HANOI: Vietnamese brands must become a strategic competitive advantage for the national economy, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has said, urging businesses to shift from cost-based advantages to value creation, innovation and stronger participation in global value chains.
The prime minister made this statement at a ceremony in Ha No when announcing products awarded the Vietnam National Brand title in 2026.
This year, 499 products from 227 businesses were recognised across a range of sectors, including processing – manufacturing, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, finance and banking, telecommunications and technology, transport and logistics, and trade and services.
Over more than two decades, the Vietnam National Brand programme helped establish common standards for businesses, linking brand value not only to recognition or communication but also to product quality, governance capacity, technology, innovation, market responsiveness and social responsibility.
The number of businesses with recognised products has risen more than sevenfold, from 30 in 2008 to 227 this year.
A total of 14 businesses have retained the title in all 10 selection rounds, while 84 have received it at least five times.
In 2026, Vietnam’s national brand value reached nearly US$462.28bil in 2026, up 45.14% from 2020, ranking 32nd among 193 countries.
Five businesses with nationally branded products are among the 10 most valuable brands this year, accounting for about 69.1% of the group’s total value.
The 2026 selection process also introduced revised criteria, giving greater weight to innovation, research and development, science – technology application, intellectual property, digital transformation, green growth and workforce development. — Viet Nam News/ANN
