Red River Delta Drives H1 Growth, Exports and Industry Show Strength

The city's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanded 8.55% in the first half of the year, the highest six-month growth rate in a decade. However, officials said the city must grow by more than 11% in the third quarter and about 12% in the fourth quarter to meet its annual target. Key export categories, including electronics, computers, machinery, garments, wooden furniture, and farm produce, all posted vigorous gains, underscoring that Vietnamese firms are seizing reviving orders across major destinations. The strongest first-half industrial growth since 2019 not only underscores the sector's solid recovery but also provides a firm foundation for Vietnam to sustain robust economic growth throughout 2026. With manufacturing continuing to lead, supported by improving demand, employment and production capacity, industry is expected to remain a key pillar of economic expansion. Addressing the conference, which took place as Vietnam participated in INNOPROM with a national pavilion for the first time, Vietnamese Consul General Nguyen Mai Huong praised Quang Ninh’s growing cooperation with Sverdlovsk, long recognised as one of Russia’s major industrial centres. As part of the roadshow, in July, a pilot event is set to be held in Shanghai to introduce Vietnamese specialty coffee to the professional coffee community, gauge market interest and lay the groundwork for future trade promotion activities. Demand for Korean food in Vietnam has continued to grow rapidly alongside the popularity of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, making the country a strategic market in the RoK's plan to expand agricultural and food exports to ASEAN, the RoK's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said. The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 25,206 VND/USD on July 8, up 4 VND from the previous day. The debut affirms the city’s push to overhaul investment promotion towards a more modern, transparent and technology-led model that uses digital tools and artificial intelligence to deliver sharper support for investors. The financing will support HDBank’s medium- to long-term lending, with at least 40% of ADB’s financing directed to WMSMEs to provide more opportunities for women business owners. Speaking at the ministry's regular press conference on July 7, Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director general of the Agency of Foreign Trade, said Vietnam recorded exports of 266.5 billion USD and imports of 283.2 billion USD in the first six months of the year, resulting in a trade deficit of about 16.7 billion USD. The successful conclusion of the negotiations was not merely the end of a process that lasted more than 10 years, but also demonstrated the strong commitment of both Vietnam and EFTA countries to an open, transparent and rules-based international trading system. The agreement sends a clear message that dialogue, cooperation and economic connectivity remain the most effective means of promoting growth, creating jobs and generating prosperity. Vietnamese companies expanding beyond Southeast Asia can now gain a new foothold for capital structuring and supply chain management in Kyrgyzstan, where the special financial investment territory (SFIT) has been launched as an international hub for business, capital, and innovation. Chief of the ministry's Office Lam Van Hoang said at a conference on July 7 that 219 km of national highways were built and another 212 km were upgraded in the first six months. As import markets transform, attendees agreed that trade promotion itself must become more specialised, focused on the demands of each market and sector rather than sticking to traditional promotional events. Smuggling and the production and trade of prohibited goods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with criminal networks operating across both physical and online spaces. In the first six months of 2026, the ministry initiated legal proceedings against 1,333 cases involving 2,354 suspects. Quang Ninh’s booth has attracted many visitors with displays highlighting the province’s tourism potential, despite the exhibition’s focus on industry. Many visitors stopped to learn about the province and explore opportunities for cooperation in tourism and related sectors. The exhibition brought together numerous domestic enterprises and overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs, showcasing prominent brands in food, beverages, tourism and logistics, including Me Trang Coffee, Vietnam Tea Shop, BKT Group, Ocean and OPL, along with a wide range of speciality Vietnamese food products introduced by the Vietnamese community in Thailand. Vietnam's exports of wood and wood products exceeded 17 billion USD for the first time in 2025, reaching a record 17.2 billion USD. However, exports to the UK amounted to only 244 million USD, indicating considerable room for growth. With its coastline, islands and diverse landscapes, Khanh Hoa has become one of Vietnam's leading tourism destinations, particularly for international visitors. However, while visitor numbers continue to grow, night-time tourism remains largely fragmented and lacks comprehensive planning, requiring more efforts to further exploit this potential sector. Vietnam currently has around 3.4 million exemplary farming households. However, becoming an entrepreneur requires more than production expertise. Farmers also need modern management skills, market analysis capabilities, financial management knowledge and digital competencies. The restructuring marks the completion of a long-planned reorganisation of Vietnam's securities market, ending HNX's role as a stock exchange for listed equities while establishing clearer functional separation between the country's two bourses. Authorities detected and handled 67,937 violations in the first half of the year, up 36.66% year-on-year. Budget revenue from enforcement reached nearly 9.65 trillion VND (nearly 367 million USD), an increase of 49.36%, while investigation was launched into 1,676 criminal cases involving 2,789 suspects. A growing number of German companies now see Vietnam as an attractive investment destination. With a clear development strategy and new incentives, Da Nang is well-placed to capture demand from German firms seeking new footholds in Asia. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.