New publication highlights Germany – Vietnam partnership
A commemorative publication titled “50 Years of Germany – Vietnam Relations: Partners in the Past, Present and Future” offers a timely and comprehensive reflection not only on the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, but also on the strategic path ahead.
The book is co-edited by Professor Dr Rene Thiele, President of the Vietnamese – German University (VGU), and Professor Dr Andreas Stoffers, an expert on Southeast Asia and the Vietnamese economy at the FOM University of Applied Sciences in Essen.
The authors point out that the relationship between the two nations has been shaped by their shared experiences of division and reunification. As German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Margarete Barth writes in the book, ties between the two countries show that differences need not be an obstacle but can instead serve as a driving force. Germany and Vietnam, she adds, share a determination to rise from the rubble to build prosperity.
From a political-economic perspective, Stoffers affirms that Vietnam has become Germany’s “strategic anchor” in Southeast Asia. He argues that the shift from a donor – recipient model to a partnership of equals marks a defining turning point, demonstrating the special importance of bilateral relations.
Echoing this view, Marko Walde, Chief Representative of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (AHK), notes that German companies do not come to Vietnam merely in search of cheap labor, but to find innovative partners — helping position Vietnam as an indispensable link in global green value chains.
The milestone “Hanoi Declaration 2011”, which elevated the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, is highlighted as recognition of the highest level of political trust and as the foundation for deep and multifaceted cooperation in the following decade.
In the book, the entry into force of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is described as the strongest economic catalyst in the relationship’s 50-year history. For Germany, the agreement, with clear commitments to investment protection and transparency, provides more favorable conditions for German businesses to access Vietnam – a gateway to ASEAN, which is particularly important as Germany is seeking to diversify its global supply chains, according to VNA.
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| The book “50 Years of Germany – Vietnam Relations: Partners in the Past, Present and Future” (Source: the Vietnamese – German University) |
If the EVFTA is the “doorway”, the publication notes, Germany's core technologies and governance mindset serve as the “key”. The establishment of R&D centres by firms such as Bosch and Siemens is cited as evidence of the trust in Vietnam’s brainpower, a strong shift from labor cooperation to innovation and Industry 4.0 partnerships.
Beyond economics, the over-200,000-strong Vietnamese community in Germany are viewed as “social capital” underpinning bilateral friendship, the book observes.
Vietnam’s image in Germany has evolved from one associated with war to that of a dynamic economic partner and an influential country in ASEAN. The Vietnamese community here have conducted silent but thorough integration, not losing their national identify but using their fondness for learning and patience to enrich the multi-cultural society of Germany, said Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Germany Association Ludwig Graf Westarp, who is also a lecturer at the Dortmund University of Technology.
For Thiele, education remains the most sustainable cornerstone of partnership, with the VGU standing as a flagship project symbolizing the two governments' mutual trust and long-term commitment to training future generations.
The publication concludes with a shared vision for a “Green Partnership”: Germany needs Vietnam’s dynamism to help realize its climate commitments while Vietnam requires Germany's green technology to drive its energy transition.
E-commerce charts new runway for Vietnam’s digital exports
With Vietnam’s total foreign trade turnover projected to near 920 billion USD in 2025, the role of e-commerce in supporting exports is no longer theoretical.
E-commerce is evolving from a domestic retail channel into a strategic infrastructure for export expansion, forming a “digital runway” that enables Vietnamese enterprises to reach global consumers directly, bypassing traditional distribution chains.
With Vietnam’s total foreign trade turnover projected to near 920 billion USD in 2025, the role of e-commerce in supporting exports is no longer theoretical. The challenge now lies in accelerating execution capacity to transform digital channels into a new growth driver.
Tran Van Trong, Secretary-General of the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), said the domestic e-commerce market still has vast growth potential. While e-commerce accounts for 40–50% of total retail sales in developed economies, the figure in Vietnam stands at around 12%.
However, Trong stressed that from an export perspective, e-commerce has yet to be positioned strategically. Despite vibrant online activity and competitive products in sectors such as furniture and garments, Vietnamese enterprises often lack the operational capacity to convert digital presence into stable export turnover.
Experts note that many businesses still equate digital exports with simply listing products online. This perception limits value creation to visibility rather than genuine market penetration, preventing domestic digital growth from becoming a strong export lever.
In a volatile global trade environment, specialists emphasize that online export development must be aligned with sustainable production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. Export growth that neglects quality standards and green requirements risks short lifecycles and market disruptions, particularly as global platforms increasingly apply artificial intelligence and big data to manage seller compliance and consumer behavior.
Le Hoang Oanh, Director of the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the policy landscape has seen an unprecedented number of Politburo resolutions and Government directives, accompanied by stricter monitoring and reporting requirements, reported VNN.
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| Consumers explore shopping through digital channels (Photo: VNA) |
She noted that regulatory frameworks must keep pace with emerging models such as livestream commerce, social commerce, multi-platform ecosystems and, notably, cross-border e-commerce. While Vietnam is accelerating institutional reforms to reposition digital trade, progress depends heavily on implementation speed, cross-border logistics, and enterprises’ ability to manage data effectively.
In 2025, Vietnam’s e-commerce market reached an estimated 31 billion USD, up 25.5% year-on-year, accounting for about 10% of total retail sales of goods and services.
