🇻🇳 Vietnam Economic Highlights (Ealry June 2026) | KBC-LINK

This article highlights key topics from Vietnam-related economic news published in early June 2026 that international small and medium-sized enterprises and investors monitoring the Vietnamese market should be aware of.

Note: The blockquote sections at the end of each topic represent KBC-LINK's analysis and commentary based on publicly available information.

Early June Overview

Vietnam's economy in early June continued to show solid figures in manufacturing and agricultural exports. At the same time, inflation reached its highest level in six years and the trade deficit hit its largest scale in thirty years, signaling areas that warrant careful attention. Meanwhile, a series of developments — including the completion of the main power system at Long Thanh Airport, the addition of 23 establishments to the Michelin Guide, and the approval of a national project to support IT companies in their global expansion — suggest that Vietnam's shift from quantity to quality is gaining momentum. This issue covers these developments across seven sectors.

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📌 Also recommended: Vietnam Economic Highlights — Late May 2026

Vietnam Industry Watch: Key Sectors to Watch

Vietnam Economic Highlight News – Early June 2026KBC-LINK Editor

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1．Vietnam Economy (General)

Major Singapore Bank UOB Maintains Vietnam GDP Growth Forecast at 7.0% for 2026

Singapore's major bank UOB held its full-year GDP growth forecast for Vietnam at 7.0% in its Q3 2026 economic outlook report. External demand remains firm on the back of global AI investment flows, and the May manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) improved to 52.8. However, risks are also coming into focus: May inflation accelerated to 5.6%, the highest level in six years, and the trade deficit for the first five months of the year reached $12.7 billion — the largest in thirty years — driven by a surge in imports. UOB expects Q2 and Q3 to be the most challenging quarters, with growth potentially settling at an average of 6.7%.

Source: VnEconomy / June 13, 2026

While the resilience of the manufacturing sector is attractive, business plans must factor in rising local costs — including wages and raw materials — driven by accelerating inflation. The record-scale trade deficit may also affect the stability of the Vietnamese dong (VND), making it important to maintain heightened vigilance around currency risk.

2．Construction and Infrastructure

Long Thanh International Airport Project Completes Main Power System, Advancing Toward End-2026 Opening

On June 9, the main power supply system supporting the full operation of Long Thanh International Airport — Vietnam's largest-ever infrastructure project — was officially energized and brought into operation. With this milestone achieved, the project is now positioned to accelerate its overall construction schedule and move into the next phase of systems testing and commercial operations preparation. Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) announced that this marks a significant step forward toward its goal of bringing the airport into commercial service by the end of 2026.

Source: Routes Online / June 12, 2026

Demand for construction of logistics hubs and surrounding urban development projects — including smart city initiatives — around the airport is set to expand further. Companies with infrastructure-related materials, equipment, and IT construction management systems will find substantial business opportunities arriving.

3．Manufacturing

Vietnam's Industrial Production Index (IIP) Up 9.1% in First Five Months — Strongest Growth in Four Years

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam's Industrial Production Index (IIP) rose 9.1% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026, recording the highest growth rate for this period in four years. The strong performance was driven by active movement in the manufacturing and processing sector, as well as electricity production and distribution. Leading sectors included metal production (up 20.2%), automobile manufacturing (up 18%), and chemicals and chemical products (up 16.9%). At the product level, motorcycles (up 36%), automobiles (up 26.7%), processed seafood (up 21.6%), and rolled steel (up 21.5%) led the market, confirming rapidly expanding domestic and international demand for Vietnamese industrial goods.

Source: VietnamPlus / June 6, 2026

This is evidence that supply chains in traditional manufacturing sectors — including two- and four-wheeled vehicles, metals, and chemicals — are maturing rapidly within Vietnam. The growing range of options for local parts procurement and collaboration partners is a tailwind for manufacturing companies considering entry or expansion of local production.

4．Agriculture

Fruit and Vegetable Exports Up 16.8% in First Five Months, with Major Expansion to China and the US

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export value reached approximately $2.69 billion in January through May 2026, up 16.8% year-on-year. May alone recorded around $630 million. By market, China accounted for 49.6% of the total and saw exports grow 31.4% during the period, making it the largest destination. The United States (8.7%) and South Korea (5.4%) followed. By product, durian exports surged 59.7% year-on-year, supported by China's expansion of cultivation code approvals and progress on frozen durian export protocols, along with a successful off-season harvest. Pistachios (up threefold) and coconut-related products (up 15%) also performed well.

