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While Hanoi remains the economic driver in finance, logistics and innovation, neighbouring localities are evolving into manufacturing and logistics belts, supplying land, labour and support services, particularly for high-tech industries.

Hanoi (VNS/VNA)– As Hanoi faces mounting population pressure and land scarcity, satellite cities are emerging as a solution for urban expansion and long-term real estate investment, said industry experts and insiders at a seminar on May 15 in the capital.
They said that with the gradual completion of key ring roads and inter-provincial expressways, the property market is shifting beyond Hanoi’s core to dynamic growth hubs such as Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, and Ha Nam.
Dr Nguyen Van Dinh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association (VNREA), said the Capital Region is undergoing a fundamental transformation towards a more sustainable, multifunctional, and interlinked urban structure.
While Hanoi remains the economic driver in finance, logistics and innovation, neighbouring localities are evolving into manufacturing and logistics belts, supplying land, labour and support services, particularly for high-tech industries.
He said that after administrative streamlining, the Capital Region could operate more effectively, contributing 25–28% of national GDP by 2030, equivalent to over 3 quadrillion VND (115.7 billion USD).
Infrastructure development is shaping the region along two key axes: ring roads that connect the broader region and expressways and rail lines that link Hanoi to satellite cities. Prioritising public transport will accelerate mobility and foster a unified regional property market.
Population decentralisation is also spurring large-scale suburban cities. Provinces like Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Vinh Phuc aim to become centrally governed cities, driving integrated urban-industrial development, green infrastructure, and smart, resort-style living.
Hanoi’s role as the central hub ensures growth is distributed across the region. Industrial provinces such as Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, and Vinh Phuc are thriving, thanks to improved connectivity. This balanced growth not only eases pressure on Hanoi but also creates a multi-centred urban network in the north.
“With infrastructure, decentralisation policies, and rising investment capital, satellite cities and suburban mega-urban areas will become high-potential 'extended cities' for both living and investment in the next five to 10 years,” Dr Dinh said.
​Infrastructure
From a planning perspective, architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said the expanding Capital Region is becoming a new national strategic economic centre, especially as Vietnam shifts to a development model driven by regional connectivity.
Ongoing administrative mergers and cross-border infrastructure projects, particularly railways, are generating strong momentum for real estate.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Dinh Thien, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, stressed that the Capital Region should no longer be viewed just as Hanoi’s hinterland, but as a “centre of centres”, a convergence point for growth and innovation.
He urged a mindset shift: opportunities now lie in expanding into new geographical and institutional spaces, not the traditional urban core.
Strategically, the region borders China, Vietnam’s top trading partner, and is the only one set to host two high-speed rail corridors: one linking Kunming (China) with Hanoi–Hai Phong via Lao Cai, and the other being the North–South high-speed rail, starting with the Hanoi–HCM City section.
Alongside railways, the Capital Region is developing a modern highway network. A standout project is the 100-kilometre coastal expressway from Hai Phong to Ninh Binh via Thai Binh, Northern Vietnam’s largest highway, with 10 lanes. As the eastern backbone of the region, it will unlock major opportunities for coastal industrial, logistics, and residential real estate.
Another key development is the proposed route connecting Gia Binh Airport in Bac Ninh to Hanoi via Tu Lien Bridge. The bridge is not only a vital transport link but also an urban design landmark, enabling a modern northern Hanoi corridor.
“If Gia Binh becomes a satellite international airport, the route to the city centre will be a powerful growth axis, drawing investor interest to its key junctions,” said architect Chinh.
Satellite localities such as Hai Phong, Ha Nam, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh are already seeing surging investment in infrastructure, real estate and tourism. New regional and inter-provincial railway lines are taking shape, connecting them efficiently with Hanoi./.​

The country's auto sales saw a robust 21 per cent increase year-on-year, a clear indication of market recovery.

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese auto market is showing signs of a solid rebound in the early months of 2025, with both sales volume and consumer sentiment on the rise after a sluggish period in the previous year.

Việt Nam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) members saw total vehicle sales of 29,585 units in April, the association said. While this marked a slight 7 per cent drop compared to March, it represented a robust 21 per cent increase year-on-year, a clear indication of market recovery.

Sales performance in April highlighted the continued dominance of passenger vehicles, with 20,766 units sold, though this segment also experienced a 7 per cent decline from the previous month. Commercial vehicle sales mirrored this trend with 8,619 units, while special-purpose vehicles bucked the pattern, increasing 11 per cent month-on-month to 200 units.

