by lead firms and international markets.”

He added that stronger links between foreign-invested and domestic enterprises, as well as between lead firms and SMEs, were needed to boost the identification, assessment and development of domestic suppliers.

“These are important measures to increase localisation rates, generate greater value in Vietnam and strengthen supply chain resilience,” he said.

The need to strengthen industrial capabilities comes as manufacturing continues to expand. According to the National Statistics Office, Vietnam's industrial production index rose 12.3 per cent on-year in the first nine months of 2026, the highest growth rate for the period since 2019. Processing and manufacturing increased by 12.9 per cent.

Industrial production also recorded strong growth in several northern manufacturing hubs, rising 23.2 per cent in Thai Nguyen, 20.2 per cent in Bac Ninh, 18.6 per cent in Quang Ninh and 15.2 per cent in Haiphong.

This growth is driving greater demand for automation, quality control, material optimisation and production efficiency, reinforcing the need for technology adoption and stronger links between domestic suppliers and international manufacturers.

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The message came from a panel on smart manufacturing and green growth at the German Business and Investment Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13. It followed opening remarks that put the economic stakes in numbers: bilateral trade exceeded $13.6 billion in 2025, and Germany has 538 valid projects in Vietnam with registered capital of more than $3 billion.

Phu Huynh, CEO of Kuka Vietnam, said falling prices are changing how manufacturers weigh automation. The company has spent more than 15 years persuading factories that robots are not only for top-tier players, he said, and the sums now add up for smaller firms.

“The initial capital expenditure for a robotics system has gone down significantly compared with five years ago,” Huynh said. “These days, the typical return on investment for a common manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprise is around two to three years.”

Demand reflects that shift. Huynh said robot imports into Vietnam were growing by more than 20 per cent this year.

Cost is not the only barrier, however. Access to funding remains the main obstacle for small- and medium-sized enterprises, which often struggle to secure bank loans for automation. Kuka is pushing a subscription-style model to lower the entry threshold.

“We call it Robot-as-a-Service,” Huynh said. “We offer customers pay-per-outcome or pay-per-output. Instead of putting in the initial capex, the customer just pays as an operating expense.”

Huynh also pointed to Vietnam’s own technology ambitions, noting that homegrown drone makers are targeting agriculture at home and exporting widely.

While machines can be financed, skilled people take longer to build. Christoph Janensch, business lead for economic development at AWE and the German Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said German development cooperation is best placed to help with this.

“The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is not really providing capital. There are some agreements, but they are rather small in scale,” Janensch said, adding that larger funding is more likely to come from Germany’s state development bank. “What GIZ can do for companies is upskill the workforce. Workforce upgrading is a core competency.”

He cited a three-year metal-cutting training course for graduates, combining classroom study, external assessment, and in-company training. A separate three-year curriculum project with Schneider Electric and vocational schools involves more than 300 trainers and teachers, who pass on knowledge to other graduates.

For large manufacturers, the debate is as much about resilience as about productivity. Tuan Vi, vice president of supply chain management and logistics for Asia-Pacific at Schaeffler Vietnam, said access to AI and automation is levelling the field and reshaping the workforce by moving beyond blue-collar tasks to white-collar work.

“Competition is intensifying, with newcomers in Vietnam and elsewhere in the region taking business from established players. We all have to be highly involved when we assess the challenges right now,” Tuan Vi said.

Marcus Pratsch, global head of sustainable bonds and finance and managing director at DZ Bank, focused on the risks that come with digital factories. He said German companies must account for export controls and security, and cannot rely on a single supplier or solution. Interconnected systems and AI also expose factories to outside threats, he noted.

“We cannot just implement single-source solutions. Technology is available everywhere. You set something up, connect it to a network, and AI already affects certain systems and the data they generate,” Pratsch said.

Even so, he said, workers’ fears should ease once the benefits become visible.

In his keynote, Pratsch also highlighted the World Bank’s estimate of $368 billion in additional investment needed for Vietnam over 2022-2040, with around two-thirds for resilience and adaptation. To attract capital, he called for clear policies, predictable project revenues, reliable data, and risks allocated to those best able to manage them.

“Standardising contracts and pooling smaller rooftop solar and energy efficiency projects could help entice institutional investors, while refinancing could release capital for further ventures,” he said.

German and Vietnamese representatives at the panel on smart manufacturing and green growth at the German Business and Investment Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13. Photo: Bich Ngoc

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Germany and Vietnam look to expand strategic cooperation and investment Opportunities to expand investment, boost technology transfer and advance sustainable development between Germany and Vietnam were discussed at the German Business and Investment Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 13.

The round is led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, with participation from PatSnap, a global provider of AI-driven solutions for innovation intelligence, whose global life sciences network, data, and AI capabilities will support Drylab’s growth in pharmaceutical and biotech research and development (R&D).

Drylab will use the capital to hire enterprise sales staff, expand its engineering and biology teams, and pursue the security and compliance certifications that large research organisations require. The company launched commercially in February 2026 and has since signed paying customers across leading pharmaceutical companies, cancer centres, biomedical research institutes, and universities in the US, Europe, and Asia.

John Phan, CEO of Drylab, said, “AI is pushing the boundaries of science. Our vision is to bring that capability into the daily work of highly regulated industry like biopharma through a swarm of autonomous AI agents working alongside researchers. Realising this potential requires a framework that makes AI reliable, reproducible, and secure within each organisation’s own environment. This funding will help us accelerate adoption and build powerful, locally deployed intelligence that enables scientists to move from biological questions to validated discoveries faster.”

Genping Liu, general partner of Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, said, “Just as AI transformed software engineering, AI for Science is set to reinvent laboratory research. Drylab AI represents a new standard of global ambition coming out of Vietnam’s world-class tech talent pool: leveraging cutting-edge agentic workflows to empower life scientists and drug discovery teams worldwide.”

Sequencing a human genome cost about $95 million in 2001 and about $500 by 2022, according to the US National Human Genome Research Institute. This revolution has enabled laboratories to generate biological data at an unprecedented scale, yet the ability to analyse and translate that data into scientific discoveries has struggled to keep pace.

Thousands of specialised bioinformatics tools, fragmented computational infrastructure, and a shortage of computational expertise have created a growing bottleneck in biomedical research. Scientists often spend weeks coordinating analyses, troubleshooting pipelines, and waiting for results, slowing the pace of experimentation and discovery.

Drylab is building a new generation of autonomous AI scientists capable of independently carrying out computational research from start to finish. Rather than requiring researchers to continuously prompt, instruct, or supervise individual tasks, Drylab’s agents can take ownership of entire research workflows: understanding scientific objectives, formulating analytical strategies, selecting from more than 800 integrated scientific tools and databases, provisioning computational resources, executing experiments, interpreting results, and autonomously troubleshooting failures.

Its proprietary verification model, trained on real scientific analysis runs, evaluates analytical decisions and identifies methodological errors, enabling agents to independently correct and refine their work.

For pharmaceutical companies and research institutions handling sensitive data and valuable intellectual property, Drylab offers secure deployment on private infrastructure or local workstations, enabling organisations to develop autonomous scientific capabilities within their own environments without compromising ownership of their data or discoveries.

The company was founded in 2025 by CEO John Phan, CTO Huy Phan, and CSO Nhi Nguyen. Phan carried out AI research with ByteDance’s seed team, and Huy was a visiting research engineer at Andrew Ng’s Landing AI.

Nhi, a PhD candidate in biomedical science at Nanyang Technological University, taught herself bioinformatics to analyse her lab’s data, an experience that led to Drylab.

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Speaking at the seminar “Credit Policy and the Carbon Market: Unlocking Green Capital Flows” organised by VIR on October 14, Tran Anh Quy, deputy director of the State Bank of Vietnam's Credit Department, said that since green credit was first introduced in 2017, the sector has expanded in both lending scale and the participation of credit institutions.

