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Dear AmCham,

On behalf of the AmCham Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Board Members and Staff, I would like to extend our warmest wishes to all AmCham members and partners for a joyful and festive Christmas season. May this time of year bring you happiness, peace, and a renewed sense of connection as we reflect on the successes of 2024 and look forward to the opportunities of the new year. Happy Holidays!

For those of you staying in Ho Chi Minh City, I encourage you all to try the new metro, which opened on Sunday, December 22, 2024. There is even more good news! Ridership is free for the first month. I took it today almost end-to-end, and it was clean, modern, and easy. I’m so thrilled to say goodbye to traffic! AmCham would like to congratulate the government of Vietnam for this monumental achievement, and we are excited about their commitment to implementing other green initiatives. 

This year, we were extremely active and focused on output. 

Advocacy and Policy Impact: A total of 45 position papers were submitted to the government, offering constructive recommendations aimed at creating a more favorable business environment.

Engagement and Collaboration: 90 committee meetings were held throughout the year, addressing critical issues and exploring new opportunities for the business community.

Networking and Knowledge Sharing: Over 60 events were organized, providing platforms for members to connect, exchange insights, and celebrate achievements.

Membership Growth: AmCham welcomed 99 new members, further expanding and diversifying our network.

In addition to these efforts, AmCham successfully raised significant funds to support its Scholarship Programs, contributing tens of thousands of dollars to assist talented students and invest in the future of Vietnam.

At AmCham, we continue to prioritize collaboration, advocacy, and making a tangible difference. We invite you to join us and be a part of this dynamic and impactful community.

As we look ahead, we are committed to carrying this momentum into 2025 and achieving even greater success together!

AmCham Vietnam's main account at Vietcombank: From December 15th 2024, the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam), headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City will officially use our Vietcombank account as our main bank account. Please update the account information of AmCham Vietnam and notify the relevant departments.

Please note that we are closing our Citibank accounts at the end of 2024 so we hope your understand and update our account information promptly.

It’s that time of year to renew your AmCham membership for 2025! Please be on the lookout for 2025 Membership Renewal notices. Please renew promptly, and if you don’t receive your renewal notice, please contact Membership Manager Sam Hoang at sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com! AmCham recognizes the significance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the U.S. In this context, our role in supporting members becomes even more crucial. Amidst the uncertainties of the times, we aim to provide you with valuable support, leveraging the expertise of our dedicated team. Throughout the year, our efforts have intensified, delivering enhanced value through Committees, Business Intelligence events, and Advocacy. Your continued support is vital to us, and we also extend a warm welcome to new members. As you embark on or renew your membership, we encourage you to explore the benefits of becoming a Premium Member.

AmCham Premium membership offers the opportunity for qualified companies to highlight your status as business leaders and your strategic support for AmCham Vietnam’s mission and programs. Premium Membership offers a range of benefits, and exclusive VIP access. Customized packages are available. To learn more, see LINK or contact Office Manager Cindy Tran at cindy.tran@amchamvietnam.com

We welcome your feedback to let us know how we can serve you better. We wish you a safe and healthy week ahead! To those who celebrate – best wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Yours sincerely,



Travis Mitchell

Executive Director

We thank all members who recently shared their comments on draft legislation currently being discussed.

• Draft Circular Amending and Supplementing: The Position paper was submitted to the Ministry of Health, Drug Administration of Vietnam on Dec 6, 2024

Members are encouraged to bring forward any advocacy needs or related questions to the relevant Committees, or by email to advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com.

Similarly, we invite members experiencing instances of administrative delays and challenges to share details via email to communications@amchamvietnam.com. We are compiling this information on behalf of our members.

Members are welcome to join, in-person or virtually:

• Tourism and Hospitality Committee Meeting, January 10, 2025 – 10:00 am - 11:00 am

[Vietnam Investment Review] Vietnam's GDP growth will lead the region in 2025. Vietnam's economy will be the standout among the ASEAN-6, growing at a faster pace relative to its peers during the next few years, according to global economic advisory firm Oxford Economics.

[VnExpress] Vietnam's trade surges by 15.3%. Vietnam's imports and exports totaled US$745 billion, up 15.3% from a year earlier, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

[VnExpress] Vietnam among Asia’s 15 largest economies. The statistical visualisation platform Seasia Stats recently ranked Vietnam among the top 15 economies in Asia, with projected economic output reaching some $506 billion in 2025.

[VOV.vn] VN faced with increasing trade defence investigations on rising protectionism. Vietnam’s export products face a significant increase in the number of trade defence investigation cases this year on rising protectionism worldwide, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).

[VOV.vn] Government requests solutions in place to boost economic growth for 2025. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a directive outlining key measures to boost economic growth in 2025, with the aim of securing a GDP growth rate of over 8%.

[TuoiTreNews] Vietnam’s premier meets US aerospace, defense, security enterprises. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation of aerospace, defense, and security companies under the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Hanoi on Wednesday.

[TuoiTreNews] Vietnam’s semiconductor industry expects benefits from partnership with US chipmaker NVIDIA. A recent partnership with U.S. chip giant NVIDIA will open a wider door for Vietnam to develop its semiconductor industry as the group pledged to shift part of its manufacturing to Vietnam in the future, according to several local experts.

[VietnamNet Global] To avoid falling behind, VN should shift to 'developing to become stable'. For many years, Vietnam has been following a ‘stabilizing in order to develop’ approach and has succeeded, but it is now time to switch to ‘developing in order to become stable’.