Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular are considered to hold promise for retailers from home and abroad on the back of the large, young population and rising consumer price index amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
HCM City’s retail market has seen a number of mergers and acquisitions recently (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular are considered to hold promise for retailers from home and abroad on the back of the large, young population and rising consumer price index amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The municipal Statistics Office reported that the total retail sale of goods and services in the city reached over 456.1 trillion VND (19.8 billion USD) in the first five months of this year, up 8.9 percent year-on-year. The May figure topped 89.9 trillion VND, down 0.1 percent month-on-month but up 13.1 percent year-on-year.
Five-month trade revenue hit 255.5 trillion VND, up 9.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Accommodation and dining services earned more than 32.1 trillion VND, up 30.8 percent year-on-year.
Most notably, the city’s retail market saw a number of merger and acquisitions, while retailers and companies are competing to win market share via opening new points of sale and marketing trademarks in residential areas.
Director of Commercial Leasing at Savills Vietnam Tu Thi Hong An said the retail real estate sector in HCM City is receiving foreign investment flows from new franchises in dining, fashion, and accessories.
She added that one day after a deal between Republic of Korea retailer E-mart and the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) was announced, Chinese giant Alibaba and Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) reached a deal to outlay 400 million USD on buying a 5.5 percent stake in The CrownX, an e-commerce platform owned by the Masan Group Corporation, to operate the VinMart and VinMart+ supermarket chains.
The deal is one of the largest for Alibaba in Southeast Asia since it bought Lazada in 2018 for 4 billion US♏D. It will give Alibaba and Lazada access a network of more than 2,000 outlets without having to spend time and money establishing a distribution network. Consumers will also see products sold in VinMart available on Lazada and can pick up orders from Lazada at VinMart./.
The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s conglomerate SK Group said it will make a strategic investment in VinCommerce, Vietnam’s largest retailer, to tap into the fast-growing e-commerce segment in the Southeast Asian market, reported Yonhap News Agency.
An influx of foreign investment, the rise of e-commerce, and the sound containment of COVID-19 are believed to have driven growth in HCM City’s retail sector despite the considerable impact of the pandemic, according to the Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) newspaper.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
HCM City’s retail market has seen a number of mergers and acquisitions recently (Photo: VNA)
