This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and some others.
It compiles coverage from official outlets like Dan Tri, Tuoi Tre, and VN Express, highlighting the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
GS USA visit confirmed
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Communist Party General Secretary To Lam will visit the United States from Wednesday to Friday to attend the first meeting of President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in Washington.
This comes as Vietnam and the United States are negotiating a trade deal after Washington imposed 20 percent tariffs on Vietnamese goods last year, with no final agreement reached.
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Vietnam on EU tax blacklist
Maaal is reporting that European Union finance ministers added Vietnam, along with the Turks and Caicos Islands, to the European Union blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions on Tuesday.
Vietnam was listed after the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Global Forum found it did not meet standards for exchanging tax information upon request.
Vietnam had been removed from the European Union grey list in October, but now appears on the blacklist, which was established in December 2017 and is updated twice yearly.
Ed.’s notes: Original announcement from EU.
Startup development obstacles
The Nation Thailand is reporting that Vietnam’s startup investment is slowing, with investors citing long airport immigration queues, limited e-gate systems and the absence of a startup visa as deterrents, according to Nikkei Asia.
Foreign investors face passport control waits of up to an hour on arrival and departure, while future operations may require transfers between Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports, 50 kilometres apart.
Investors also point to foreign exchange restrictions and outbound remittance controls that require proof of fund origin and limit transfers to approved expenses.
These capital controls complicate global expansion, employee stock options and overseas listings, though Citi Vietnam said they support macro stability but may require gradual liberalisation.
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Changes to Law on Construction
Legal Business Online is reporting that Vietnam’s amended Law on Construction will simplify administrative procedures, expand contractual flexibility, and recognise international standards such as foreign-language contracts and arbitration.
It goes on to detail new construction permit exemptions, a transitional regime from 1 July 2026, and updated compliance obligations.
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Direct flights Tel Aviv-Hanoi
VnExpress is reporting that El Al Israel Airlines will launch a nonstop Tel Aviv–Hanoi route from October 2026, operating three round-trip flights per week.
El Al becomes the second airline to announce direct Tel Aviv–Hanoi flights in 2026, following Akira’s earlier route launch.
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MoC on real estate drivers 2026
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Ministry of Construction says Vietnam’s 2026 property market will centre on affordable housing and social housing rather than high-end speculative segments.
Major developers, including Vingroup, Novaland and Hoang Quan, have pledged large-scale social housing programmes, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: The source article – contrast with earlier suggestions it will be driven by big urban projects.
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Gasoline and oil production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 1,522.50 thousand tons of gasoline and oil in January, down 2.45 percent from 1,560.81 thousand tons in December, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. View source→
Imports from India
the-shiv is reporting that in January, Vietnam imported US$678.58 million worth of goods from India, down from US$697.56 million in December, a change of -2.72 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. View source→
Exports to Thailand
the-shiv is reporting that in January, Vietnam exported US$816 million worth of goods to Thailand, up 1.67 percent over December, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. View source→
Updated: Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Decree 2026
Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Decree sets out comprehensive guidelines for foreign firms operating within the country to ensure robust protection of personal data. In addition, the decree establishes strict requirements for the transfer of personal data abroad. Depending on foreign firms’ operations in Vietnam, an understanding of this Decree could be crucial to ensuring a firm’s operations run smoothly. With this in mind, this article breaks down key sections of the Decree. Read more →
Updated: Vietnam Land Ports for Foreign Firms 2026
Vietnam’s land ports have been a critical component in Vietnam’s economic development. They are the main entry point for a sizable amount of materials used in manufacturing in Vietnam. This is particularly true of its northern border with China, which has become increasingly important to both China and Vietnam’s manufacturing industries as firms have sought to diversify their supply chains. Read more→
Updated: Electricity in Vietnam 2026
When it comes to electricity in Vietnam, whether a company is using it or producing it, there are a lot of nuances that foreign investors should be aware of. This cheat sheet runs through a brief overview of how the industry and the market operate. Read more→
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
the-shiv is reporting that In today’s Vietnam news: Korean venture fund Vietnam chick chain, Automotive partnership VN-CN, Tax department corruption initiative, Biggest dividend payouts 2025, APEC construction through Tet break, Tourism growth drivers, Housing supply concentration, Retail market development analysis, Textile / footwear materials imports, Computer exports, Imports from USA, Updated: Vegetables in Vietnam 2026: Market Trends, Opportunities, Challenges, & Key Players, Yesterday’s news roundup, and more. Read more→