2026 is a pivotal year for enterprises to restructure and strengthen their capacity, as they cannot rely on perfectly favorable conditions, said Mai Minh Vuong, chairman of the Danang Young Entrepreneurs Association and chairman of Nhat Phong Van JSC.

Mai Minh Vuong, chairman of the Danang Young Entrepreneurs Association and chairman of Nhat Phong Van JSC. Photo by The Investor.

How do you assess the business environment in Danang - the heart of central Vietnam and home to an international financial center and a free trade zone that are taking shape?

From the perspective of a businessperson directly operating in Danang, I believe the city’s business environment possesses many notable bright spots, forming an important foundation for the next phase of development.

The city continues to maintain its image as a locality with a transparent and relatively stable investment climate, where authorities accompany businesses.

The spirit of administrative reform and a facilitating government has been maintained, giving investors greater confidence in implementing medium- and long-term plans amid ongoing global economic fluctuations.

Danang still has significant room for development in terms of urban space, logistics infrastructure, tourism, services, marine economy, and emerging economic sectors. The orientation to build the city into a financial, innovation, and logistics center for the Central and Central Highlands regions is opening up further investment opportunities for both large corporations and capable local enterprises.

In addition, the spirit of connectivity and aspiration for growth within the business community, especially among young entrepreneurs, is becoming increasingly evident. Many enterprises are paying greater attention to governance, digital transformation, value chain linkages, and long-term strategic investment.

Amid ongoing global uncertainties, how do you view investment and business prospects in 2026?

2026 will continue to see a mix of opportunities and challenges as the global economy remains volatile due to geopolitical issues, interest rates, exchange rates, and supply chain shifts. However, from a long-term perspective, this is also a period that compels enterprises to restructure and enhance their internal capabilities.

An important driving force comes from macroeconomic stability and clear policy orientations in developing the private sector, reforming institutions, and improving the investment environment. When the legal framework becomes more transparent and stable, enterprises will gain greater confidence to invest for the long term and improve competitiveness.

The transformation of the growth model - from breadth to depth - is taking place strongly. Businesses are increasingly focusing on modern governance, digital transformation, operational optimization, and cost control to build a stronger foundation for adapting to external fluctuations.

In Danang, sectors such as high-quality tourism, services, trade, logistics, digital technology, healthcare, and education still have considerable development potential. When enterprises with capacity and long-term vision proactively expand and integrate more deeply into value chains, the spillover effects will become more evident across the entire local business ecosystem.

For young enterprises in Danang, what factors will determine their ability to survive and break through in 2026?

For young enterprises in the city, I believe three core factors will determine their survival and breakthrough in 2026.

First is governance capacity and long-term thinking. Young enterprises cannot rely solely on short-term opportunities but must build clear strategies, maintain tight financial management, and control risks effectively.

Second is the ability to adapt quickly to market changes and external fluctuations. Companies that capture trends early, flexibly adjust their business models, and effectively leverage technology will gain a clear competitive advantage.

Third is the spirit of linkage and cooperation. In a context of limited resources, young enterprises need to participate in networks and value chains, leveraging the guidance of larger enterprises to grow together rather than going alone.

Which sectors will offer opportunities for young enterprises in Danang in 2026, in your view?

First is high-quality tourism and services. After the recovery phase, Danang’s tourism sector is shifting from quantity-driven growth to quality enhancement. Experiential models, personalized services, and nighttime entertainment will create more room for professional investment.

Second is logistics, trade, and supply chain support services. With its central location in the region and multimodal connectivity, Danang has favorable conditions to develop this sector not only for the locality but also for the broader region.

In addition, services related to digital transformation, e-commerce, digital marketing, and enterprise management solutions will continue to grow as demand for digitalization increases. Healthcare and wellness services are also promising fields amid urban population growth and rising living standards.

Besides opportunities, what challenges does the Danang business community face?

Businesses are under pressure from global economic volatility, which increases capital, raw material and logistics costs. Meanwhile, the resilience of most enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, remains limited.

Difficulties in policy implementation and administrative procedures related to land, planning, investment, construction, and overlapping inspections continue to prolong project timelines and increase opportunity costs.

The issue of high-quality human resources and governance capacity also creates significant pressure as requirements for digital transformation and compliance standards continue to rise.

From this reality, the business community expects the city to further accelerate administrative reform, enhance planning transparency, shorten processing times, and maintain regular and substantive dialogue mechanisms with enterprises. When given opportunities and trust, businesses will invest boldly and create positive spillover effects in the business environment.

What message would you like to send to entrepreneurs and investors entering 2026?

Sending a message to entrepreneurs and investors entering 2026, I would like to emphasize three keywords: confidence, resilience, and long-term vision.

2026 will certainly not be easy, as the global economy remains volatile and uncertain. However, within challenges always lie opportunities for enterprises that are well-prepared, professionally governed, and steadfast in their chosen path.

The most important thing now is for entrepreneurs to maintain confidence in the long-term development prospects of Vietnam’s economy in general and dynamic localities such as Danang in particular.

A corner of Danang city, central Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Thanh Van.

Businesses cannot rely on perfectly favorable conditions. They must flexibly innovate their business models, strengthen governance capacity, control risks, and make the most of opportunities arising from market shifts, digital transformation, and value chain linkages.

I also hope that the business and investor community will continue to nurture a long-term vision and a spirit of partnership. Sustainable development does not come from isolated steps but from connectivity, resource sharing, and jointly elevating the local business ecosystem. When enterprises develop steadily and align their interests with the broader development of society and the locality, the value created will be far more sustainable.

I believe that with this spirit, the business and investor community will not only overcome the challenges of 2026 but also build solid foundations for the next phase of growth, contributing positively to the development of Danang and Vietnam’s economy.