By the end of June 2026, outstanding green credit had exceeded VND856 trillion ($33.5 billion), up 9.87 per cent from the end of 2025. Average annual growth exceeded 20 per cent over the 2017-2025 period.

"These figures represented encouraging progress, although green financing had yet to meet the full extent of demand," he said. "The green transition is no longer simply a voluntary choice for businesses. It is increasingly linked to legal compliance, economic development priorities and environmental and social responsibilities."

Quy stressed that green credit should not be understood simply as loans carrying lower interest rates. Green financing comes with standards, technical conditions and requirements to demonstrate environmental impact. Its core purpose is to help businesses invest in technologies, processes and production methods that reduce emissions and use resources more efficiently. The resulting economic benefits may take time to become evident.

Credit institutions also face higher costs for assessing, evaluating and monitoring green projects than they do for many conventional loans. In addition to further refining policies and support mechanisms, it is therefore necessary to raise business awareness, standardise information and strengthen project preparation capacity.

"The banking sector did not lack capital for eligible green projects, noting that commercial banks were actively mobilising domestic funding and pursuing international cooperation. The main barriers currently lie in the technical aspects of green project assessment," Quy said.

Dang Tai An Trang, deputy general director of the Vietnam Exchange, said the green transition had become a clear trend, but its implementation needed a roadmap aligned with practical conditions and economic development requirements.

Trang highlighted the need to balance emissions reduction with economic growth. Vietnam has set ambitious growth targets, while the transition to new technologies, energy systems and production methods requires substantial investment.

"If the pace of transition is too rapid and exceeds businesses' capacity to adapt, compliance costs could undermine production and business efficiency, as well as overall economic growth," he said.

"Alongside meeting environmental commitments, businesses therefore need sufficient scope to assess economic returns and select investment roadmaps suited to their circumstances."

Dang Tai An Trang, deputy general director of VNX. Photo: Dung Minh

Regarding Vietnam's carbon market, Trang described its launch as a positive first step, although trading volumes and values remain relatively modest in the initial stage.

"The market's effectiveness should not be judged solely by its initial trading value or volume. More importantly, the carbon market signals the direction of the green transition and gradually establishes a basis for businesses to incorporate emissions costs into their commercial decisions," he said.

From a financial perspective, market instruments operate based on expectations. Just as the bond market needs to establish a long-term yield curve to support pricing and decisions, the carbon market must also develop clear and reliable price signals.

With a credible reference price for carbon, businesses can better quantify emissions costs, compliance risks and the economic benefits of investing in emissions-reduction technologies. This is particularly important for projects with long investment horizons and extended payback periods.

However, establishing reliable price signals requires standard-compliant assets and transparent trading mechanisms. This underscores the need for a measurement, reporting and verification system to ensure the quality of allowances and carbon credits entering the market.

Regulators must also refine standards, disclosure requirements and market surveillance mechanisms to prevent market manipulation.

Beyond the carbon market, Trang highlighted the role of the stock market in developing financing instruments to support the green transition. In the initial stages, prioritising the development of green bonds may be more practical than establishing criteria for identifying green equities.

"Green bonds are linked to the use of proceeds for projects or activities that meet environmental criteria. Determining whether a company qualifies as green, by contrast, requires a comprehensive assessment of its business and production activities," he said.

"The development of instruments for identifying green companies should therefore follow a phased approach, supported by improvements in information quality and the market's capacity to assess corporate environmental performance," he added.

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The trend was highlighted at the Vietnam International Textile and Garment Industry Exhibition, which opens its doors in Ho Chi Minh City on October 14. The expo features 400 global brands and gathers 610 booths across an area of 15,000 square metres.

Speaking at the expo, Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Garment Textile Embroidery-Knitting said, “Vietnam's garment and textile industry is facing a year marked by both challenges and opportunities. Amid the broader competitive landscape, the industry must step up its efforts to transition towards high-value production and gain access to global markets."

Over the past nine months, Vietnam's garment and textile industry exports reached an estimated $35.721 billion, representing a 3.3 per cent increase on-year. With a bright outlook for the fourth quarter, the garment and textile industry is on track to achieve the target of $48 billion in export earnings this year.

“The garment and textile industry benefits from social stability and a skilled workforce. Businesses have also made efforts to improve management, invest in equipment and technology, and adopt green technologies. All of these factors support the favourable growth of the industry in 2026,” he said.

VTG 2026 aims to create opportunities for manufacturers and buyers to meet, explore new technologies, discover solutions, and expand business cooperation.

At the expo, various sewing machines, computerised embroidery machines, digital textile printing equipment, and advanced testing equipment are being showcased. Thus, businesses can identify solutions to improve productivity, reduce material consumption, and enhance production accuracy.

In addition, exhibitors also display functional fabrics, natural fibres, traceable materials, and environmentally friendly dyeing chemicals, supporting businesses in meeting sustainability requirements and enhancing supply chain transparency.

Three specialised exhibitions also take place alongside the expo, including Vietnam International Footwear & Leather Industry Exhibition - Machinery & Materials, The 24^th Vietnam International Textile & Accessories Exhibition, and Vietnam International Dyeing & Chemical Industry Exhibition.

Together, the four exhibitions will span the entire production chain, from weaving and dyeing to garment and footwear manufacturing.

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The record was granted by the Vietnam Records Organisation to Duc Huong Anh Co., Ltd. (DHA Vietnam), the organiser, and the Quang Ninh branch of Vinhomes JSC, the accompanying partner.

The marathon took place at Vinhomes Global Gate Halong in Quang Ninh City, attracting 15,000 athletes competing over three distances of 21km, 10km and 3km. Thousands of athletes in turquoise-coloured shirts making their way through the course of “Run Through the Wonder” serves as a powerful testament to the sports spirit with environmental protection responsibility. By setting the Vietnam Record, the marathon spreads the message of joining hands with the government to achieve the net-zero 2050 goal.

The success of the inaugural marathon affirms DHA Vietnam’s professional event management capabilities and Vingroup’s comprehensive infrastructure. The event also positions Quang Ninh as a premier destination for world-class sports and cultural events.

Dao Ngoc Huy, head of the Vinhomes Global Gate Halong Management Board, said, "The participation of 15,000 athletes in the inaugural Marathon served as a practical test of the operational capabilities for large-scale events at the Vinhomes Global Gate Halong mega-urban area.

"To accommodate such large participants, Vinhomes collaborated with the organiser to ensure comprehensive preparations, ranging from traffic infrastructure, routing, and parking to logistics, sanitation, and safety measures along the entire course, thereby guaranteeing a clear race route and optimal conditions for the athletes.

"This race also lays the groundwork for Vinhomes Global Gate Halong to progressively enhance its capacity to host large-scale sports, cultural, and entertainment events, aiming to become a vibrant destination that attracts both domestic and international visitors and communities in the future."

Photo: DHA Vietnam

At dawn on October 11, thousands of runners set off along the standard-certified routes of the massive 6,200-hectare Vinhomes Global Gate Halong metropolis.

Starting on Thien Duong Avenue, the route takes runners along the 60-metre-wide Apollo Avenue and internal roads bordering Heritage Bay, offering fresh air and sweeping natural scenery.

Beyond testing their physical limits, runners will share the experience with a like-minded community. Under the theme “Run for Net Zero”, the inaugural marathon aims to encourage healthy living and environmental responsibility.

Like marathon running, the green transition demands endurance, determination, and sustained effort. This is the philosophy guiding the development of Vinhomes Global Gate Halong.

