Hanoi(VNA) – The current COVID-19 crisis is creating opportunities for therailway sector thanks to its prominent advantages in international transport.
According to TranThe Hung, General Director of the Railway Transport and TradingJoint Stock Company (Ratraco), said that while a drop wasseen in passenger transport, the transport of goods rose 20 percent in volumeand 16 percent in revenue.
Regarding theefficiency of the Vietnam-Belgium direct railway route, which has been launchedsince July with three trips so far, Hung said that although specificeffectiveness has yet to be evaluated, the Vietnamese railway sector’s engagementin logistics service supply chain has provided more options for exporters whenmaritime shipment faces surging costs and takes longer time.
Departing from Yen Vien Station in Hanoi, the train with 23 containers stops atZhenzhou city of China’s Henan province and connect to the Asia-Europe train toreach its destination.
Due to limited railway infrastructure and containermanagement, Ratraco has yet to be able to carry all 41 containers in atrain to Europe, said Hung.
He added that the firm is working with partners to develop plans to operate one trip per week in a fixed schedule from Vietnam toBelgium. The firm expects to launch additional routes from Vietnam to Germany,Russia and Poland at the end of the third quarter.
The Ratraco leader held that in the long term, it isnecessary to connect railways with seaports, thus optimising the efficiency ofboth transport types and reducing cost and environmental pollution./.
The Ministry of Transport plans to begin work on nine major infrastructure projects in the south this year to reduce traffic congestion and improve connectivity.
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed total investment of 240 trillion VND (10.4 billion USD) for the expansion of the railway network from now until 2030, to be sourced by the State budget and other legal sources.
Container freight trains from Vietnam to Belgium will open up a new cooperation direction to increase benefits of railway logistics services, Deputy General Director of the Rail Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) Nguyen Hoang Thanh told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