This figure, though still modest, reflects the growing contribution of e-commerce to Vietnam’s overall exports, as demonstrated by the country’s trade surplus in 2025, Oanh said.
Looking ahead to 2026, the agency will prioritize six key tasks, including issuing a decree guiding the implementation of the Law on E-commerce, rolling out the National E-commerce Development Plan for 2026–2030, strengthening management and inspection, building e-commerce databases and applying AI to supervision, narrowing development gaps among regions, and promoting cross-border e-commerce linked to exports.
Notably, 2026 will be a crucial year for international cooperation, with Vietnam aiming to finalise the signing of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, conclude negotiations on the e-commerce chapter of the ASEAN – Canada FTA, launch the ASEAN – Republic of Korea deal talks, and upgrade the CPTPP e-commerce chapter.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said e-commerce continued to assert its role as a pillar of the digital economy in 2025, contributing roughly two-thirds of the sector’s total value. Vietnam remains among the world’s 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets, supporting the record import – export turnover of about 920 billion USD.
Entering 2026, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, Tan reaffirmed that e-commerce and the digital economy will remain pioneering forces driving digital transformation, green transition, and sustainable growth.
E-commerce is opening a macro-level runway for Vietnam’s digital exports, but presence alone will not generate export value. Only when regulatory reform, cross-border logistics, data capabilities, and digital human resources converge can e-commerce become a national-scale engine for sustainable digital export growth.
Domestic tourism sees strong uptick ahead of New Year holiday
Vietnam’s domestic tourism market is recording encouraging signs ahead of the 2026 New Year holiday, following the announcement that the public break will last four consecutive days from January 1 to 4.
In Ho Chi Minh City, travel agencies report a bustling tour market as year-end demand remains strong, particularly for domestic travel, which continues to appeal to both local residents and overseas Vietnamese.
My Trang, an office worker in Sai Gon ward, said her family initially had no travel plans as the New Year holiday falls midweek. However, once the four-day break was confirmed, they opted for a short domestic tour to relax and motivate their children during the exam period.
Similarly, Anh Duc, a resident of Thu Duc ward, said the relatively late announcement of the holiday schedule prompted his family to prioritise domestic destinations over overseas travel. He noted that the New Year period is also when workers receive year-end bonuses, creating favorable conditions for family bonding through travel, shopping and leisure activities.
Beyond the New Year holiday, the market for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in early 2026 is also showing strong momentum. According to Agoda, based on search data from October to November 2025 for stays between February 14 and 22, 2026, interest in Tet travel among Vietnamese tourists has increased in both domestic and international markets.
Domestic travel is driving this growth, with search demand rising by nearly 22%, while interest in overseas travel has seen a modest increase of around 7%.
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| Central Post Office - a landmark site in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) |
Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director of Agoda Vietnam, said extended Tet holidays provide ideal conditions for Vietnamese families to reconnect, unwind and explore destinations nationwide without the added complexity of international travel procedures. He added that Vung Tau has ranked among the top five most searched domestic destinations for Tet 2026 and remains a convenient short-break option for residents of Ho Chi Minh City.
Travel companies in the city also reported rising demand in the lead-up to the New Year holiday. Vietravel Joint Stock Company said tour bookings have surged since mid-December, with the firm expecting to serve around 130,000 travellers during the 2026 New Year period.
Other tour operators reported New Year tour sales up 15–20% year-on-year. Tourists are increasingly willing to pay for higher-quality services, such as four- and five-star hotels and favorable flight schedules. Demand for combo packages combining air tickets and accommodation, as well as tailor-made tours for families and overseas Vietnamese returning home, has also risen markedly, reflecting a growing preference for personalised travel experiences over mass-market tours.
Cold air mass continues to affect south-central Vietnam overnight
A cold air mass affected parts of south-central Vietnam on December 26 and is expected to continue influencing the region through the evening and overnight, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
From Ha Tinh province to Da Nang city and the eastern areas of provinces from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa, scattered to moderate rain is forecast, with locally heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Temperatures have dropped by around 6-8°C. Northeasterly winds over land are moderate, strengthening along the coast, with gusts reaching levels 6-7 (about 50-60 km/h).
Northern Vietnam and areas from Thanh Hoa to Hue are experiencing cold conditions, with severe cold in some mountainous areas. Minimum temperatures in the north range from 11-14°C, falling to 8-10°C in mountainous areas and below 6°C in high-elevation zones. From Thanh Hoa to Hue, temperatures are generally between 15-18°C. Hanoi remains dry but cold.
At sea, strong northeasterly winds are affecting the northern and central parts of the East Sea, as well as the southern East Sea and waters from Dak Lak to Ca Mau. Wind strength is forecast at levels 6-7, with gusts reaching levels 8-9 (around 60-75 km/h). Seas are rough, with wave heights of 3-5 meters.
Due to the continued influence of the cold air mass, rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected to persist in areas from Quang Tri to Da Nang and in eastern provinces from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa in the coming days. Thunderstorms may bring whirlwinds, lightning and strong gusts, reported VOV.
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| Photo: VOV |
In high mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, frost and rime ice are possible. Prolonged cold conditions, including severe cold in some locations, may affect livestock, poultry and crop growth.
Localized heavy rain poses risks of flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods along small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes. Strong winds and high waves continue to disrupt fishing activities and maritime operations.
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