Prime Minister Le Minh Hung spoke at the ceremony recognizing products in the 10th Vietnam National Brand program on October 16, 2026. He said the national brand should become a strategic competitive advantage as Vietnam targets average annual GDP growth of at least 10% in 2026–2030.
Vietnamese brands must create value and enter markets
The prime minister congratulated 227 companies whose 499 products were recognized in 2026. After 10 selection rounds, the number of recognized companies rose from 30 companies with 50 products in 2008 to 227 companies with 499 products.
In 2025, the recognized companies recorded more than 2.5 quadrillion dong in revenue, paid over 133 trillion dong to the state budget and provided stable jobs for more than 760,000 people.
Brand Finance estimates that Vietnam’s national brand value exceeded 462 billion US dollars in 2026, up 45.14% from 2020 and ranked 32nd among 193 countries. The combined value of Vietnam’s 100 leading brands reached 43 billion US dollars, up 11% year on year.
The prime minister said many good products still lack strong brands, while added value and companies’ ability to control markets remain limited. Export revenue from companies with National Brand products accounts for about 11% of their own revenue, or around 2.3% of national exports.
He called on companies to raise productivity, increase domestic value, expand market share and join global value chains more deeply. They should invest in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, research and development, pursue international markets and protect intellectual property.
Large companies should support small and medium-sized businesses. Companies should maintain honest and transparent practices and avoid false origin claims and counterfeit goods.
Innovation gets a larger role in brand selection
The prime minister asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to submit a strategy for developing Vietnam’s national brand to 2035, with a vision to 2045.
The program should put companies at the center, use markets as its direction and measure practical results. The ministry is to refine criteria covering technology, innovation, domestic value, market share and green standards, strengthen post-recognition checks and withdraw the designation when companies no longer meet the criteria.
To take Vietnamese brands abroad, trade and investment promotion should be connected with tourism, diplomacy, culture and communications. Vietnamese representative offices and trade missions overseas should help companies expand markets and protect intellectual property.
The government will continue supporting companies and removing business obstacles while maintaining macroeconomic stability. Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung said the 2026 selection was based on quality, innovation and pioneering capacity. The weighting for innovation rose from 18% to 30%, with assessment focused on research and development, technology use, digital and green transformation, and intellectual property.
The minister said the program will move from selection and honoring to building conditions and accompanying companies. The ministry will increase post-recognition monitoring and remove companies that no longer meet the requirements.
Sources: Dân Trí
