Vietnam Weekly: Vietnam elevates diplomacy; greenlights Starlink; fast-tracks mega infrastructure

February 13, 2026 to February 19, 2026

This week's top 10 stories from Vietnam, selected from our daily intelligence briefs.

1. Party Leader Sets Higher Bar for Foreign Policy, Positioning Diplomacy as a Core Pillar with Security and Defense

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam on the eve of the 2026–2031 term published a programmatic article elevating foreign affairs to a “regular, essential” national task alongside defense and public security, and positioning diplomacy as a core pillar for stability, growth and Vietnam’s global role. The strategy emphasizes tighter integration of external relations with security, economy, science–technology and culture; “strategic proactivity” to preserve domestic stability while expanding cooperation and safeguarding sovereignty; and converting political goodwill into measurable trade and investment gains. It also commits Vietnam to contribute to a rules-based international order through peacekeeping, climate and humanitarian engagement, while mobilizing whole-of-system coordination across Party, state and people-to-people channels and upgrading diplomatic capacity to secure resources for digital and green transformation and deeper participation in global supply chains and governance.

During Lunar New Year visits in Hanoi, To Lam underscored heritage preservation and national unity—paying respects at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, House 67 and the Ly Thai To statue—and pressed Hanoi’s leadership to drive innovation and rapid execution. Citing 2025 milestones (GRDP growth of 8.16% and budget revenue above VND700 trillion), he endorsed the capital’s “work through Tet” campaign, new project groundbreakings and a 100-year master plan addressing five urban bottlenecks, urging accountability to make Hanoi a national development hub.

Local Coverage: baotintuc.vn, thanhnien.vn, vietnamplus.vn, vneconomy.vn, vnexpress.net, tuoitre.vn, com.vn

From daily briefs: 2026-02-17, 2026-02-19

2. Starlink Registers Vietnamese Subsidiary and Wins Approval to Deploy LEO Satellite Internet with Local Gateways

SpaceX has formally registered Starlink Services Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Hanoi (VND 30 billion charter capital), chaired by Lauren Ashley Dreyer with Đỗ Bá Thích as general director, and received radio‑frequency and network infrastructure permits to operate low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellite internet in a controlled pilot. Under licenses from Vietnam’s Authority of Radio Frequency Management and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Starlink may deploy four domestic gateway stations and up to 600,000 user terminals in an initial phase authorized under a government pilot framework that runs through no later than Jan. 1, 2031; the firm is owned by Starlink Holdings Netherlands B.V.

The approval signals Vietnam’s intent to integrate LEO services as a complement to terrestrial networks to boost connectivity in mountainous, border and island areas, enhance emergency response and serve sectors such as maritime logistics and smart agriculture. Local gateways should lower latency and improve resilience, though regional uptake has been price‑sensitive; Starlink — operating a ~6,750‑satellite constellation and serving ~5 million users globally — has not yet announced a commercial launch date or full investment schedule for Vietnam (early ground investment for a central Vietnam site is estimated at ~USD 300,000). The approach balances market opening with spectrum control and national security safeguards.

Local Coverage: com.vn, vnexpress.net, tuoitre.vn, vneconomy.vn, vietnamplus.vn, thanhnien.vn, baotintuc.vn

From daily briefs: 2026-02-15, 2026-02-16, 2026-02-17

3. Mega Infrastructure Program Advances Airports, High-Speed Rail, and Transshipment Port to Reshape Economy by 2045

Vietnam has launched a multi-decade infrastructure program to underpin its 2045 industrialization target and 2050 net‑zero goal, centered on three flagship airports, two high‑speed rail corridors, and a major transshipment port. Long Thanh International Airport will begin early operations in December 2025 with full Phase‑1 service from June 2026 and is projected to generate 3–5% of GDP and 40,000–50,000 jobs initially. Planned additions include Gia Binh International Airport (Bac Ninh) as a 4F, four‑runway hub targeting 50 million passengers/year, and Phu Quoc’s second runway and new Terminal 2 aiming for 20 million passengers/year and enhanced long‑haul connectivity.

On rail and maritime, the North–South high‑speed line (1,541 km at 350 km/h, estimated VND 1.7 quadrillion) and the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong freight corridor (419 km; VND 203 trillion) are positioned to boost logistics efficiency and supply‑chain integration. The Can Gio International Transshipment Port (VND 113,531 billion) is designed to handle 10–15 million TEU annually by 2045, moving Vietnam’s southern port cluster closer to Singapore‑scale throughput. A nationwide wave of 234 groundbreakings and inaugurations on December 19, 2025, including new expressways toward a 3,000 km network, signals accelerated delivery and significant implications for regional trade, investment flows, and domestic job creation.

