Economic linkage belts throughout southern region necessary: insiders

An urban industrial, service, and logistics belt system along the corridors of Ring Roads 3 and 4 and inter-regional highways, if developed cohesively, will constitute a significant breakthrough for linking key economic zones in the southern region, according to insiders.

My Phuoc-Tan Van road is 62km long with 10 lanes connecting industrial parks in Binh Duong. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
My Phuoc-Tan Van road is 62km long with 10 lanes connecting industrial parks in Binh Duong. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - An urban industrial, service, and logistics belt system along the corridors of Ring Roads 3 and 4 and inter-regional highways, if developed cohesively, will constitute a significant breakthrough for linking key economic zones in the southern region, according to insiders.

The Ho Chi Minh City Planning – Architecture Department has just sent a document to the municipal People's Committee proposing a project to form the belt system.

According to the department’s assessment, the ring roads and inter-regional highways are critical and strategic transport axes that connect urban areas, and industrial and service centres in the Southeast region. They play an important role in enhancing multimodal regional connectivity and leveraging Ho Chi Minh City's role as a nucleus in its relationship with the entire region.

Investments in constructing Ring Roads 3 and 4, and forming expressways in the coming time will help expand development opportunities, catalyse new growth dynamics, and foster the establishment of key industrial, service, and logistics belts in the region.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City, as a centrally-run city, holds a special status with the largest population and economic scale in Vietnam. Situated strategically at the heart of the Southeast region, it boasts robust multi-modal transportation connections. Therefore, the effective exploitation of the city's development potentials, particularly in high-tech industrial sectors, services, and logistics, is expected to hold significance in boosting socio-economic development in the region and nationwide.

Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, an urban planning expert, said that in the regional connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces within the key southern economic zone, the economic hub’s connectivity with such provinces as Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau is crucial and deserves priority. These localities contribute significantly to the national budget; however, their development has been localised, with each pursuing its own strengths independently. As a result, interconnectivity and linkages among them remain relatively weak.

Therefore, the formation of a corridor system connecting logistics, services, and industrial sectors among these four localities will create a breakthrough to boost gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of each locality and contribute to the overall national economic growth, Son stressed./.

VNA

See more

Consumers buy fruit at a supermarket in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

US highlights potential in Vietnam’s fruit market

The US was Vietnam's second-largest supplier of agricultural products, with export turnover reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2025, a remarkable increase from less than 3.5 billion USD in 2024, Fruitnet said, citing a new report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (thitd, left) attends the opening ceremony of Grand Halal Bangkok 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese firms seek global Halal opportunities at Bangkok exhibition

Ambassador Pham Viet Hung described Grand Halal Bangkok 2026 as an important opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to connect not only with Thailand's Halal industry but also with Halal food producers worldwide, while learning from experience of Thailand and international partners.

Marnufacturing garments for export at Hung Yen Jute and Garment Joint Stock Company. (Photo: VNA)

GDP expands 8.18%, with new growth drivers taking shape

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, GDP expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter, up from 8.14% a year earlier. Growth for the first six months reached 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded in the same period of 2025. The performance reflected broad-based contributions from both the supply and demand sides of the economy.

Production line at Honda Vietnam's manufacturing facility in Dong Van II Industrial Park, Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese economy sustains momentum on strong industrial production

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance reported that the manufacturing and processing sector remained the principal driver of economic growth, accounting for 33.07% of the economy's total value-added growth during the first six months of the year.

Investors conduct transactions at Bao Viet Securities' headquarters in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam eyes 205.6 billion USD in stock market funding for 2026–2030

Addressing a seminar on restructuring capital mobilisation channels hosted by the Finance and Investment newspaper on July 15, Bui Hoang Hai, Vice Chairman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC), said the domestic economy continues to face considerable external challenges in 2026, including the effects from the Middle East conflict.

Workers process farm produce at the Coastal Fisheries Development Company (Cofidec) in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam remains ASEAN’s fastest-growing economy in first half of 2026: experts

Economists at United Overseas Bank (UOB), a Singapore-based multinational bank, said Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter of 2026, from 7.94% in the first quarter. As a result, economic growth for the first half of the year reached 8.18%, keeping Vietnam at the top among ASEAN economies.

The interface of Vietnam's foreign supplier portal for tax registration, declaration and payment by overseas suppliers. (Photo: dientuungdung.vn)

Foreign digital service providers pay nearly 480 million USD in taxes

According to the Department of Taxation, 259 overseas suppliers have registered, declared and paid taxes through the portal. Tax revenue from the group reached 78.1% of the full-year target, surging 119% from a year earlier and making foreign suppliers the fastest-growing source of tax revenue in Vietnam's digital economy.

Ca Mau companies and households use rooftop solar to cut expenses. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam raises rooftop solar sales cap to 50%, widens direct power deals

Rooftop solar power is entering a new phase of development with a more solid foundation. When integrated with energy storage systems and direct power purchase mechanisms, it not only contributes to supplementing distributed energy sources and reducing pressure on the national power system, but also serves as a driving force for green growth, enhances the competitiveness of the economy, and ensures energy security.

Production of electrical wiring harnesses at Bandai Vietnam Co., Ltd. in the Left Bank Industrial Park, Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)

Record FDI Inflows signal strong investor confidence, but absorptive capacity remains key

Vietnam's competitive advantages are evolving. Rather than relying primarily on low labour costs and tax incentives, the country's future competitiveness will increasingly depend on structural and long-term factors, including transparent institutions, policy predictability and an investment environment capable of supporting long-term strategic investors.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho (first, left) and other participants in the conference in Seoul on July 14 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK strengthen investment links at Seoul conference

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho said bilateral relations are currently enjoying the best conditions, underpinned by what he described as the three key factors of “favourable timing, geographical advantages, and strong public support”.