A breakdown of vehicle origin showed that domestic assembly accounted for 13,890 vehicles sold, down 7 per cent, while completely built-up (CBU) imported vehicles totalled 15,695 units, also down 7 per cent. Despite these monthly dips, the broader picture for the first four months of 2025 paints a more optimistic scenario.

From January to April, total market sales climbed to 101,834 vehicles, a 23 per cent surge compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger car sales rose by 22 per cent, commercial vehicles increased by 27 per cent and special-purpose vehicles saw a remarkable 49 per cent jump. Notably, imported vehicles saw the sharpest rise at 35 per cent, indicating growing consumer preference for international models, while locally assembled units grew 13 per cent.

Toyota led the sales charts in April with 5,566 units sold, maintaining its market-leading position. Other strong performers included Ford (3,997 units), Mitsubishi (2,038), THACO Mazda (2,736) and THACO Kia (2,055). In terms of individual models, the Mitsubishi Xpander proved to be the best-selling vehicle across the market, with 4,013 units sold (combined CBU and CKD). The Ford Ranger also performed well with 4,164 units, followed by the Toyota Vios (3,058), Ford Everest (1,090) and Toyota Yaris Cross (1,030).

SUVs continued to be the preferred choice among Vietnamese consumers, leading all vehicle categories with 5,867 units sold in April. MPVs followed with 3,798 units and sedans came in at 3,292 units. In the commercial sector, pickup trucks and small vans remained the most in-demand.

One standout trend is the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles. In April alone, 973 hybrid vehicles were sold, pushing the cumulative total for the year to 3,535 units - a remarkable 82 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth aligns with the global shift toward greener transportation solutions and is further supported by favourable Government tax and fee policies.

Despite these promising figures, the market data does come with notable exclusions. Major players like VinFast and Hyundai have yet to release their sales results for April 2025, making it difficult to form a complete picture of overall market dynamics. The absence of official data from other brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Subaru and Volvo also adds to the uncertainty around the full scope of Việt Nam’s auto landscape.

Nonetheless, industry analysts remain optimistic. With Việt Nam’s economy on the path to recovery, consumer spending is expected to increase. Coupled with aggressive marketing campaigns, new model launches and improved after-sales service from automakers, the outlook for the rest of the year is encouraging. The market is expected to pick up even further in the second and third quarters of 2025, driven by both demand-side recovery and supply-side stimulus.

The electric and hybrid segments are particularly poised for growth, not only because of environmental awareness but also due to Government incentives designed to shift the market toward sustainable transport. Automakers are increasingly aligning their product strategies with these trends, signalling a new era for Việt Nam’s auto industry.

As more complete data becomes available, particularly from key players yet to report, a clearer picture will emerge. But for now, the signs are positive - Việt Nam’s auto market is shifting gears toward a brighter, more dynamic 2025.

Vietnam's real estate market has become increasingly "attractive" to foreign investors due to the country’s strategic geographic location at the heart of Southeast Asia.​

The Ministry of Construction’s report on housing and the real estate market for Q1/2025 indicates that, by the end of March 2025, total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam reached nearly $10.98 billion, marking a 34.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

Disbursed capital amounted to approximately $4.96 billion, up 7.2% year-on-year. Of this, newly registered capital accounted for $7.11 billion, up 49.2%; adjusted capital reached $1.68 billion, showing a slight increase of 4.2%. Notably, disbursed FDI was estimated at $4.96 billion, a 7.2% increase.

The real estate sector ranked second, after the manufacturing and processing sector, attracting more than $2.39 billion in total investment, accounting for 21.8% of total registered FDI—an increase of 44.1% year-on-year.

The ministry explained that Vietnam's real estate market has become increasingly "attractive" to foreign investors due to the country’s strategic geographic location at the heart of Southeast Asia, its proximity to major markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN, and its young, dynamic workforce with strong learning adaptability and technological proficiency—all at lower labor costs compared to many countries in the region.

Furthermore, investors have positively assessed Vietnam’s consistent efforts to improve the Investment Law and Enterprise Law to support foreign investors. As a result, numerous industrial parks and export processing zones now offer tax incentives, long-term land leases, and increasingly streamlined, digitized administrative procedures.

"The FDI inflows into Vietnam’s real estate sector in Q1/2025 have achieved remarkable results in both growth rate and investment quality. This is a positive signal reflecting international investors' confidence in Vietnam’s market while serving as a crucial driver for the recovery and development of urban, industrial, and tourism infrastructure," the ministry stated.