[Collaboration days 2026] Ho Chi Minh City is ready for a double-digit leap

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Trung affirmed the City's solid launchpad from the beginning of 2026, with Q1 GRDP increasing by 8.27% (excluding crude oil at 8.57%) — the highest level in nearly a decade. This breakthrough momentum also recorded a 13.2% increase in retail sales, an 11.2% rise in the Industrial Production Index (IIP), and nearly 3.3 billion USD in FDI capital attracted in the first 4 months of the year. Notably, the City has "revived" 838 backlogged projects, unlocking over 206,000 billion VND in social resources.

The new growth trajectory relies on 3 driving forces: Infrastructure, Digital - Green, and Institutions. The City will simultaneously break ground on 10 infrastructure mega-projects worth nearly 20 billion USD by the end of this year; drive the digital & green economy to account for 30% - 40% of GRDP by 2030 (prioritizing AI and semiconductors); and achieve institutional breakthroughs by fully leveraging Resolution 98 along with perfecting the Special Urban Law for maximum autonomy.
However, this journey faces 4 structural bottlenecks: Tremendous capital pressure (the 2026-2030 period requires 4.4 million billion VND in total social investment capital); Site clearance hurdles and a severe shortage of leveling sand; High economic openness making the City vulnerable to global geopolitical fluctuations; and the "fear of making mistakes and shifting responsibility" mentality among a segment of officials, which delays the processing of businesses' dossiers.

To resolve these issues, a synchronous set of solutions was proposed: Resolving to achieve 100% public investment disbursement through a "3 shifts, 4 crews" working mechanism and individualizing leadership accountability; cutting at least 30% of inefficient projects to pool capital for key infrastructure and flood control; establishing the regional "Growth Triangle" connecting Thu Duc — Binh Duong — Ba Ria - Vung Tau; and shifting from "pre-check" to "post-check" while leveraging an ecosystem of over 70 universities to train a core tech workforce.

The double-digit growth target is a major, milestone aspiration. The positive signals from the beginning of 2026 show that HCMC is on the right track, but the next 5-year journey demands solidarity and a fierce commitment to removing institutional barriers so that this economic powerhouse can truly accelerate and lead the whole country.

This content is part of the "Collaboration Days" program on the sidelines of the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC 2026) of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Dalian, China. The program is chaired by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and organized by HCMC C4IR to promote international cooperation, and connect investment, technology, smart manufacturing, and global financial flows.