Huge potential for Vietnam, Laos to collaborate in cooperative economy

Vietnam and Laos would combine forces in cooperative economy, heard a meeting in Hanoi on March 21 between President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) Nguyen Ngoc Bao and head of the National Economic Research Institute of Laos Bouasone Bouphavanh.
Huge potential for Vietnam, Laos to collaborate in cooperative economy ảnh 1Representatives of the National Economic Research Institute of Laos and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance pose for a photo at the meeting in Hanoi on March 21 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Laos wouldcombine forces in cooperative economy, heard a meeting in Hanoi on March 21 betweenPresident of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) Nguyen Ngoc Bao and head ofthe National Economic Research Institute of Laos Bouasone Bouphavanh.

The Lao guest said that he was impressed bythe rapid changes in Vietnam, particularly in cooperative economy development.

He expressed his hope that Laos will branch out its cooperative system based onVietnam’s experience.

Meanwhile, Bao expected that bilateral collaboration in the cooperative economywill make significant contributions to bolstering the development of the sectorin the future.

He said that in the past few years, the Vietnamese Party and Government haveoutlined various policies and programmes to facilitate the development of thecooperative system in the context of the socialist-oriented market economy.

According to VCA Vice President Nguyen Van Thinh, Vietnam is now home to morethan 22,000 agricultural cooperatives, 3,500 higher than the amount recorded in2013. Many establishments have enjoyed effective operations, and each earned anaverage 264 million VND (11,400 USD) per year with the income of workersestimated at 40 million VND (1,730 USD) per person per year.

Most of the cooperatives see joining a value chain as an important factor fortheir sustainable development, Thinh said, adding that they have appliedadvanced technologies into production, and enhanced trade promotion in bothdomestic and foreign markets.

The same day, Bouasone Bouphavanh and the Lao working delegation visitedseveral new cooperative models in northern Vinh Phuc province. –VNA 
VNA

See more

Vietnam aims to export 7 million tonnes of rice in 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam to proactively reduce rice exports from 2026

Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said that 2026 presents numerous difficulties and challenges, and the global supply glut significantly impacts all exporters, including Vietnam.

Vietjet to operate nearly 1,800 additional flights for Lunar New Year peak (Photo: Vietjet Air)

Vietjet adds nearly 1,800 flights for peak Lunar New Year travel

Passengers planning to travel during the Tet peak period are advised to book tickets early to secure suitable flight schedules. They are also encouraged to complete online check-in within 24 hours prior to departure via Vietjet’s website at www.vietjetair.com, the Vietjet mobile application or the VNeID platform, in order to save time at airport check-in counters.

VinFast will provide each university with two electric cars, along with practical equipment and training materials on electric vehicle repair techniques that meet official standards (Photo: VNA)

VinFast collaborates with 30 colleges to standardise training for EV engineers

VinFast will work with leading institutions offering automotive engineering programmes, including the University of Transport and Communications, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, the Hanoi University of Industry and the Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, to implement hands-on training aligned with industry needs.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

E-commerce at turning point as new law sets higher standards in 2026

To propel the digital economy forward, experts said 2026 should be the year of foundational reforms, including standardised identification for sellers and marketers, real-time transparency in product details, enhanced logistics and financial infrastructure, and robust safeguards for authentic value creation.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Billion-dollar capital seeks new opportunities in data centre real estate

Ho Chi Minh City is witnessing a strong investment wave in the data centre sector. The city has set up a dedicated task force to support investment procedures for a Hyperscale Data Centre serving AI development, with total investment estimated at around 2 billion USD. The investor consortium includes UAE-based technology company G42, Microsoft, FPT Corporation, VinaCapital, and Viet Thai Group.

Party General Secretary To Lam (C) and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (third from left) and other delegates break ground Vietnam’s first semiconductor chip manufacturing plant (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam launches first semiconductor chip manufacturing plant

The plant, developed by Viettel Group in line with the mission assigned by the Ministry of Defence and based on the government’s resolution, is located on a 27-hectare site within the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park and is expected to serve national industries such as aerospace, telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), automotive manufacturing, medical equipment, and automation.

Vietnam’s cashew exports in 2025 are estimated at 766,600 tonnes, generating more than 5.2 billion USD (Photo: VNA)

Cashew sector faces economic efficiency challenge despite high export revenue

Vietnam’s cashew industry has faced a pressing challenge despite an export revenue of over 5 billion USD for the first time in 2025, as this impressive figure has yet to translate into commensurate economic efficiency for exporting enterprises, especially when the industry seeks to ensure that its position as the world’s leading cashew exporter is matched by sustainable profitability.

Deputy Director General of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai (centre) chairs an online meeting on the organisation of ITE HCMC 2026. (Photo: TITC)

International Travel Expo HCM City 2026 set for August

The expo will feature key activities including on-site and online exhibition booths; a digital business-to-business (B2B) buyer–seller matching programme; Vietnam Night; the opening ceremony; programmes for international buyers and media representatives; forums and thematic seminars introducing key source markets and emerging tourism trends; and a tourism consumer festival.

An illustrative image showing a Crystal Bay Airlines plane. (Photo: dantri.com.vn)

New Vietnamese airline takes off with charter capital of 11.4 million USD

According to the company's registration documents, Crystal Bay Airlines Joint Stock Company was established on November 6, 2025, with a charter capital of 300 billion VND (11.4 million USD). The firm operates in 51 business sectors, with its main focus being air passenger transportation.