Spanning more than 6,200 ha alongside the iconic Halong Bay, the mega-urban complex is being developed under an ESG++ model, with the aim of meeting international standards for sustainable urban living and community development. Extensive green spaces are complemented by facilities for sports, cultural events, entertainment, and community activities.

Participants in the Global Gate Halong ESG++ Marathon 2026 will be among the first to experience the development. Designed around the theme “Run Amidst World Wonders,” the route follows bayside avenues through the open coastal landscape.

The 21km half-marathon took place entirely within the complex, with the route envisioned as a future destination for domestic and international runners seeking personal bests and competitive records.

Following the races, the awards ceremony took place that same morning. The organiser presented championship trophies and medals featuring the iconic Hon Trong Mai emblem to outstanding individuals and teams, bringing a day filled with emotion to a memorable close.

Within the event framework, the organisers and participating athletes also planted 2,026 trees in the “ESG Garden. This is a practical initiative to honour the pioneering runners who champion a green and healthy lifestyle, while also joining hands to build a sustainable ESG urban area that meets international standards. Every tree planted today conveys a message of environmental responsibility and a commitment to a sustainable future.

Final results:

21km distance: Women's First Place belongs to Pham Thi Hong Le (1:22:41); Men's First Place is Huynh Anh Khoi (1:11:55).

10km distance: Women's First Place belongs to Hoang Huong Thuy (41:25); Men's First Place belongs to Bui Tuan Tu (33:13).

3km distance: Women's First Place belongs to Le Thi Lan (12:23); Men's First Place is Nguyen Duy Dat (10:01).

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Solving the 1.6T Thermal Challenge: Dual-Track Tomahawk 6 Innovations

At the center of UfiSpace's booth showcase is a live demonstration featuring the S9331-64HO3L, a 102.4Tbps 2OU ORv3 liquid-cooled platform powered by the Broadcom Tomahawk 6 ASIC. Equipped with 64 x 1.6T OSFP ports, the platform operates with a Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU) to deliver real-time cooling and validate system-level thermal feasibility for next-generation AI fabrics. Positioned as a validation-ready early access architecture, the S9331-64HO3L provides hyperscalers and system integrators with a live, operational proof-of-concept for the thermal and mechanical architectures required to build 2027/2028 AI clusters.

Recognizing the transitional realities of data center infrastructure, UfiSpace is also exhibiting the S9331-64HO, a 3RU air-cooled 102.4Tbps platform. Designed for hyperscalers with advanced, highly optimized air-cooled infrastructures, it offers a high-performance alternative to scale bandwidth in targeted zones. By adopting this open, disaggregated architecture, operators can maximize bandwidth density and optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while establishing a unified operational blueprint for broader liquid-cooled rollouts.

Enabling Scale-Across AI Interconnects with Deep-Buffer Routers

To address lossless packet delivery across distributed AI data centers (Scale-Across / DCI), UfiSpace is highlighting its next-generation router portfolio powered by Broadcom Qumran ASICs:

• S9630-32HO (Qumran 4D): Powered by next-generation routing silicon, this 3RU router delivers 51.2Tbps switching capacity with 32GB of embedded deep packet buffering and 32 x 1.6T OSFP ports. Designed to eliminate buffer bloat and packet drops in long-distance AI cluster communications, it serves as an ultra-high-capacity gateway for disaggregated AI fabrics.
• S9620-32E (Qumran 3D): A 2RU 25.6Tbps deep-buffered platform featuring 32 x 800G QSFP-DD interfaces with OpenZR+ coherent optics support, providing versatile edge and spine routing for multi-site AI infrastructures.

Dedicated AI Fabric 800G AI Foundation

Rounding out the showcase is UfiSpace's S9322-64EO, a high-density 800G switching platform engineered specifically for demanding AI workloads. Powered by the Broadcom Tomahawk Ultra ASIC, the S9322-64EO (64 x 800G OSFP) delivers enhanced cognitive routing and ultra-low latency performance tailored for AI backend fabric interconnects. By adhering strictly to open networking specifications, the S9322-64EO streamlines the deployment of high-radix GPU clusters, ensuring uncompromised throughput for intensive AI training workloads.

Integrated Ethernet–Optical Switching Solution for AI Scale-Out and Scale-Across Infrastructure

UfiSpace and GeNopsys Technologies are joining forces to advance AI scale-out and scale-across infrastructure. The solution integrates UfiSpace's high-performance S9321-64E, an 800G Tomahawk 5 Ethernet switch featuring 64 × 800G QSFP-DD ports, with GeNopsys' dynamic OCS technology, creating a complete vertical networking platform for next-generation AI infrastructure. UfiSpace's hardware-driven lossless engine, leveraging SmartBuffer and Dynamic Load Balancing, provides Ethernet interoperability and zero-packet-drop performance. By eliminating O-E-O conversion, GeNopsys' all-optical switching enables high throughput, shorter AI training time, and lower total AI data center energy consumption. By combining Ethernet switching with the fundamental benefits of optical switching, the integrated solution delivers ultra-low latency, significant power savings, massive bandwidth, and seamless scalability for AI scale-out and scale-across networks, including long-distance DCI.

Maria Yuang, Founder and CEO of GeNopsys, said: "Our collaboration with UfiSpace brings together the flexibility of Ethernet and the transformative impact of optical switching for AI scale-out and scale-across. Together, we can accelerate AI training and significantly reduce total data center energy consumption—two critical challenges facing today's AI data centers."

Driving Open Ecosystem Interoperability

Vincent Ho, CEO of UfiSpace said, "The transition to 1.6T AI networking requires more than just raw bandwidth; it demands complete ecosystem alignment across silicon, optics, thermal management, and NOS partners. At OCP Global Summit 2026, we are demonstrating that our open, disaggregated platforms are engineered to solve the real-world thermal and architectural bottlenecks of next-generation AI infrastructure. By validating liquid cooling feasibility today, we enable our ecosystem partners and customers to design their future AI data centers with absolute confidence."

Event Details & Live Demonstration

UfiSpace invites industry analysts, partners, and customers to experience the TH6 Liquid Cooling Live Demo and explore the full AI networking portfolio at Booth D19, Expo Hall 3, during the OCP Global Summit, October 12–15, 2026, in San Jose, California.

For more information about UfiSpace AI networking solutions or to schedule an on-site meeting, please visit www.ufispace.com.

As generative AI and hyperscale workloads scale exponentially, data centers require radical innovations in both silicon efficiency and rack-level thermal management. The CyberTAN Pallas Series platform is built to fully accommodate the cutting-edge 3nm Marvell T100 architecture, enabling high port density while maximizing the chip's 25% energy-saving advantages. By pairing the Marvell silicon blueprint with CyberTAN's proprietary Direct-to-Chip (D2C) liquid-cooled engineering, the platform is designed to effortlessly manage over 1,000 Watts of localized heat dissipation, enabling data centers to reach elite-tier environmental sustainability goals.

"Our collaboration with Marvell marks a pivotal milestone in bringing production-ready 1.6T connectivity architectures to the market," said GwongYih Lee, Chairman & CEO at CyberTAN. "By designing our Pallas Series around the Marvell T100 silicon specifications, we are empowering global hyperscalers with high-density, low-latency network switch designs that push the boundaries of PUE optimization and thermal control."

"Marvell is committed to enabling an open, robust infrastructure ecosystem for the AI era," said Rishi Chugh, vice president and general manager, Cloud Switch Business Unit at Marvell. "CyberTAN's Pallas Series platform architecture is a prime example of how the industry can design systems to leverage the massive bandwidth and power-saving capabilities of our 3nm T100 silicon to overcome traditional networking bottlenecks."