Source: VnEconomy / June 13, 2026

The strong export performance indicates that the quality and phytosanitary standards of Vietnamese agricultural products are approaching world-class levels. As the shift toward high-value-added products such as frozen durian and processed coconut progresses, demand is rising for cold chain (low-temperature logistics), advanced food processing machinery, and preservation and packaging technologies.

5．Technology & IT

Vietnam Government Approves National Project to "Create 5 IT Companies with Overseas Revenue of $1 Billion or More by 2030"

On June 4, Vietnam's Prime Minister approved a resolution (Decision No. 982/QD-TTg) to support the global expansion of Vietnamese digital technology companies. The project sets explicit targets of creating at least five mega IT companies generating annual overseas revenue of $1 billion or more by 2030, and expanding the number of Vietnamese IT companies with global sales to over 5,000. Leading the charge, FPT Group — Vietnam's largest IT company — has already concluded six strategic partnerships with major companies in Thailand and Singapore covering AI-driven digital transformation (DX), with public and private sectors working in concert to strengthen the international competitiveness of top local firms.

Source: VnEconomy / The Investor / June 9, 2026

Vietnamese IT companies are evolving from simple subcontractors into world-class co-creation partners. For Japanese companies, this presents an excellent opportunity to form alliances with leading and mid-tier local IT firms with advanced capabilities in AI and DX, and to jointly expand into Southeast Asian and global markets.

6．Hotel & Tourism

Michelin Guide Vietnam 2026 Released, Adding 23 New Establishments and Cementing Status as a Gastronomic Destination

On June 4, the Michelin Guide released its 2026 selection covering three cities — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang — adding 23 new dining establishments. This brings the total number of Michelin-listed venues in Vietnam to 193, including 11 one-star restaurants and 72 Bib Gourmand selections. New one-star recipients include Korean restaurant ONVIT, located within a luxury Hanoi hotel, and contemporary Vietnamese restaurant Upstairs in Ho Chi Minh City. Additional restaurants were also recognized with the Green Star for sustainable gastronomy. Local media noted that the rise of food and gastronomy as a strategic competitive advantage within ASEAN is contributing to longer visitor stays and higher per-visitor spending.

Source: VietnamNet / June 5, 2026

Vietnam's tourism proposition has fully shifted from 'affordability' to 'quality experiences and food.' For companies planning luxury hotel or resort development, offering Michelin-caliber dining content and sustainable food environments is becoming a powerful draw for high-net-worth inbound visitors

7．Fire Prevention & Climate Risk

Vietnam Forest Fire Risk Surges Amid Extreme Heat and Thunderstorms; Highest-Level Alert Issued Nationwide

The Vietnam Forest Protection Department reported that during the week of June 8 to 14, 2026 (Week 23), forest fire risk remained extremely elevated across the country due to a combination of intense heat and localized thunderstorms. The lingering effects of the El Niño phenomenon, reconfirmed in May, have left soils in the central region particularly dry and susceptible to ignition, with fire alert levels reaching 'Extreme Danger (Level 5: Red Alert)' in many areas, up from 'Dangerous (Level 4)'. On the afternoon of June 7, a large fire broke out in the Lu Xuan forest area of Nghe An Province, believed to have been caused by residents burning vegetation. Hundreds of police officers, military personnel, and local residents were mobilized for overnight firefighting efforts, including the establishment of firebreaks and the use of blower equipment. Authorities in Da Nang and Ca Mau Province maintained 24-hour surveillance under the 'On-Site Four Principles' framework — ensuring materials, personnel, logistics, and communications are managed locally.

Source: Lao Dong News / VietnamPlus / June 8, 2026

The rising risk of large-scale fires driven by climate change in Vietnam represents a significant business-to-government (BtoG) opportunity for companies with satellite-based wide-area monitoring systems, drones, high-performance portable firefighting equipment, and thermal detection technologies targeting national and local government clients.

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KBC-LINK Editorial Perspective

While Vietnam's growth momentum continues, the expansion of inflation and the trade deficit serves as a reminder to prepare for rising local costs and currency risk. Factoring these elements into business planning is more important than ever.

At the same time, in sectors such as IT, tourism and food, and disaster prevention infrastructure, national-level efforts to enhance added value are steadily advancing. For Japanese companies with strong technological capabilities and quality management expertise, these developments can be seen as opportunities for co-creation rather than competition. Staying informed about which sectors Vietnam is prioritizing will be a key foundation for building long-term partnerships.

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Edited & Summarized by: 

KBC-LINK Editorial Team (compiled with independent perspectives and on-the-ground insights).