Vietnam Accelerates Digital Payments and International Cooperation

According to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), non-cash payments recorded strong growth in the first quarter of 2026, with transactions rising 37.98% in volume and 14.22% in value year-on-year, reflecting a clear shift toward digital payments. Hundreds of millions of customer records have been standardised, nearly 155 million verified through biometric authentication, and millions of risky transactions flagged in a timely manner. According to Brand Finance’s Banking 500 2026, Vietnam is represented by 13 banking brands in the global rankings, seven of which demonstrate notable double digit-growth over the past year, reflecting a progressive financial ecosystem. As Hanoi moves to realise its long-term development vision for a new era, the capital is stepping up efforts to attract investment. By signing 50 memoranda of understanding with leading domestic and international corporations and organisations, the city aims not only to expand infrastructure but also to lay the foundation for becoming a modern AI city, with technology serving as a key driver of growth. While recovering a victim’s body, a member of the Venezuelan rescue team became dizzy after prolonged exposure to toxic decomposition gases. Bau Truc, one of the Cham ethnic people’s ancient pottery villages in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, still preserves its traditional method of using only hands and no pottery wheel. It is also the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia to maintain the hands-only method, using tools made from bamboo, shells, and snails and colours derived from tree bark. Business sentiment in Vietnam is rebounding strongly despite a challenging operating environment marked by rising costs and growing global uncertainties, including prolonged geopolitical tensions and trade-related pressures, according to the recently released Business Outlook Study 2026 by the United Overseas Bank (UOB). Low-emission rice farming is rapidly expanding across Vietnam and has become an important part of the country’s Net Zero strategy. Through a programme aimed at developing one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice by 2030, Vietnam seeks not only to reduce emissions but also to enhance the value of its rice sector and improve farmers’ incomes. The Government held its regular meeting for June and a teleconference with authorities of 34 provinces and cities nationwide on July 4 to look into the socio-economic situation in the first six months of 2026 and work out measures for the latter half to achieve this year’s targets, particularly the goal of double-digit economic growth. On the fourth day of operations in Venezuela, Vietnam's rescue team continued searching for victims despite dangerous conditions and repeated aftershock warnings. In recent years, many women in Khun Ha commune, the northwestern mountainous province of Lai Chau have secured a stable source of income through hand embroidery. Besides making use of their free time outside the farming season, the work has also helped change women's mindset towards contributing to household economic development. French newspaper La Voix du Nord has described Vietnam as a “gem” of Southeast Asia in a recent article, citing its striking natural landscapes, rich history, vibrant cultural identity and cuisine regarded as among the world’s most appealing. Over the past 50 years, Ho Chi Minh City has demonstrated resilience, dynamism and a pioneering spirit. Building on this historic foundation, it is creating new appeal on the global economic map by making a strong shift from labour-intensive industries to attracting next-generation foreign direct investment, particularly in high technology. Tropical storm Maysak, the first storm to enter the East Sea this year, is approaching the Gulf of Tonkin with wind gusts of up to level 11, prompting northern Vietnam to step up disaster preparedness. On July 3, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held an emergency meeting with local authorities to coordinate response measures. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has ordered developing a national digital architecture framework that will ensure seamless interoperability across Vietnam's political system, paving the way for data-driven governance and more efficient public services. The Vietnamese search and rescue team recovered seven more victims' bodies on the fourth day of operations, bringing the total number of recoveries to 30 since it began field operations. Half a century has passed since Saigon-Gia Dinh was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honour of President Ho Chi Minh. Today, the city has not only maintained its role as Vietnam's economic powerhouse but has also gradually established itself as a regional hub for finance, industry and innovation. Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent at the disaster site, local residents expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the support provided by Vietnam and the international community. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on July 2 called on the military to strengthen its strategic advisory role, improve long-term forecasting capacity and proactively prepare for emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges in a rapidly evolving global and regional environment. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung received in Hanoi on July 2 Maeda Tadashi, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), who pledged that the bank will continue to support Vietnam's strategic development goals. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam attended and delivered a speech at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2 to mark the 50th anniversary of Saigon-Gia Dinh city being officially named after President Ho Chi Minh. Generation after generation, Vietnamese youth have carried forward the patriotic traditions of those who came before them, demonstrating resilience, courage and a readiness to make sacrifices in the service of national development and defence. Despite unstable structures and extremely hazardous conditions, the rescuers expanded their search area, relying on their experience, determination and specialised equipment to carry out the mission safely and effectively. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.