Vietnam Morning Monitor: Amazon aims to take 30 local brands global, trade with Japan could reach $75bn by 2030

|SOCIETY

-- The government on Thursday night ordered an urgent investigation into a deadly fire at Kim Lien Elementary School in Hanoi.

A fire broke out at a temporary school facility on the same day, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students and leaving one person dead.

The prime minister instructed Hanoi authorities to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to urgently investigate the cause of the fire, clarify the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals, and strictly handle any violations, if found.

|ECONOMY

-- Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Japan is expected to reach some US$58 billion in 2026, and could climb to $75 billion by 2030, according to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.

Vietnam is positioning itself as a promising manufacturing hub in Asia. Therefore, electrical equipment, electronic components, and auto parts are expected to remain among the most promising trade categories.

As Japanese companies continue to expand their investments in these sectors, demand for imported components and parts from Japan to support production is also expected to increase, further boosting bilateral trade.

-- There are many ways in which Ho Chi Minh City and Manila can achieve mutually complementary growth, according to the Philippines’ Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Arsenio M. Balisacan.

Both Manila and Ho Chi Minh City account for a significant share of their respective countries’ economic output and should therefore be encouraged to develop further, he said.

The two sides also have valuable lessons to learn from each other, Balisacan emphasized.

Ho Chi Minh City can offer insights into developing a well-functioning and livable metropolitan area, while it can also draw lessons from Manila to improve its long-term urban planning.

-- Amazon Global Selling Vietnam aims to bring 30 Vietnamese national brands onto its platform and help 300 manufacturers in the furniture, food, and apparel sectors start selling on Amazon in 2027.

“We have witnessed strong growth in product categories where Vietnam has manufacturing strengths on Amazon,” Larry Hu, head of Amazon Global Selling for Southeast Asia, said at the 2026 Seller Conference on Thursday.

More Vietnamese businesses are shifting from contract manufacturing to building their own brands, he stressed.

-- A series of memorandums of understanding on trade and investment cooperation were signed at the inaugural Green Business Matching Day 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to connect with Indian partners and international markets in the green business sector.

The event, which brought together representatives of the Consulate General of India, the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, international business organizations, investors and Vietnamese entrepreneurs, was aimed at promoting trade and investment cooperation in sustainable development.

Dr. Vipra Pandey, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, said strengthening connections between the business communities of the two countries was of great importance, providing entrepreneurs with opportunities to explore markets, identify potential areas of cooperation, and translate business relationships into concrete trade and investment activities.

|CULTURE

-- A wide array of culinary delights from Vietnam’s three regions and countries around the world will be showcased at the 2026 International Food Culture Festival, set to take place in Hanoi on November 21 and 22.

Nearly 100 booths from embassies, consulates, foreign cultural centers, local departments of foreign affairs, and businesses will be arranged across three themed zones, including ‘Proudly Vietnam,’ ‘Flavors of ASEAN,’ and ‘Flavors of the World.’

Visitors to Lo Lo Chai Village captivated by rustic charm, rammed-earth houses