Local Coverage: com.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-18

4. Mega Infrastructure Program Advances Airports, High-Speed Rail, and Transshipment Port to Reshape Economy by 2045

Vietnam has launched a multi-decade infrastructure program aimed at underpinning its 2045 industrialization target and 2050 net‑zero goal, centered on three flagship airports, two high‑speed rail corridors and a major transshipment port. Long Thanh International Airport will begin early operations in December 2025 with full Phase 1 from June 2026 and is projected to generate 3–5% of GDP and 40,000–50,000 jobs initially; Gia Binh (Bac Ninh) is planned as a 4F dual‑use hub for 50 million passengers and four runways; Phu Quoc will add a second runway and a T2 targeting 20 million annual passengers.

The program also includes a North–South high‑speed rail (1,541 km at 350 km/h; VND 1.7 quadrillion) and a Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong freight line (419 km; VND 203 trillion) to boost logistics and supply‑chain integration, plus the Can Gio International Transshipment Port (VND 113,531 billion) planned for 10–15 million TEU by 2045—positioning the southern port cluster nearer to Singapore’s throughput. A nationwide push of 234 groundbreakings and openings on December 19, 2025, and accelerated expressway delivery toward a 3,000 km network signal Vietnam’s intent to rapidly scale connectivity and attract investment, though financing, implementation capacity and environmental trade‑offs will determine outcomes.

Local Coverage: com.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-18

5. EU Carbon Border Fee to Start in 2026, Pressuring Vietnam’s Export Supply Chains to Go Green

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) moves into its paid phase on 1 January 2026, extending carbon charges to imports of steel, aluminium, cement and fertilizers and intensifying compliance expectations for exporters, including Vietnam. Vietnamese firms will need internationally compliant GHG inventories covering Scopes 1–3, credible decarbonization roadmaps and readiness for carbon pricing to remain competitive in EU markets; policymakers are piloting a domestic carbon market through 2028 and tightening green‑finance criteria to attract climate capital.

Analysts cited in the story estimate Vietnam could realize $400–$800 million in compliance savings domestically and draw $500 million–$2 billion in international green finance by aligning with CBAM requirements. With similar regimes expanding globally (the UK from 2027 and potential moves in the US, Canada, Australia and Taiwan), companies should prioritize reliable emissions data, targeted abatement projects and integration of ESG into core strategy to hedge costs and secure market access.

Local Coverage: vneconomy.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-15

6. Central Committee to Approve New Anti-Corruption Resolution at Second Plenum

The Communist Party’s Central Committee will adopt a new anti‑corruption resolution at its second plenum of the 14th tenure, expected in late March 2026, replacing guidelines that trace back to Resolution No. 3 from the 10th tenure after a 20‑year review. Drafted to align with 14th National Congress documents, the measure shifts emphasis toward prevention, strengthens post‑audit oversight, and increases early‑stage supervision; it also tightens control of power in five Politburo‑designated sensitive areas and removes exemptions for deliberate, profit‑driven violations.

The resolution aims to protect reform‑minded officials while targeting petty corruption at the grassroots to improve public and business services, signalling a tougher, more systemic approach meant to deter abuse without undermining socio‑economic development. Le Minh Tri, head of the Central Commission for Internal Affairs, framed the policy as keeping anti‑corruption “resolute and deterrent” to bolster confidence among officials, enterprises and the public.

Local Coverage: vietnamplus.vn, baotintuc.vn, thanhnien.vn, tuoitre.vn, com.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-13

7. State-Owned Enterprises Positioned as ‘Catalyst Capital’ to Lead Strategic Sectors Under New Party Resolution

Vietnam’s Politburo on [date unspecified] adopted Resolution 79, recasting state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as “catalyst capital” to lead strategic sectors while operating under market principles. The plan targets building roughly 50 large SOEs into the region’s top 500 by 2030 — including 1–3 in the global top 500 — and expanding to 60 regional and five global leaders by 2045. Priority sectors include defense and security, energy, transport and logistics, finance and banking, digital infrastructure, strategic minerals, chemicals, construction materials, and agro‑forestry. The resolution stresses clearer delineation of public vs. private roles, targeted capital allocation, and SOE‑led development in areas such as social housing and critical materials.

