Removing institutional bottlenecks to foster a more business-friendly environment

The 2025 Business Law Flow Report, recently released by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), highlights an unprecedented wave of reform in both lawmaking and law enforcement, particularly in areas affecting production, business activities and the business community. The report reflects an unprecedented drive to reform institutions and improve the legal framework in support of the country’s high-growth aspirations.

Businesses in Dong Nai explore partnership opportunities at a trade connectivity event held in the locality in late 2025. Photo by Vuong The.

Removing institutional barriers and creating a favorable business environment remain ongoing priorities of both the Central government and local authorities, serving as key drivers of economic growth and business development.

Major resolutions lay the groundwork for a new development phase

According to VCCI Chairman Ho Sy Hung, Vietnam introduced a number of important economic and business-environment reforms in 2025. Among the most significant were four resolutions issued by the Politburo: Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on reforming lawmaking and law enforcement to meet the country’s development requirements in a new era; and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private-sector economic development. Together, these four resolutions have effectively established the pillars of a new development phase for Vietnam’s economy.

Along with these strategic resolutions, Vietnam has witnessed a notable shift in governance thinking from a management-oriented approach to one focused on enabling development. For the first time, the private sector has been officially recognized as one of the most important drivers of the national economy, while enterprises are increasingly viewed as development actors rather than merely subjects of management.

A key issue, however, is the need for government agencies to improve policy forecasting and provide timely updates to businesses. According to a VCCI survey of more than 30,000 enterprises nationwide, as many as 93% reported being unable to anticipate changes in legal policies. Most enterprises access information on draft regulations through the media and social media platforms rather than official government portals.

According to Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary-General and Head of the Legal Affairs Department of VCCI, 2025 witnessed an unprecedented pace of legislative development. In just three sessions, the National Assembly passed 89 laws, a record number within a single year. At the same time, efforts to simplify administrative procedures and reduce business-related regulations have accelerated significantly. More than 3,000 business regulations were either abolished or simplified during the year. Surveys show that 89.6% of enterprises found online administrative procedures easy to use, while 91.18% reported lower costs compared with traditional methods.

Inter-agency coordination has also improved considerably. More than 80% of surveyed enterprises said they no longer needed to make repeated visits to different government offices to complete a single administrative procedure. The State is increasingly adopting a development-oriented governance model that places businesses and citizens at the center, guided by the principle that laws should facilitate innovation and growth rather than relying on the traditional approach of restricting activities that fall outside existing management frameworks. From the perspective of the business community, Dau Anh Tuan noted that the combination of favorable macroeconomic growth, faster institutional reform and stronger commitments to supporting the private sector has significantly strengthened business confidence.

Making citizen and business satisfaction the benchmark for success

Dong Nai is working toward becoming a highly developed city with a vibrant and resilient business community. For many years, Dong Nai has ranked among Vietnam’s leading localities in industrial development, foreign direct investment attraction and export turnover. Its well-planned industrial park network, abundant workforce and strategic location as a gateway to the Southern Key Economic Region have made it an attractive destination for both domestic and international investors.

In practice, however, transforming these advantages in geography, infrastructure, human resources and market access into sustainable growth requires continued efforts to remove institutional bottlenecks, accelerate administrative reform and create a more transparent, efficient and business-friendly investment environment.

According to Dang Van Diem, Chairman of the Dong Nai Business Federation, development opportunities remain substantial, but enterprises continue to require strong support and close coordination from local authorities. As enterprises expand, they continue to face challenges related to access to capital, investment procedures, land, planning, construction approvals and site clearance. Dong Nai remains firmly committed to the principle of measuring success through the satisfaction of citizens and businesses.

According to Nguyen Kim Long, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, Dong Nai city will transition toward a new growth model in which science and technology, innovation and digital transformation serve as the primary drivers of development, while data becomes a new strategic resource.

Recently, Dong Nai city has made significant efforts to streamline administrative procedures and improve its business environment for both residents and enterprises. The city considers enterprises a key driver of innovation and development while placing citizens at the center of public service delivery, ensuring they directly benefit from the fruits of development.

By V.The – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha