Hanoi Infrastructure Push: Hanoi has broken ground on major metro and rental housing projects, including five metro lines spanning over 300 km and multiple urban rail and housing packages aimed at easing mobility and meeting demand. Hanoi Governance & Finance: The State Bank of Vietnam raised the cap on banks’ use of short-term funds for medium- and long-term lending to 40% from 30%, effective July 1, to unlock longer-credit for infrastructure and business while keeping liquidity stable. HCMC Services Strategy: Ho Chi Minh City unveiled a “5+1” model built around the Vietnam International Financial Center, targeting services at 60–65% of GRDP by 2030 and up to 75% by 2040. Digital Market Infrastructure: SSCorp Vietnam and DVL launched a digitalisation platform for asset auctions to centralise and standardise auction data, aiming to improve transparency and investor access. Agro-Food Traceability: Vietnam’s national traceability system for agro-forestry-fishery products is set for launch on July 1, with legal, technical and pilot integration work underway. Regional Connectivity: Sun PhuQuoc Airways will start a direct Phu Quoc–Singapore route on July 25, with a Phu Quoc–Bangkok service from August 8, boosting tourism links. International Security Watch: North Korea vowed to accelerate defence capabilities amid claims that South Korea and the US are pushing the peninsula toward nuclear war.