Operational changes include directing the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to evolve toward a Temasek‑style national investment fund focused on innovation and venture capital, and signalling gradual electricity price reform by EVN to align with market principles and safeguard energy security and efficiency. Officials portray the measure as “landmark” for the state economy (Le Thanh Tuan, Deputy CEO, SCIC) and stress progressive, legally framed pricing adjustments (Nguyen Tai Anh, Deputy General Director, EVN). For international investors and partners, the resolution signals stronger SOE-led market formation and targeted state capital deployment, potentially reshaping public‑private investment dynamics across Vietnam’s strategic industries.

Local Coverage: baotintuc.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-15

8. Central Bank Sets 2026 Monetary Stance to Guard Stability, Steer Credit to Growth Sectors

Vietnam’s central bank set a 2026 monetary stance prioritizing inflation control and macro stability while using flexible tools to steer credit toward productive sectors. Deputy Governor Pham Thanh Ha highlighted 2025 outcomes—credit rose 19.01% to VND 18.58 quadrillion, CPI ≈3.31% and GDP growth 8.02%—saying the SBV will tighten oversight of riskier lending (notably real estate), accelerate digitization to lower borrowing costs, and coordinate closely with fiscal authorities as monetary space narrows (credit-to-GDP around 145–146%). The SBV expects fiscal policy to carry the primary growth burden, with the Ministry of Finance expanding public investment (budgeted VND 8.31 quadrillion medium-term plan and a 24.47% public investment increase for 2026) and mobilizing bond financing for large projects.

Analysts and multilateral institutions see divergent 2026 growth projections (IMF 5.6%, ADB/World Bank/OECD 6.0–6.5%, UOB/Standard Chartered ~7.2–7.5%) amid risks from slower global trade, ESG rules like the EU CBAM, and competition from India/Bangladesh. Policymakers aim to pivot growth toward green, digital and higher-value industries, boost SME and private-sector roles, and use trade deals (CPTPP, EVFTA, RCEP) and FDI—disbursed FDI reached USD 27.6 billion in 2025—to lift exports (target >8% growth and a US$23+ billion surplus), while addressing execution gaps (public investment disbursement ~70% in 2025) and financial-sector reforms to contain systemic risk.

Local Coverage: vietnamplus.vn, thanhnien.vn, vneconomy.vn

From daily briefs: 2026-02-13, 2026-02-17, 2026-02-18, 2026-02-19

9. Green Transition Positioned as Investment Magnet with New Parliamentary Resolution

Vietnam is positioning its green transition as an investment magnet after reporting measurable gains under the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection — including a national urban solid-waste collection rate of 97.28% in 2024 and expanded industrial wastewater treatment — and a jump to 54th globally and second in ASEAN on sustainable development rankings. Policymakers argue that stricter environmental standards are now a competitive asset for attracting high‑quality FDI and ESG‑sensitive supply chains.

To formalize that strategy, the National Assembly adopted Resolution 247/2025/QH15, which adds low‑carbon growth indicators to national plans, raises the share of budgets for environmental protection from 2027, scales circular‑economy measures, and advances a carbon market and renewables. Officials including Nguyen Ngoc Son (Standing Member, NA Committee on Science, Technology and Environment) and Minister Tran Duc Thang frame the move as ensuring development without environmental trade‑offs and as a signal of innovation and responsibility to international investors.

Local Coverage: vneconomy.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-17

10. Abu Dhabi’s G42, FPT, and Viet Thai Sign Framework to Build Sovereign AI and Cloud Infrastructure

Abu Dhabi’s G42, Vietnam’s FPT Corporation, and Viet Thai Group signed a framework agreement in Ho Chi Minh City to develop sovereign AI capabilities and large-scale cloud infrastructure in Vietnam, targeting up to US$1 billion in consumption-based investment. The consortium plans hyperscale cloud deployments across three key data centers to deliver high-performance AI and public cloud services to government and private sectors, with FPT supplying technical expertise, Viet Thai providing strategic capabilities, and G42 contributing AI infrastructure.

The initiative aligns with Vietnam’s broader push to establish a legal framework and attract hyperscale data centers, positioning the country as a regional AI-infrastructure hub. Beyond hardware and services, the partnership includes AI skills training and workforce development to accelerate adoption across public administration, enterprises, and research institutions, signaling a coordinated effort to couple capacity build-out with talent development.

Local Coverage: thanhnien.vn

From daily brief: 2026-02-13

About This Weekly Digest

The stories above represent the most significant developments from Vietnam this week, selected through our AI-powered analysis of hundreds of local news articles.

Stories are drawn from our daily intelligence briefs, which synthesize reporting from Vietnam's leading news sources to provide comprehensive situational awareness for international decision-makers.