HCMC eyes $9,800 per capita income, nearly double Vietnam average

By Dat Nguyen January 6, 2026 | 08:08 pm PT

Vietnam’s biggest metropolis HCMC targets increasing its per capita income by 12% this year to US$9,800, double the country’s figure.

Last year the city’s per capita income was $8,755 as against the country’s $5,026. The city also targets economic growth of 10% in 2026, up from 8% last year.

Customers shop in a mall in HCMC, November 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Its chairman, Nguyen Van Duoc, listed the three main growth drivers as manufacturing, consumption and exports, but added there are plans to develop three others: an international financial center, a seaport logistics system and innovation combined with green and digital transformation.

The city will work to address the three "bottlenecks" holding back growth: flooding, traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

Infrastructure will be upgraded with projects such as the widening of National Highways 22 and 13 and Ring Road 4 and construction of the Can Gio and Thu Thiem bridges and new metro lines.

"If these projects are implemented well, public spending disbursement will exceed targets and contribute greatly to growth," Duoc added.

Last year disbursement was only 74% of the target at VND89 trillion (US$3.39 billion).