Experience the Technology Innovations at OCP 2026:

Attendees are invited to Booth B29 to explore CyberTAN's pre-stage development switch platform. The live showcase features a fully integrated architectural prototype—including the complete schematic chassis, optical housing, and internal cabling—configured with a specialized thermal module to simulate the T100 silicon workloads. Visitors can witness a live dynamic liquid-cooled flow demonstration powered by a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU). Equipped with multi-point temperature sensors, the demonstration validates the platform's ability to safely handle 40W OSFP ZR/ZR+ optics under a 45°C liquid inlet temperature, achieving an industry-leading PUE of 1.1.

For the first time since moving to Fiera Milano Rho, EICMA will occupy ten exhibition halls, one more than in 2025, making it the largest edition ever held at the venue. The exhibition will cover over 300,000 square metres, welcoming 754 exhibitors and 2,120 brands from 52 countries.

The figures confirm EICMA's global leadership: 74% of participating brands are international, while approximately 30% of direct exhibitors are either returning companies or first-time participants. This remarkable growth reinforces EICMA's strategic role as a global platform for business, innovation and motorcycle culture.

The 2026 edition will offer visitors an unprecedented programme of exhibitions, racing, entertainment and immersive experiences.

Among the highlights is Speed Legends, an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the history of MotoGP's premier class. Developed through the EICMA.SHIFT UP partnership with MotoGP, the exhibition will feature over 30 historic racing motorcycles alongside the five MotoGP bikes competing in 2026, complemented by interactive experiences and a dedicated Gaming Arena.

The Dakar Rally also returns through the renewed partnership with ASO, bringing historic and modern rally motorcycles and an official Dakar container to Hall 22.

Outside the halls, MotoLive will once again deliver spectacular racing and entertainment across more than 60,000 square metres. Highlights include twin-cylinder motorcycle competitions, Freestyle Motocross, Trial performances featuring special guest *Toni Bou, and the Champions Charity Race Legend, bringing together motorsport icons including Troy Bayliss, Marco Melandri and Stefan Everts.

Visitors will also enjoy free test rides at Y.U.M. – Your Urban Mobility, featuring over 40 vehicles, while EICMA Adventouring and the Start-up Area, supported by the Italian Trade Agency, will showcase adventure tourism and future mobility solutions.

"Every edition brings something new while preserving the excitement of a first-time experience," said EICMA President Pietro Meda. "Our mission is to keep surprising visitors, connecting generations and creating value for the entire industry."

EICMA CEO Paolo Magri highlighted the exhibition's international strength: "These figures demonstrate EICMA's continuing ability to attract investment, welcome new companies and represent the global motorcycle industry."

A comprehensive mobility plan, developed with ATM, Trenord and the Municipality of Milan, will facilitate access through public transport and approximately 15,000 free parking spaces.

EICMA 2026 runs from 3 to 8 November, with press and trade days on 3–4 November and public opening from 5–8 November.

Tickets are available at www.eicma.it.

In addition to the workover rigs, two new 1,500-horsepower drilling rigs arrived on October 7 for NABEP's operations with more equipment expected to arrive soon.

The new equipment complements NABEP's steady ramp-up of operations and production. Separately, the company has purchased 60 rigs, 30 steam boilers and 70 pieces of heavy machinery, giving it the largest heavy-equipment fleet in the country.

"NABEP is making serious and steady progress in increasing oil production. Every rig that arrives in Venezuela brings us closer to reaching our production goals and revitalizing our country's economy," said NABEP CEO Alejandro Betancourt. "The challenge ahead is large, but there is no better partner than the U.S. government. We look forward to continuing to share our progress in the months ahead."

The new equipment purchases follow the August 2026 agreement between NABEP and the U.S. Departments of State and War to significantly expand oil production in Venezuela. NABEP controls the rights to commercialize more than 65 billion barrels of P1 oil reserves in Venezuela and plans to invest nearly $100 billion to increase production capacity and improve oil-and-gas infrastructure. NABEP is rapidly expanding its operations in Lake Maracaibo and the Orinoco Belt. Its near-term goal is to increase production to more than 1 million barrels of oil per day.

NABEP has scaled its production from approximately 18,000 barrels per day to more than 200,000 in two years through roughly $1 billion in company-funded investment. The company employs 5,000 people and supports 10,000 contract employees in Venezuela.

NABEP is committed to the responsible development of energy resources, the safety of its people and the prosperity of the communities where it operates. www.nabep.net

Vortex Highlights:

• Hole H26D-6175A:
  • 19.6 meters at 30.49 g/t gold and 1,726.72 g/t silver
  • Including 1.7 meters at 347.07 g/t gold and 9,526.36 g/t silver
• Visible gold present in the intercept
• Represents the best hole ever drilled in Hycroft's more than 40-year history and the highest gold grades ever reported at Hycroft
• Highest silver grades ever drilled at Vortex
• This intercept extends farther to the west and south of previously reported high-grade gold and silver intercepts
• The style of alteration and mineralization could indicate proximity to a potential source of the Vortex system

Diane Garrett, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: "Hole H26D-6175A is an exceptional result and the best hole in our history. The silver-equivalent grade is more than 50% higher than that of our previous best hole, and this intercept contained the highest gold grades ever reported at Hycroft, with visible gold observed in the intercept. The combination of higher grades and longer intercepts suggests we may be getting close to a potential source of the Vortex system. Follow-up drilling is already underway and we look forward to accelerating the work at the Vortex and Brimstone systems."

In addition to the high-grade gold and silver intercepts noted above, H26D-6175A also intersected significant intervals of gold and silver mineralization throughout the length of the hole, further enhancing the mineralization within the resource.

The figure below represents gold interpolants in the Vortex system using a 1.0 g/t gold cutoff grade.

Figure 1

1 g/t Gold Cutoff Grade Interpolants

Figure 1, 1 g/t Gold Cutoff Grade Interpolants

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release and in public statements by our officers or representatives that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business strategy, plans and goals, competitive strengths, the advancement and development of the Hycroft Mine, the results and implications of metallurgical analysis and test work, and the expansion and growth of our business.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by future or conditional words such as "estimate," "plan," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "believe," "target," "budget," "may," "can," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "scheduled to" and similar words or expressions but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. The risks include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to changes in our operations at the Hycroft Mine, including risks associated with the cessation of mining operations at the Hycroft Mine; uncertainties concerning estimates of mineral resources; risks related to the lack of a completed feasibility study; risks related to metallurgical test work and process development; and risks related to our ability to re-establish commercially feasible mining and processing operations; and (ii) industry-related risks, including fluctuations in the price of gold and silver; the commercial success of, and risks related to, our exploration and development activities; uncertainties and risks related to our reliance on contractors and consultants; and the availability and cost of equipment, supplies, energy or reagents.

Any exploration target described in this press release does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) of an exploration target are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration of the relevant property or properties to estimate a mineral resource; and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource.

These and other risks may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forwardlooking statements, and the occurrence of one or more of these events or circumstances, alone or in combination with others, may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Please see the "Risk Factors" outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in other reports filed with the SEC, for more information about these and other risks.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Although these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

www.hycroftmining.com

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The result also marks the fifth consecutive year CEIBS has ranked first among EMBA programmes delivered by a single institution, distinguishing it from programmes jointly run by multiple business schools.

The programme performed strongly in career-related measures, ranking fourth for Aims Achieved, fifth for Current Salary, sixth for Salary Increase, seventh for Alumni Network, and eighth for Work Experience.

Co-founded by the Chinese government and the European Union in 1994, CEIBS combines an international outlook with a focus on Chinese business. As Chinese companies expand overseas and international businesses seek to navigate China's complex market, the programme aims to equip leaders with the cross-cultural understanding and global perspective needed to operate across borders.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of China, the CEIBS Global EMBA offers a gateway to the Chinese market, while for those looking to build stronger connections between China and the world, it provides a distinctive platform for learning and collaboration.

