HCMC hosts 3rd Friendship Dialogue to boost local diplomacy
- Ho Chi Minh City hosted the 3rd Friendship Dialogue Sept 10-12, 2026
- H1FY26 economy reached nearly USD 60 billion, a 10-year high
- Expanded city covers 6,770 km² after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau
- Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster ranks 19th globally in vessel capacity
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Ho Chi Minh City hosted the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD 2026) from September 10 to 12, 2026, in Vung Tau Ward.
The event aimed to strengthen local diplomacy and connect global resources for sustainable urban development.
Event Outcomes
The dialogue centered on the theme "City Diplomacy: A Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Development." Participants included leaders from foreign localities and international organizations.
Key outcomes included:
- Consensus on leveraging local diplomacy to attract technological resources and talent.
- Support for a city-level multilateral cooperation mechanism on seaports to share data and expand supply chain connections.
- Proposals to encourage business investment in research and development (R&D) and commercialize innovation outcomes.
Expanded City Profile
Since July 1, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City has merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The expanded city covers more than 6,770 km² and has a population of over 14 million.
The development space integrates three growth poles:
- A financial, commercial, services, science and technology hub in the core urban area.
- A high-tech industrial manufacturing base in the Binh Duong area.
- A deep-water port system, marine economy, energy sector and coastal tourism in the Vung Tau area.
Legal frameworks supporting this expansion include the Law on Urban Development adopted by the National Assembly on August 24, 2026, and Politburo Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW dated May 19, 2026. The resolution sets targets for GRDP per capita of USD 14,000 by 2030 and USD 75,000 by 2045.
Economic Performance
In the first six months of 2026, the city's economy reached nearly USD 60 billion. This is the highest level in the past 10 years.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| H1FY26 Economy Size | Nearly USD 60 billion |
| Contribution to National GDP | Nearly 25% |
| Contribution to State Budget Revenue | More than 30% |
The city maintains ties with 88 foreign localities and nearly 20 international organizations. It hosts more than 20,000 active FDI projects.
Infrastructure Highlights
The Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster is the largest deep-water seaport complex in southern Vietnam. It ranks 19th globally in capacity to accommodate mainline vessels.
Key infrastructure details:
- Average depth: 14 meters.
- Vessel capacity: Up to 250,000 DWT.
- Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park: Developed with Vietnam-Japan cooperation, meeting ESG and sustainable-development standards.
How will the integration of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau impact the administrative efficiency and regulatory harmonization required to meet the 2030 GRDP per capita target of USD 14,000?
What specific incentives or policy adjustments are needed to convert the consensus on R&D investment into tangible commercial innovations within the new high-tech industrial manufacturing base?
Given the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port's global ranking, how does Ho Chi Minh City plan to compete with regional logistics hubs like Singapore or Port Klang for mainline vessel traffic in the next five years?
19
Create Custom Screeners 
Access 200+ Pre-built Filters 
Use 50+ Readymade Screener 
