Vietnam news in brief - July 1

Hung Yen marks 110th birthday of Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh

The northern province of Hung Yen held a ceremony on July 1 to commemorate the 110th birthday of Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (1915–2025). He dedicated 70 years to revolutionary service and held key positions in the Party and state. As an architect in Vietnam's Doi Moi (Renewal), he championed bold reforms to shift Vietnam toward a socialist-oriented market economy. 

Plan for Thua Thien Hue seaport development through 2050 approved

The Vietnam Maritime Agency plans to expand Thua Thien Hue’s seaport capacity to handle up to 20.3 million tons of cargo and 285,000 passengers annually by 2030, requiring an estimated US$562 million investment. The upgrade will increase the number of berths from six to 25, extending total berth length from 1,226 meters to over 6,100 meters. Despite its current organization, the port still faces infrastructure and logistics connectivity challenges.

Vietnam pilots fintech innovations in banking sector

Vietnam’s first regulatory sandbox for the banking sector was launched on July 1 under Decree 94/2025. It allows for the pilot testing of credit scoring, open application programming interface (API) data sharing, and peer-to-peer lending. Backed by the ADB and Switzerland, this initiative promotes inclusive, climate-friendly finance and fintech innovation amid Vietnam’s accelerating digital transformation. Nearly 87% of Vietnamese adults now have bank accounts. 

JCB introduces Apple Pay to support Vietnam

Japan Credit Bureau (JCB), a leading Japanese payment brand, has partnered with Vietcombank, MBBank, and VPBank to launch Apple Pay for its cardholders in Vietnam on July 1. The service allows for secure, contactless payments via Apple devices and supports Vietnam’s shift towards cashless transactions, enhancing the convenience of digital purchases.

Philippine Airlines launches direct Manila–Danang route

The inaugural flight, which carried 193 passengers, landed in Danang on July 1. This expansion will boost visitor counts from the Philippines and increase Danang’s tourism market in Southeast Asia. In 2024, over 65,000 Filipinos visited Vietnam's central coastal city.

Nearly 75,000 Vietnamese work overseas in H1 2025

Nearly 75,000 Vietnamese workers left the country under contract in the first six months of 2025, surpassing 57% of the annual target. Japan remained the top destination, receiving over 35,000 workers. Taiwan (China) followed with 28,206 workers, and South Korea with 5,650. About 700,000 Vietnamese laborers worked overseas, bringing remittances worth $4 billion annually.  

EVNHANOI restructures power companies

EVNHANOI will restructure its operations by consolidating 30 district-level power companies into 12 regional units aligned with Hanoi’s new administrative map starting July 1 to streamline operations, support a full digital transformation, and improve service delivery. Electricity supply will remain uninterrupted, and customer data will be securely protected throughout the process.