Ho Chi Minh City successfully hosted numerous major international events in 2025, expanding its global partnerships and reinforcing its image as a dynamic, open and friendly metropolis. These achievements reflected the trust and cooperation of international partners.
Ho Chi Minh City has established friendly and cooperative relations with five Australian states, creating favourable conditions for the two sides to enhance exchanges and promote more substantive and sustainable cooperation.
Ho Chi Minh City is preparing for the third consultative conferences to finalise the official lists of eligible candidates, scheduled for February 10.
Ho Chi Minh City currently maintains friendship and collaboration with eight Chinese localities. China is now the third-largest investor among 152 countries and territories investing in the city.
Over the past decade, bilateral ties have made strong strides across political, economic, cultural and religious cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges.
Towards the 2030 goals and the vision to 2045, Ho Chi Minh City must make more decisive breakthroughs to emerge as a financial centre, an innovation and technology hub, and a focal point for regional and international connectivity.
With the solidarity of the entire political system and the consensus of the people, Ho Chi Minh City is determined to make strong breakthroughs, maintain its role as the nation’s economic locomotive, and lay a solid foundation for development in the 2026–2030 period.
At the centre, citizens take a queue number and are guided to the appropriate service counter to complete the required steps. Their documents are then digitised and transferred electronically to the competent authorities for rapid processing, with outcomes returned on schedule in line with regulations.
The strong political relationship provides a solid foundation for Vietnam and Indonesia to further expand cooperation in the economy, culture and tourism.
Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and both countries are working towards the target of 25 billion USD in bilateral trade this year. Thailand is also among the top ten investors in Vietnam, with registered capital exceeding 13.7 billion USD.
The people of Vietnam, including those in Ho Chi Minh City, always stand by the people of Cuba in every step of their development journey.
HCM City hopes to keep working closely with New Zealand to expand cooperation in promising fields, including education – training, science – technology, innovation, high-tech agriculture, sustainable trade, the green economy, and climate change adaptation, a local official said.
Duoc noted Vystrcil’s selection of HCM City as the first stop of his visit reflects the city’s role, potential, and economic–diplomatic position. He expressed belief that the visit will help strengthen the traditional friendship, provide a strong impetus for Vietnam–Czech relations, and promote cooperation between the Czech Republic and the southern largest city in the time to come.
The State and socio-political organisations adopt coherent policies to develop the working class, expand Party and mass organisation networks in non-state and foreign-invested enterprises, and preserve its nature while ensuring comprehensive leadership.
Vietnam and Cambodia will continue to strengthen trust, comprehensive, and substantive defence cooperation, focusing on enhancing delegation exchanges, high-level and all-level meetings and contacts; improving the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms; and maintaining effective cooperation in training human resources.
Under the congress's resolution, the city aims for per capita GRDP of approximately 14,000–15,000 USD; total social investment capital over five years to reach 35–40% of GRDP; and the digital economy to account for 30–40% of GRDP.
Addressing the first congress of the municipal Party Organisation on October 14 morning, the Party chief praised the city's remarkable progress over the past four decades of Doi Moi (renewal), especially during the five years implementing the resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress
Australian Consul General in HCM City Sarah Hooper said Australia’s key cooperation areas - science and technology, digital transformation, and initiatives on climate, environment, and energy - closely align with HCM City’s priorities, emphasising that the southern economic hub remains a central focus of Australia–Vietnam economic relations.
The first municipal Party Congress of Ho Chi Minh City will draw 550 delegates who will take part in various activities before the official opening of the congress on October 14, including visits to key projects across the city.
Nguyen Van Loi, head of the city's delegation of National Assembly deputies, recalled 65 years of Vietnam–Cuba relations, affirming Lazo Hernández visit as a vivid testament to the special bond nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He said that the city treasures the unwavering support Cuba gave Vietnam during its struggle for independence and national construction.
State President Luong Cuong urged HCM City's all-level Party committees and authorities to prioritise voter concerns in transportation, urban infrastructure, education, health care, and the environment, while pressing ahead with administrative reform and enhancing the effectiveness of the two-tier local government model.
Under the agreements, from 2025 to 2030, the sides will step up cooperation in communication to raise public awareness in both countries and localities about the tradition of solidarity, the special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
The Vice Chairman also emphasised HCM City’s desire to cooperate with Guangzhou in priority sectors to enhance innovation capacity and strengthen integration into global value chains, particularly in areas where Guangzhou holds advantages such as high-tech industries, healthcare, and smart urban development.
Ho Chi Minh City has seen robust development in economic, trade and investment cooperation with China. Currently, China ranks 16th among countries and territories investing in the city. Bilateral trade turnover reached 24.4 billion USD in 2024, with 11.78 billion USD recorded in the first half of 2025.
The visit takes place as the UK and Vietnam celebrate the 15th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership, underscoring their commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties, with security and defence cooperation becoming increasingly consolidated and expanded.