Its global network spans more than 20 destinations across five continents, with exchange partnerships involving nine leading business schools in 10 countries. Participants come from more than 20 countries and regions, and over 35% of the latest cohort live and work outside China, with executives travelling to Shanghai from across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The programme's international community extends beyond the classroom through an alumni network that connects business leaders across markets and industries, fostering cross-cultural understanding and opportunities for collaboration.

Academic excellence underpins CEIBS' sustained performance. The school has more than 120 professors from around the world, while its case studies are used by more than 1,200 institutions across over 80 countries, extending its research and teaching to a global audience.

Founded in 1995, the CEIBS Global EMBA was the first English-language EMBA programme launched on the Chinese mainland. It continues to bring global management thinking into dialogue with Chinese business practice, preparing leaders to make informed decisions and navigate an increasingly interconnected business environment.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

According to the MoIT, adjusting the PDP VIII is one of the important solutions to ensure electricity supply during 2027-2030 and beyond.

The ministry stated that coal-fired thermal power projects require a long time for investment preparation and implementation. The construction process, from the time an engineering-procurement-construction contractor is selected, is at least 36 months. Therefore, early adjustment of the plan will create a basis for the projects to proceed with the next steps, ensuring power generation progress in the 2029-2030 period.

The ministry requests the people's committees of cities and provinces to provide feedback on the draft revised PDP VIII - Phase 1, which includes a plan to replace the delayed gas-fired power plants approved in prime ministerial Decision No.768 dated April 15, 2025, with coal-fired power plant projects to ensure electricity supply in the following years.

The replaced projects will be considered for operation in the 2031-2035 period. Local authorities are also requested to commit to meeting the operational schedule of the replaced projects and to bear full responsibility if there are delays, affecting electricity supply.

The MoIT requests their opinions based on their functions, duties, and scope of management. The State Bank of Vietnam is requested to clarify its ability to mobilise investment capital for the planned adjustments and additions to the power plant plan.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are requested to provide opinions on the development of new coal-fired power plant projects based on the principles outlined in Conclusion No.18-KL/TW, signed by Party General Secretary To Lam on April 2, the 14^th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at its second plenum, approved the socioeconomic development plan for the 2026-2030 period, and related strategies, plans, and projects.

Corporations and companies are also requested to provide opinions according to their functions, duties, and scope of management. In particular, Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and the Dong Bac Corporation are required to provide opinions on the domestic coal supply capacity for the planned additional coal-fired power plants in case there are replaced coal-fired projects.

Regarding other power sources such as wind power, solar power, and biomass power, the MoIT will continue to coordinate with localities to review the implementation progress year by year, and calculate adjustments to the structure and portfolio of projects if necessary.

Petrovietnam, PV GAS and Nebula Energy partner on LNG-powered data centre On July 28, Petrovietnam, PV GAS and Nebula Energy signed a cooperation agreement to explore an integrated data centre utilising LNG infrastructure at Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ha Tinh.

Investors in $2.2 billion Quynh Lap LNG project assigned urgent missions Nghe An People's Committee requires the consortium of investors of the Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant to complete certain urgent missions in September to accelerate the project.

Land clearance contract for new thermal power plant to be signed Nghe An People's Committee require the consortium of investors in the Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant to sign the land clearance contract with the local authorities before September 25.

JBIC considers new financing options for Vietnam’s energy projects Vietnam’s substantial capital requirements for achieving high economic growth are driving efforts to diversify domestic and international funding channels. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has expressed its readiness to support Vietnam in energy and infrastructure projects, as well as efforts to raise capital in international markets.

LNG power plant projects risk falling behind schedule Of the 18 liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant projects with a total capacity of over 20,000 MW, only two have commenced construction, and only the Hiep Phuoc LNG project is assessed as likely to be on schedule.

Electronic Tripod Vietnam Co., Ltd. (TVC) proposes several infrastructure recommendations in the industrial park (IP) to ensure smooth factory operation and provide the company with confidence in its long-term investment plans.

“The first demand is a stable power supply. Because the South has frequent thunderstorms, TVC nvested in underground power cables to minimise the risk of lightning strikes on power lines. However, if thunderstorms affect the substation at the power source, the automatic protection system can still trip, causing short-term power outages. Meanwhile, for high-tech component manufacturing, instantaneous power interruptions can also cause equipment to automatically shut down, resulting in product losses and time-consuming restoration," said Lu Cheng Ming, general director of TVC at a seminar organised in Ho Chi Minh City on September 28.

"Therefore, the company hopes that the power company and the IP developer will review the lightning protection system of the substation and the protection equipment at the power source to improve the quality of power supply in a coordinated manner,” he said.

TVC is a company specialising in the production of printed circuit boards – the platform connecting chips and components in AI servers, data centres, electric vehicles, and telecommunications equipment. This group is operating factories in Chau Duc IP in Ho Chi Minh City with a total investment of approximately $450 million in two phases, employing 3,600 workers.

Besides existing businesses, foreign investors, when visiting IPs to explore opportunities, also consider many priority factors, not simply land issues.

“Along with land hiring cost and infrastructure, foreign investors are also interested in the province's investment environment, logistics connectivity (which greatly affects operating costs), and accompanying services such as electricity supply (especially green energy) and wastewater treatment systems that meet green standards. In addition, they pay close attention to living conditions for workers and experts, such as dormitories and housing near IPs so that workers can settle down and work effectively,” Nguyen Ngoc Lan, general director of Song Lo 2 Industrial Park in the northern province of Phu Tho, told VIR. “Another crucial factor is the support services and partnership of infrastructure investors. Many large-scale foreign-invested enterprises lack experience in legal procedures; IP developers’ support will help shorten the time for factory construction and operation.”

The demand for an industrial ecosystem is not just a subjective opinion of investors, but also one of the guiding principles and tasks set out in Resolution No.10-NQ/TW in June on developing the foreign-invested economic sector.

Resolution 10 states the need for the synchronised and unified development of the foreign investment ecosystem, linked to the development strategy of domestic enterprises, the development of capital markets, international financial centres, free trade zones, economic zones, high-tech IPs, innovation centres, logistics infrastructure, data, and energy; encouraging foreign investors to establish regional headquarters and regional operational, research, design, and service centres.

Changes in the criteria to select IPs directly impact how IP developers implement their products. Nguyen Van Lang, a member of the board of directors and general director of Becamex Binh Dinh JSC, said, “Factory products in the next phase will also be more flexible to meet the specific requirements of technology, deep processing, and green manufacturing industries.”

“The competitiveness of an IP in the new phase depends on the quality, stability, and scalability of its production infrastructure. At Becamex VSIP Binh Dinh, the electricity, water supply and drainage, wastewater treatment, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure systems are continuously being improved. Water supply capacity is planned at approximately 45,900 cubic metres per day and night, along with a wastewater treatment system and solutions for renewable energy, energy management, and centralised operational monitoring.”

Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Real Estate Corporation also allocate about 5-10 per cent of its land area in IPs for developing warehousing and logistics.

Nguyen Thanh Chuong, general director of Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Real Estate Corporation, said, “Integrating logistics directly into the ecosystem both adds convenience for tenants and creates space for small-scale businesses to participate, while simultaneously reducing transportation costs. According to the company's assessment, the integrated model can help businesses within the ecosystem reduce logistics costs by about 20-30 per cent.”

“Infrastructure requirements are raised as green standards increasingly directly impact the ability to participate in the supply chain. Global tariff regulations and carbon standards are becoming new variables that IP developers and foreign-invested enterprises must consider. Corporations investing in semiconductors, data centres, or renewable energy will prioritise industrial hubs with good ecological environments, meeting green and ESG criteria because these conditions are directly linked to the ability to export goods to markets such as Europe or America,” he said.

