Iran records '9mn Tehran metro journeys' as Khamenei funeral crowds swell
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HCM City's economy expanded 8.55% in the first half of 2026, supported by resilient domestic consumption, steady industrial activity, a continued recovery in tourism and a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI), Viet Nam News reports.
Data from the city's Statistics Office showed gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew 8.57% in the first quarter and 8.53% in the second.
The services sector remained the main driver of growth, expanding 8.89% in the first six months. It accounted for 54% of GRDP and contributed 56% of overall economic growth.
Transport recorded the strongest expansion at 13.68%, followed by trade at 8.4% and finance at 8.21%. The property sector continued to face difficulties.
Industry and construction grew 8.5%, accounting for 32.8% of GRDP and contributing 30.6% of overall growth, VNN adds.
Industrial production remained strong. The industrial production index (IIP) rose 11.1% in the first six months, up from 8.6% in the same period last year.
Business activity also improved. The number of newly established companies increased 15.6% year on year, while newly registered capital rose 26.5%.
FDI inflows exceeded $6.8bn in the first half, an increase of 114.2% from a year earlier. The city approved 888 new foreign-invested projects with combined registered capital of more than $1.1bn.
Despite the strong performance, the city continued to face challenges from global economic uncertainty and persistently high energy prices. Rising production and logistics costs, together with higher prices for goods and services, also weighed on growth momentum.
The average consumer price index rose 4.41% during the period. Transport recorded the largest increase at 6.19%, followed by food and catering services at 5.78% and housing and construction materials at 5.22%.
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