More than 38,800 businesses exited the Ho Chi Minh City market in the first seven months of 2026. Around 7,500 of these completed formal dissolution procedures, a figure that surged 158.66 percent year on year. At the same time, nearly 34,100 new businesses were established, up 22.81 percent. Economic expert Tran Hoang Ngan noted that companies entering and leaving the market are normal. He warned, however, that authorities should pay attention to unusual signs, particularly when the number of exits consistently exceeds new registrations.
Experts say the main pressures come from global uncertainty rather than Vietnam's domestic environment. Fluctuations in energy costs, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies are making it harder for businesses to forecast revenues and plan investments. Researcher Ly Thanh Tien noted that the biggest difference between companies that survive and those that exit is internal resilience. Small and medium-sized enterprises often struggle because payment cycles are lengthy. Tien argued that internal resilience and data-driven decision-making determine which companies can adapt to these changes and enter a new growth cycle.