Electronics funding will be won via a capable ecosystem: SGS Vietnam is under growing pressure to deepen its industrial ecosystem as regional rivals compete for a new generation of electronics, semiconductor, and high-tech manufacturing investment.

Vietnam shifting focus to building high-quality FDI ecosystem Vietnam is shifting its approach from simply attracting foreign direct investment to developing a foreign-invested economic sector and building a high-quality ecosystem for foreign investment, according to Pham Van Hoanh, VIR's editor-in-chief.

Building Vietnam’s next chapter of FDI growth VPBank's local execution with SMBC's global capability are building stronger value chains, supporting Vietnamese enterprises, enabling foreign investors to succeed, and strengthening Vietnam's role in the global economy.

Investors explore Thanh Thanh Cong industrial zone ecosystem More than 80 representatives from financial institutions, business associations, and investment groups toured Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone in Tay Ninh province to gain first-hand insights into its production infrastructure, energy systems, environmental facilities, and amenities.

From cost advantage to ecosystem strength Vietnam is at an important turning point in attracting foreign investment, shifting to attracting high-quality capital flows, strengthening links with domestic enterprises, and enhancing its position in global value chains.

Investors and local agencies are rushing to accelerate the progress of the investment project for the construction of infrastructure in Yen Son - Bac Lung Industrial Park – expanded phase to meet the deadline. By October 15, it must complete the land-use conversion and hand over the 35 hectares of land already cleared, as required by regulations. Before November 30, it must complete the land clearance for the remaining 38 ha out of a total of 72 ha already announced for land acquisition.

Along with Bac Ninh city, Phu Tho Party Committee also directed communes, investors, and relevant agencies to coordinate to resolve obstacles for the Trung Ha I and Trung Ha II industrial park (IP) projects.

“At the 136-ha Trung Ha I IP, it needs to urgently complete investment procedures, expedite the implementation of connecting roads, fire prevention and fighting equipment, and finalise land use right certificates for the two newly attracted projects; at the same time, clarify the investment efficiency for the remaining infrastructure items,” said Bui Van Quang, Standing Vice Secretary of Phu Tho Party Committee. “Regarding the 160-ha Trung Ha II IP, we request that the investor ensure the funding for compensation and land clearance; relevant localities and units need to coordinate closely to immediately resolve obstacles related to land and infrastructure investment, striving to start the project in December 2026.”

Haiphong, Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh are also accelerating investment in IP infrastructure to prepare land for new production projects.

VIS Rating, in its Industrial Real Estate Outlook for the second half of 2026 published on September 29, reported that FDI inflows into Vietnam are expected to remain high and continue to be a key driver of IP development.

“The Demand for industrial land also strengthened. After falling 30 per cent in 2025, newly leased industrial land increased 60 per cent on-year to 500 ha in the first half of 2026, driven largely by production expansion among electronics and semiconductor companies,” it said.

VIS Rating recorded that the area of new industrial park land for lease in the first 6 months of the year reached about 500ha, an increase of 60 per cent compared to the same period; the occupancy rate remained at 82 per cent. The need to expand production of electronics and semiconductor enterprises is one of the main drivers.

According to VIS Rating, recent policies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) have further boosted demand for industrial land. In the first eight months of 2026, registered FDI reached $40.6 billion, up 55 per cent on-year, while disbursed FDI rose 12 per cent to $17.3 billion.

“The sustained growth of FDI inflows is having a profound impact on Vietnam’s industrial real estate sector while reinforcing the country’s role within global supply chains. As foreign-invested enterprises in electronics, optical products, computers, high-tech manufacturing and related industries continue expanding production and supply chain operations in Vietnam, demand for industrial land, ready-built factories and warehouses is rising in tandem,” said Nguyen Phuoc Thuan, director of Industrial and Office Leasing Services at Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam.

“While Vietnam’s competitiveness was once largely associated with labour costs, land availability and geographic location, its appeal today is increasingly driven by an industrial ecosystem capable of meeting the stringent requirements of multinational corporations. Key advantages include a supportive policy framework, continuously improving regional connectivity and a growing pipeline of high-quality industrial real estate,” he said.

Alongside this, amendments to the Law on Investment and the issuance of Decree No.96/2026/ND-CP further enhance the investment environment through greater transparency, efficiency and competitiveness. The introduction of a “special investment procedure” enables projects located in IPs, economic zones and high-tech parks to receive accelerated approvals based on compliance commitments, shortening project implementation timelines.

Supported by favourable policies and infrastructure investment, industrial real estate supply continues to grow. According to Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam’s statistics, as of Q2, Northern Vietnam’s cumulative industrial land bank exceeded 25,200 ha, up 15.7 per cent on-year. More than 1,200 ha of new supply were introduced during the first half of the year through six industrial park developments in Haiphong, Bac Ninh and Ninh Binh.

The region’s ready-built factory stock reached approximately 5.8 million square metres, representing annual growth of 16.9 per cent, while ready-built warehouse supply totalled around 3.6 million sq.m with Bac Ninh, Haiphong and Hung Yen remaining the leading markets, according to the Cushman & Wakefield.

Enterprises honoured for sustainability in industrial parks Three firms have been honoured in the Outstanding Sustainable Enterprises in Industrial Parks category at the 2026 Green Future Awards, held as part of the Vietnam Industrial Property Forum.

Tien Phong Plastics wins two awards at Green Future Awards 2026 Tien Phong Plastics has won two awards at the 2026 Green Future Awards, held during the Vietnam Industrial Property Forum.

Stavian IP recognised as 'Emerging Green Industrial Property Developers' at Green Future Awards 2026 Stavian IP earned recognition as an 'Emerging Green Industrial Property Developer' at the Green Future Awards in Ho Chi Minh City on September 29.

Ho Chi Minh City holds dialogue with businesses to address operational hurdles At a dialogue between Ho Chi Minh City authorities and businesses on October 9, participants focused on resolving obstacles related to investment, taxation, customs, environmental issues, and administrative procedures in industrial parks.

Amata City Long Thanh signs manufacturing deal with ITS Investment Amata City Long Thanh JSC and ITS Investment Co., Ltd. have signed a land use right sublease agreement for a new manufacturing facility in Dong Nai, marking another milestone in the industrial park's efforts to attract high-value manufacturing investment.

After the first nine months, many localities across the country reported breakthrough foreign direct investment (FDI) results that exceeded targets.

In Ho Chi Minh City, total registered capital reached $17.2 billion in the first nine months, up 4.2 times from the same period last year. The figure included more than $9.35 billion in newly registered capital and over $4.9 billion in additional capital for existing projects. Foreign investors also registered more than $2.9 billion through capital contributions and share purchases.

One of the most notable projects is a $2.1 billion FDI data centre project at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, aimed at developing high-performance computing infrastructure for AI and big-data processing. Meanwhile, the Vinh Lap Industrial Park Phase 1 project was approved by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, including approval of the investor. The project covers an area of 497 hectares with registered capital of $379.69 million.

Thai Nguyen province continued to make its mark by attracting nearly $8 billion in 24 newly registered and additional-capital projects, resulting in an average capital of $333.2 million per project - the highest level among cities and provinces nationwide.

Other localities, namely Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Danang, also surpassed their 2026 FDI attraction goals after only the first three quarters of the year.

“The breakthrough results come from efforts in both on-site and overseas investment promotion activities. Provincial leaders have set up hotlines to receive information 24/7 regarding pending issues and licensing procedures. As a result, many foreign investors received their investment certificates within 24 hours,” said Chu Van Khanh, director of the Investment Consulting and Promotion Centre under Thai Nguyen Department of Finance.

