Hai Phong, Mekong Delta seek WB cooperation in climate change adaptation
The northern coastal city of Hai Phong and nine Mekong Delta provinces are drafting climate change adaptation projects worth $414.7 million and $500 million, respectively, in cooperation with the World Bank.
Hai Phong
The city plans to take loans of $258.2 million from the WB and provide reciprocal capital of $156.5 million for the project, which is scheduled for 2023-2029. Municipal authorities have urged relevant state agencies to soon submit the project to the Prime Minister for approval.

A corner of Hai Phong city, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the city's portal.
The project is an effort of Hai Phong to become a logistics and industrial hub of Vietnam and part of its sustainable growth strategy. It features goals of improving the socioeconomic growth, urban development, water environment, flood reduction and resilience of urban areas.
Hai Phong is among six cities around the world participating in the WB program on urban areas adapting to climate change. The project is set to take place in Hong Bang, Hai An, Thuy Nguyen, and An Duong districts.
Mekong Delta
The WB’s draft Mekong Delta Climate Resilience and Integrated Transformation Project (WB11-MERIT) is set to take place in nine Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Tien Giang. An Giang province recently expressed its willingness to join the project.

A rice field in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.
The $500-million project will cover 960,000 hectares and benefit 920,000 households. It features three components: strengthening institutions and communication, investing in regional climate-resilient infrastructure, and enhancing livelihoods and rural economy in line with climate change adaptation.
According to the Central Office for Water Resources Projects, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project will help develop key product lines and boost local incomes.
As the drafting team, the office added that the project would also transform fragmented economic models into economic concentration activities and combine agricultural economics with urbanization, industrialization, and tourism.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep has asked relevant units to collaborate with the localities to submit first sub-projects to the WB in December 2023.
As of October 4, 2022, the WB provided $25.16 billion in grants, concessional loans, and credit to Vietnam through 216 operations since 1993, according to the lender. Vietnam’s existing portfolio consists of 22 active projects financed by the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with a total net commitment of $4.74 billion.
The country needs to invest about $368 billion from now until 2040 to build a climate resilient and low-carbon economy, according to the Vietnam Country Climate and Development Report released by the World Bank in July 2022.
- Read More
Vietnam to have 34 cities, provinces, instead of 63: Party chief
Vietnam plans to reduce the number of cities and provinces from the current 63 to 34, as part of a scheme to streamline its administrative apparatus, Party General Secretary To Lam said Friday.
Politics - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 4:18 pm GMT+7
Thailand’s digital ad spending predicted to grow 10% in 2025
Thailand’s online advertising spending in 2025 is forecast to grow 10% to THB35 billion (over $1 billion), based on a gradual rebound of the local economy and intense competition in the digital industry, according to the Digital Advertising Association of Thailand (DAAT).
Southeast Asia - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 3:39 pm GMT+7
US Defence Secretary reaffirms alliance commitment during visit to Philippines
U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s strong commitment to its alliance with the Philippines during his official visit to the Southeast Asian country on Friday.
Southeast Asia - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 3:32 pm GMT+7
Southern Vietnam province Tra Vinh okays five more wind power projects
Vietnam's southern coastal province of Tra Vinh has granted in-principle approvals for five wind power plant projects, with a total investment of over VND 13.8 trillion ($540 million).
Southeast Asia - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 3:29 pm GMT+7
Vietnam, South Africa eye stronger air logistics links
Vietnam and South Africa are seeking to strengthen air logistics cooperation to meet rising trade and transportation demands.
Southeast Asia - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 3:24 pm GMT+7
Net profit of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park nearly doubles in 2024
Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park J.V. Co., Ltd, or VSIP, the largest industrial park developer in Vietnam, posted VND3.28 trillion ($128.37 million) in net profit in 2024, up nearly 93% year-on-year.
Industrial real estate - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 3:18 pm GMT+7
Trump Organization eyes golf course, hotel projects in Vietnam
A consortium between the Trump Organization and its partner in Vietnam plans multiple investments worth billions of dollars in golf courses, hotels and real estate projects Vietnam, Reuters quoted the consortium’s spokesman as saying.
Real Estate - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 11:06 am GMT+7
Livestock major Dabaco invests in 8.2-hectare dry port in northern Vietnam
Vietnam’s leading livestock firm Dabaco has invested in an 8.2-hectare inland container depot (ICD) in Bac Ninh province, an emerging manufacturing hub in northern Vietnam and home to a Samsung Electronics plant.
Infrastructure - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 10:51 am GMT+7
Phuong Tien Minh appointed CEO of life insurer FWD Vietnam
Hong Kong-headquartered FWD Group Holdings Limited has appointed Phuong Tien Minh as CEO of life insurer FWD Vietnam, effective Thursday, March 27.
Finance - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 10:40 am GMT+7
Vietnam's Deputy PM backs formation of free trade zone in Binh Dinh province
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung on Friday expressed his support for an early study of a free trade zone in Phu My Port area, the south-central province of Binh Dinh.
Economy - Sat, March 29, 2025 | 8:25 am GMT+7
Vietnam offers numerous advantages for Skoda Auto's investment: executive
Vietnam offers a range of advantages for investment by Czech automaker Skoda Auto, including its seaport system, logistics infrastructure, and skilled labor, the company’s chairman and CEO Klaus Zellmer said on Thursday.
Industries - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 7:33 pm GMT+7
Vietnam plans to cut import tax for LNG to 2%
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is drafting a decree on preferential import tax for some products, including a proposal of 2% tax rate for LNG.
Energy - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 4:31 pm GMT+7
AES’s $2.1 bln LNG power project needs solutions to meet deadline: Vietnam authorities
The 2,250-MW Son My 2 LNG-fired power project, invested by the U.S.'s AES and state-run Petrovietnam subsidiary PV Gas, “needs solutions” to meet its deadline.
Energy - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 4:06 pm GMT+7
Over $9 bln pledged for investment projects in central Vietnam province Binh Dinh
Binh Dinh province on Friday handed over MoUs on investment cooperation, in-principle approvals and investment registration certificates to 62 projects worth over VND231 trillion ($9.03 billion).
Industries - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 4:05 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's giant Vingroup eyes mullti-billion-dollar renewable, LNG power projects
Vietnam's leading private conglomerate Vingroup is seeking the government's permission to develop seven renewable energy projects worth $20-25 billion and a $5.5 billion LNG-fired power project from 2025-2030.
Energy - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 1:09 pm GMT+7
While the buzz around a market upgrade is back, who is this milestone for?
A key issue for the Vietnamese stock market is the underdevelopment of the institutional investor base. The dominance of retail investors can create heightened volatility, which, in turn, reduces the incentive for high-quality companies to list on the stock exchange, writes Gary Harron, head of securities services at HSBC Vietnam.
Consulting - Fri, March 28, 2025 | 10:31 am GMT+7