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| At the 9th Vietnam-Japan Conference on Construction (Photo: VNA) |
The information was released by Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van at the 9th Vietnam-Japan Conference on Construction in Hanoi on December 19, said the Vietnam News Agency.
Co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the event aimed to advance bilateral cooperation in developing quality housing and technical infrastructure. It also sought to promote collaboration between businesses from both nations in these fields.
In his opening remarks, Van underscored Japan's role as Vietnam's fourth largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) provider, with major projects in infrastructure, industrial development, and human resource training. Since 2010, the two ministries have forged multiple cooperation agreements, focusing on industrial development, human resource training, and project management.
According to the Deputy Minister, the Vietnamese Government has approved new legal documents, such as the Housing Law and the Urban Planning Law, to improve the investment climate and manage real estate development effectively. Additionally, Vietnam is embarking on a plan to build 1 million social housing units by 2030, with an allocation of 120 trillion VND (4.8 billion USD) to social housing projects. At the same time, the Government is focused on infrastructure development, particularly technical infrastructure.
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| Delegates at the event (Photo: baoxaydung.com.vn) |
Assistant Vice Minister at the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yosuke Tsutsumi praised the event as an opportunity for both sides to review their cooperation, share new trends and advanced technologies in the construction sector, which is essential to propose practical initiatives and solutions to quality infrastructure projects.
Kazuki Yonetani, Director for International Partnership Coordination under the MLIT’s Real Estate and Construction Economy Bureau, noted the establishment of a working group at the previous conference in December 2022. This group has since convened four meetings, allowing Japan to share its expertise in real estate management system, an important area as Vietnam was revising its Land Law, Housing Law, and Real Estate Business Law.
Hanoi-HCM City named as world’s fourth busiest domestic air route
The Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City air route has ranked in 4th place out of the top 10 busiest domestic flight routes in the world, according to data from OAG, the world's leading provider of digital flight information, intelligence, and analytics for airports, airlines, and travel tech companies, according to Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
OAG revealed that the route had sold 10.63 million seats throughout the year, down 2% compared to the previous year. Since 2017, the Vietnamese representative has consistently featured among the 10 busiest routes globally.
According to statistics compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the air route, considered as a “golden route” of the aviation industry, transported over nine million passengers last year, accounting for 22% of total domestic air traffic.
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| Hanoi-HCM City is named as world’s fourth busiest domestic air route (Photo: OAG) |
CAAV shares that on average, one out of every five domestic passengers had travelled on the route connecting the two biggest cities in the country.
Currently, five domestic carriers, including Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines, operate daily flights between the two major hubs of the country.
The Jeju–Seoul Gimpo air route of the Republic of Korea (RoK) rose to the top spot with 14.18 million seats, followed by Sapporo–Tokyo Haneda of Japan with 11.9 million seats, Fukuoka–Tokyo Haneda of Japan with 11.3 million seats, and Melbourne–Sydney of Australia with 9.2 million seats.
With regard to international routes, the Hong Kong-Taipei route climbed from third place last year to first place this year with 6.7 million seats, up 45% from last year.
Second and third places went to Cairo–Jeddah with 5.46 million seats and Seoul Incheon–Tokyo Narita with 5.4 million seats, respectively.
Vietnam's import-export surges 15.3%
Vietnam's total import-export turnover reached 745 billion USD as of December 14, marking a robust 15.3% growth compared to the same period in 2023, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the figures of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Export revenues amounted to 384 billion USD, a nearly 14.5% increase, while imports value rose by 16.3% to approximately 361 billion USD.
The trade surplus stood at 23.4 billion USD, down from 25.71 billion USD during the same period last year.
Director of the Import-Export Tax Department Le Nhu Quynh reported that by December 10, state revenue from import-export activities reached 397.86 trillion VND, surpassing the annual target by 6.1% and reflecting a 13.8% increase year-on-year. The revenue for the entire year is expected to hit 420 trillion VND, equal to 112% of the target, representing a 13.9% increase compared to 2023.
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| Vietnam's total import-export turnover reaches 745 billion USD as of December 14 (Photo: VNA) |
Quynh attributed the increase to the increases in both the number of newly established businesses and their registered capital in 2024. Import-export turnover and taxable trade values saw respective increases of 15.4% and 15.3%. A notable rise in imports of high-revenue goods significantly boosted overall tax collection.
For 2025, the National Assembly has set a state budget revenue target of 411 trillion VND, based on GDP growth projections of 6.5–7% and crude oil prices ranging from 75 USD to 80 USD per barrel.
To achieve this target, Vietnam Customs said it will strengthen tax management, customs procedures, and post-clearance inspection while combating smuggling and trade fraud, while refining tax and customs regulations. Customs agencies will research and adopt centralised clearance models, and integrate tax and customs processes and information, creating foundations for digitising documents and automating customs process.
Vietnam among Asia’s 15 largest economies
The statistical visualisation platform Seasia Stats recently ranked Vietnam among the top 15 economies in Asia, with projected economic output reaching some US$506 billion in 2025, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Seasia Stats highlighted Vietnam’s rapid development driven by explosive manufacturing growth and foreign investment.
While China remains the continent's largest economy, followed by Japan and India, Vietnam has distinguished itself as a rising economic force in Southeast Asia. The country, positioned 12th in the regional ranking, is projected to achieve 7% economic growth in 2024, a remarkable rate that makes it among the fastest-growing economies in the region and the world.
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| Vietnam among Asia’s 15 largest economies (Photo: VOV) |
Indonesia leads the Southeast Asian region with an anticipated economic size of US$1.5 trillion in 2025, buoyed by rich natural resources and a rapidly expanding middle class.
Singapore, at the ninth place, has been renowned for its financial services sector and strategic geographical position. The country’s economic output is projected at US$562 billion.
Thailand and the Philippines came next, with projected economic sizes of US$545 billion and US$508 billion, respectively. These nations benefit from diverse economic drivers, including tourism, manufacturing, and a dynamic young workforce.
Other regional peers in the top 15, standing behind Vietnam, are Malaysia, Bangladesh and Iran./.