“The second highlight is the reduction of administrative procedures. In the first nine months, the province reduced and cut 60 per cent of procedures, higher than the national average of 30 per cent. In addition, officials worked overtime to support investors,” he said.

Danang has also made efforts to support investors seeking investment opportunities in the city.

“At Danang Investment Promotion Centre, we have the slogan ‘One Stop, One Service,’ meaning that we act as an intermediary party to work with the people’s committee, departments, and relevant agencies to find solutions for investors’ pending issues. Investors then receive the results at the centre’s office,” said Tran Quoc An, deputy director of the Danang Investment Promotion Agency. “We are developing an AI-integrated database that includes data on both foreign and domestic investors. The system will collect and analyse information on these entities and automatically connect them with one another. In addition, the city is completing logistics infrastructure and training programmes to meet the stricter requirements of investors.”

Along with investment promotion and administrative procedure reduction, Danang Department of Science and Technology is seeking feedback on a draft resolution outlining support for key digital technology projects, semiconductor investments, AI data centres, and chip design companies.

Building on these achievements, localities will continue promoting new projects while accelerating follow-up procedures and focusing on resolving obstacles for already licensed projects, to create further breakthroughs in the fourth quarter and for the whole year.

Quang Ninh city is a case in point. It has identified several tasks for the remaining months of the year, including accelerating revenue collection from import and export activities, land clearance, handling slow-moving projects, and disbursing certain capital sources.

In the fourth quarter, the city will launch a high-intensity emulation campaign titled “90 days and nights of intense effort,” focusing on completing key tasks such as supporting businesses, accelerating project progress, and boosting industrial production, trade, services, tourism, import-export, and logistics. Simultaneously, Quang Ninh will continue to boost digital transformation and innovation, efficiently exploit land and natural resources, and prepare new key projects.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is focusing on improving the investment and business environment, accelerating administrative procedure reforms, and developing policies to attract, encourage, and support investors.

“After the Urban Development Law took effect on October 1, the city has been developing policies to engage, encourage, and support investors, including preferential policies to draw foreign investors into sectors consistent with the city’s development orientation. In addition, the city is focusing on developing infrastructure and preparing the necessary conditions regarding location and planning so that investors can quickly implement projects when needed,” said Quach Ngoc Tuan, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance continues to coordinate with departments, agencies, management boards, and localities to monitor and expedite the processing of dossiers for key projects, while supporting existing investors in expanding their operations and resolving difficulties related to investment procedures and project implementation conditions.

Along with attracting new projects, Ho Chi Minh City is also focusing on project implementation progress, disbursement, and operation, as well as increasing linkages between foreign-invested and domestic enterprises in the supply of goods and services and human resource training.

Samsung Vietnam to deepen cooperation with local manufacturers Samsung Vietnam will broaden and deepen its cooperation with local manufacturers while building a more systematic support network to help Vietnamese businesses strengthen production capabilities and participate more deeply in global supply chains, according to Cha Ji Ho, vice president of the Vietnam Procurement Center at Samsung Vietnam.

Building Vietnam’s next chapter of FDI growth VPBank's local execution with SMBC's global capability are building stronger value chains, supporting Vietnamese enterprises, enabling foreign investors to succeed, and strengthening Vietnam's role in the global economy.

Raising construction materials supply chain standards amid green transition Growing scrutiny of carbon emissions and ESG performance is putting pressure on construction materials companies and their supply chains, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, to strengthen their capabilities, according to Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, head of Sustainability Development at Prime Group, a member of SCG.

VIR seminar focuses on taking domestic suppliers into global supply chains Comprehensive reform enhancing the absorption capacity of domestic enterprises to join global supply chains was the focus of a panel discussion at a seminar, organised by VIR in Hanoi on October 8.

From cost advantage to ecosystem strength Vietnam is at an important turning point in attracting foreign investment, shifting to attracting high-quality capital flows, strengthening links with domestic enterprises, and enhancing its position in global value chains.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on October 13 allowing Vietnamese passport holders to enter and stay in Russia visa-free for up to 30 days, according to Interfax.

The policy applies to Vietnamese citizens travelling on ordinary passports for tourism, family visits, business, scientific, cultural, political, social, economic and sporting activities, as well as transit through Russia. Under the decree, eligible travellers can enter, stay in and leave the country without applying for a visa.

The exemption does not cover those travelling to Russia for employment, including journalists, or for study or long-term residence.

Nguyen Huu Cuong, general director of Trang An Travel, which has more than a decade of experience organising trips to Russia for Vietnamese tourists, said the country remained an attractive destination thanks to its rich history, cultural heritage and vast natural landscapes.

“Direct flights and friendly diplomatic relations between the two countries are important soft factors that keep Russia high on the list of preferred destinations for Vietnamese travellers,” he said.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), Russia receives around 15,000 Vietnamese visitors annually. Meanwhile, Vietnam welcomed approximately 1.13 million Russian visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up more than 160 per cent on-year. Russia is currently Vietnam’s third-largest source market for international visitors and its largest in Europe.

A VNAT representative said, “The reciprocal visa exemption arrangement is expected to boost travel between the two countries and potentially set new records in 2026-2027.”

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said the visa exemption could increase demand for trips to Russia among Vietnamese citizens, potentially lifting visitor numbers by 25-30 per cent compared with the period before the policy took effect.

ATOR considers Vietnam a promising source market for Russian tourism. Vietnamese travellers tend to favour itineraries covering multiple destinations, extending beyond Moscow and St Petersburg to include locations in northern Russia.

ATOR data show that the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Russia rose 69 per cent on-year in the first half of 2026. Including all travel purposes, arrivals of Vietnamese citizens increased by 10.7 per cent.

Russia is stepping up tourism promotion across Southeast Asia through its Discover Russia programme, seeking to attract more visitors from the region.

Currently, a typical seven-day, six-night tour of Moscow and St Petersburg costs from $2,200, with visits to landmarks including Red Square, the Kremlin and the Winter Palace.

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Photo: Duc Minh

Authorised by Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, Do Van Su, director general of the Foreign Investment Agency, along with leaders of relevant departments under the ministry, chaired the meeting. Jean-Alexandre Egea, economic counsellor at the French Embassy in Vietnam, also attended.

Speaking at the meeting, Benoît Clocheret highlighted the pivotal role of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in shaping Vietnam's framework for public and foreign investment, development finance, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

As Vietnam targets annual GDP growth of more than 10 per cent, French businesses are keen to gain a deeper understanding of capital mobilisation mechanisms and the legal framework governing large-scale infrastructure projects, including high-speed railways, metro systems and new energy projects.

The delegation focused discussions with the MoF on three key areas:

Capital mobilisation and financial instruments: The parties discussed effective ways to combine bilateral funding, export credit and multilateral financing for major infrastructure projects.

Contractor selection criteria: The delegation proposed placing greater emphasis on quality, safety, sustainability and whole-life maintenance costs, rather than focusing solely on initial investment costs. It also stressed the need to allocate funding for independent supervision from the project preparation stage.

Long-term investment legal framework: The delegation highlighted the importance of ensuring stable and predictable regulations for projects spanning several decades, alongside the effective implementation of policies supporting private-sector development under Resolution No.68/NQ-TW.

At the meeting, economic counsellor Jean-Alexandre Egea spoke highly of the recent official visit to France by General Secretary and State President To Lam. Bilateral financial and economic cooperation has recorded several notable achievements. The tax authorities of Vietnam and France have signed a tax cooperation agreement.

The Council of the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs configuration has removed Vietnam from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, moving the country from the 'blacklist' to the 'grey list'. This reflects the efforts and positive coordination between the two sides.

