1. Ministry of Industry and Trade Announces FTA Index 2025: On the afternoon of August 18th, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a ceremony to announce the FTA Index 2025, which assesses the implementation results of free trade agreements in localities. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, along with leaders from central and local ministries and agencies, representatives from international organizations, the business community, and experts. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasized that the FTA Index 2025 should be viewed not only as a specialized index but also as an important tool for managing international economic integration.
2. Vietnam and Uruguay Expand Economic , Trade, and Investment Cooperation: On August 18th, in Hanoi, the 4th Session of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation between Vietnam and Uruguay was held, co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang and Uruguayan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valeria Csukasi. At the session, both sides exchanged views on the cooperation between Vietnam and Uruguay in the fields of economics, trade, investment, customs, agriculture, science and technology, reviewed the achievements since the 3rd Session of the Joint Committee held in April 2023, and discussed and proposed work to be implemented in the coming period to promote bilateral cooperation.
3. Vietnamese Businesses Change Approach to Expand Market Share in the US : The US market continues to offer many opportunities for Vietnamese goods, but increasingly stringent requirements regarding origin, quality, supply chain, and compliance are demanding that businesses change their approach, from choosing niche markets to building brands and proactively controlling products. These were the points shared by experts at the Workshop on Cooperation and Development of Import and Export Business with the US Market, organized by the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on August 18th in Hanoi .
4. By the end of 2026, Dong Nai is expected to hand over 2,000 resettlement land plots: According to the Dong Nai City Land Fund Development Center, the unit is currently building three resettlement areas (Tam Phuoc, Phuoc Tan, and Dau Giay) with an area of over 130 hectares, comprising more than 4,300 resettlement land plots to serve large projects. It is expected that 2,000 resettlement land plots will be handed over by the end of 2026. These resettlement areas all have complete technical and social infrastructure systems such as schools and markets, creating conditions for residents to enjoy better amenities than their previous homes.
5. Southern Real Estate Under Pressure from Cash Flow and Weak Absorption: The biggest challenge for real estate businesses today is the tight cash flow while capital costs are rising. The upward adjustment in interest rates is putting pressure on both developers and homebuyers, in a context where market absorption has not yet truly improved. This was the assessment of Mr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association and Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Real Estate Brokers (VARS), at the forum “Southern Real Estate – Opening New Growth Opportunities,” organized by the Business Forum Magazine in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Real Estate Brokers in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of August 18th.
6. Cashless Payments: The Gap Between Infrastructure and Habits: Cashless payments are increasingly present in many areas of socio-economic life in Tay Ninh. From public services, education, social welfare to commerce, millions of transactions are conducted daily on digital platforms. However, alongside the positive results, changing the habit of using cash among a segment of the population remains a challenge that needs to be addressed to ensure the digital transformation process is truly effective. In recent years, Tay Ninh has witnessed the strong development of digital payment infrastructure. Credit institutions have continuously invested in technology, developing digital banking, electronic identification, biometric authentication, Mobile Banking, QR Code, POS, and many other modern payment solutions. Banks have also intensified support for individuals, households, and small traders to open accounts, create QR codes, and use electronic banking services.
7. Nghe An resolves obstacles to accelerate the Quynh Lap LNG project: With a total investment of nearly US$2.2 billion, a capacity of 1,500 MW, and the goal of commissioning in 2030, the Quynh Lap LNG thermal power plant project is identified by Nghe An as a crucial energy project for the province’s industrial development orientation and energy security. However, the implementation progress is currently behind schedule. Facing the need for significant progress, Nghe An is focusing on resolving obstacles related to planning, investment procedures, land, and site clearance, while clearly assigning responsibilities and deadlines for each task.
8. Maximizing the Expansion of the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway Before the Rainy Season: On August 18th, Mr. Chu Van Long, Director of the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway Expansion Project Management Board, stated that contractors have mobilized workers, engineers, and equipment to maximize construction on the Cam Lo – La Son section of the North-South Expressway connecting Quang Tri province and Hue city, aiming to complete the main components in 2026. To date, the project’s progress has reached nearly 40%. Currently, contractors have mobilized 1,300 workers and engineers, along with 700 vehicles, to organize 70 construction sites. At the project’s construction sites, heavy machinery such as rollers, excavators, and trucks are operating continuously to transport construction materials, carry out roadbed compaction, lay crushed stone base, and asphalt paving. To minimize the impact of the weather, contractors are using a phased approach, completing each section of the project before moving on to the next.
9. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests proactive response to El Nino 2026-2027: On August 18th, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment sent a document to the People’s Committees of provinces and cities in the Central, Southeastern, and Mekong Delta regions regarding the organization and implementation of solutions to prevent and combat drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion due to the impact of El Nino 2026-2027. According to assessments by specialized agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the ENSO phenomenon has shifted to an El Nino state. It is predicted that during the period from September to November 2026, the El Nino state will continue to maintain strong to very strong intensity with a 100% probability (of which approximately 93% will reach very strong intensity); during the period from October to December 2026, the El Nino state will reach a very strong intensity with the highest probability of up to 95%. During the period from December 2026 to February 2027, the intensity will continue to be strong to very strong with a 93% probability.
10. Proposed 30% reduction in income tax: More room for small businesses and household businesses: According to Official Letter No. 11846/BTC-CST dated August 6, 2026, from the Ministry of Finance regarding the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on reducing personal and corporate income tax for household businesses, individual businesses, and enterprises, the Ministry of Finance proposes a 30% reduction in the tax payable for the tax periods of 2026 and 2027 for entities with revenue up to VND 10 billion. For Hanoi, a city with a high concentration of businesses and household businesses and a large consumer market, this policy, if approved, could help reduce cost pressures, strengthen cash flow, promote reinvestment, and create further impetus for the capital’s economic growth.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/diem-tin-kinh-te-viet-nam-noi-bat-ngay-1882026-20260818205923696.htm