The MoF and the French Development Agency (AFD) have continued to sign financing agreements covering energy infrastructure, the power sector and cooperation in developing a new-generation Earth observation satellite.

Meanwhile, the ratification process for the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement is progressing actively in the French National Assembly, with completion expected by the end of 2026.

Around 250 French businesses are currently operating successfully in Vietnam, and their presence is expected to expand significantly in the coming years.

Photo: Duc Minh

On behalf of the MoF’s leadership, Su acknowledged and appreciated the support provided by the French government and business community. In response to the delegation’s concerns, he outlined Vietnam’s development needs and institutional reform priorities.

Vietnam requires approximately $67 billion for the North-South high-speed railway and $63 to $65 billion for metro systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Total investment needs for railway infrastructure are estimated at $200 billion, while road infrastructure requires approximately $400 billion. To sustain annual GDP growth of more than 10 per cent, energy supply will need to increase by 150 to 200 per cent.

"Vietnam is therefore pursuing a diversified approach to capital mobilisation, combining public investment, private investment and PPPs, while developing a comprehensive and sustainable energy ecosystem," Su explained.

The MoF is submitting amendments to the Law on Bidding to the National Assembly, aiming to improve transparency, promote the application of IT and AI, and streamline procedures.

The reform process also incorporates amendments to the Law on the State Budget and the Law on Public Investment to comprehensively address existing delays and overlaps in the legal framework.

"Resolution No.68 and Resolution No.10/NQ-TW on foreign investment form two complementary pillars supporting economic development. Together, they aim to strengthen linkages between foreign-invested enterprises and domestic businesses," Su said. "Vietnam also places particular emphasis on technology transfer and local workforce training in high-tech and complex infrastructure projects."

Photo: Duc Minh

Welcoming Vietnam’s positive progress in institutional reform, Clocheret stated that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries would continue to provide a solid foundation for organisations such as AFD to support key projects.

On this occasion, the French side proposed that Vietnam’s MoF join as a partner in organising the third Vietnam-France Business Leaders Forum in Hanoi in 2027.

Concluding the meeting, Su said the MoF fully acknowledged the delegation’s frank and constructive recommendations. The Foreign Investment Agency will take the lead, working with relevant units under the MoF, including the Department of Debt Management and External Finance, the Department of Infrastructure Development, the Department of Sectoral Finance and Economics, the Public Procurement Agency, the Agency for Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development, and the Agency for State-Owned Enterprise Development, to examine the proposals in detail and report to the ministry’s leadership.

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The domestic carbon market, which began operating on June 29, marks an important step in Vietnam's green transition while highlighting the need for stronger financial mechanisms to support its development, he said at a workshop on credit policy and carbon markets in Hanoi on October 14. The event was organised by VIR in coordination with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) at VIR's headquarters.

“If the carbon exchange is the market’s infrastructure, credit policy, the banking system and capital markets are the driving forces behind the green transition,” Hoanh said.

Credit policy plays a leading role in directing financial resources towards emissions reduction, helping businesses and individuals invest in greener activities and linking sustainable development objectives with the flow of capital throughout the economy.

The green transition ultimately requires tangible investments in cleaner technologies, energy efficiency, changes to production processes, low-emission agriculture, forest protection and development, waste treatment, renewable energy and more sustainable supply chains.

"To bring these projects to fruition, Vietnam needs a financial system capable of identifying, pricing, allocating and managing green capital," said Hoanh.

Vietnam’s carbon market framework was established under the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and subsequently developed through a series of legal documents. The latest regulations include Decree No.29/2026/ND-CP on the domestic carbon exchange and Decree No.112/2026/ND-CP on international exchanges of greenhouse gas emission reduction outcomes and carbon credits.

Vietnam has also gained experience in monetising verified emissions reductions on international markets. In 2024, the country received its first $51.5 million payment from the World Bank for 10.3 million tonnes of verified emission reductions under the North Central Region Emission Reductions Programme.

The launch of allowance trading on 29 June 2026 introduced a new way of recognising the economic value of emissions reductions. However, the establishment of a trading platform alone will not ensure the market's long-term success.

"A sustainable carbon market also requires liquidity, reliable data, verification mechanisms, confidence among buyers and sellers, and a strong financial ecosystem to support market participants," Hoanh said.

Photo: Dung Minh

He highlighted several questions that policymakers, financial institutions and businesses need to address, including how to remove regulatory and financial bottlenecks, channel green capital towards the right projects, and enable banks to assess both the opportunities and risks associated with green investments.

Businesses must also be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of their transition efforts and access bank lending along with medium- and long-term financing from capital markets. Meanwhile, carbon value needs to become an increasingly reliable factor in financial decision-making.

These challenges were among the reasons VIR organised the workshop, bringing together policymakers, banks, businesses, experts and other stakeholders to exchange views and identify practical solutions.

"The carbon market would create a new economic driver when businesses could see the financial benefits of emissions reductions, banks and capital market institutions could manage green capital effectively, investors could identify value, and producers received commensurate benefits," said Hoanh.

He expressed his hope that discussions at the workshop would lead to concrete policy proposals, practical cooperation initiatives, and models that could be implemented in practice.

The event forms part of broader efforts to connect Vietnam’s carbon market development with credit policy and capital mobilisation, helping ensure that the country’s green transition is supported by the financial resources needed to deliver measurable results.

The workshop featured presentations by the SBV, the Asian Development Bank, and Agribank, followed by a discussion with representatives from regulatory authorities, capital markets, banks, businesses, and consulting organisations. Key topics included expanding green capital flows, improving businesses' access to finance, developing the carbon market, and strengthening the links between emissions reduction value and financial decision-making.

From carbon value to greener capital Vietnam’s emerging carbon market is opening another potential source of value for green projects. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, deputy head for the Steering Committee for Environmental, Social, and Governance at Agribank, analyses the broader shift of the role of carbon pricing.

Carbon exchange adds new component to green finance ecosystem The newly launched domestic carbon exchange offers a market-based mechanism for emissions reduction, with its success hinging on integrating carbon pricing with green credit and capital markets to mobilise investment at scale.

Here's what's happening at StarHub this month.

Dress Up and Crack the Mystery at StarHub WatchParty: Halloween Edition

StarHub's Halloween edition of WatchParty takes over CQ @ Clarke Quay Fountain Square on 30 and 31 October, bringing guests together for a movie night and Halloween fun. Settle in for a screening of Haunted Mansion, then put your detective skills to the test as you uncover clues and solve a mystery.

Guests can also join in themed games and activities. Those in costume can strike a pose at the photo spots, capture their look at the 360-degree video booth and show off their Halloween best in the Best Dressed contest.

Enjoy snacks along the way and unlock exclusive dining deals and treats from participating F&B merchants around CQ @ Clarke Quay to fuel your spooky night out.

StarHub WatchParty is free and open to all. Guests can register at starhub.com/watchparty.

• Date: 30 – 31 October 2026
• Location: CQ @ Clarke Quay, Fountain Square, 3 River Valley Rd, Singapore 179024
• Time:
  • 30 October: 6pm – 11pm
  • 31 October: 4pm – 11pm

StarHub Opens Its Doors at Compass One

StarHub is celebrating the grand opening of its new Compass One outlet with prizes and exclusive opening specials. Customers who sign up for any service at the outlet can take part in the sure-win gachapon, with attractive prizes up for grabs.

Those who sign up for a 10Gbps Home Broadband or HomeHub plan can also take home a complimentary Tefal Air Fryer, available exclusively at the Compass One outlet.

• Promotion Period: 4 October – 4 November 2026
• Location: StarHub Store, Compass One, 1 Sengkang Square #03-03, Singapore 545078

Whether you're getting into the Halloween spirit or checking out the latest offers, StarHub's got you this October.