OneStepVietnam presents
Monthly Newsletter of September 2025
ECONOMIC NEWS
According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam’s GDP grew an estimated 8.23% year-on-year in Q3/2025, the second-highest third-quarter growth rate in the 2011-2025 period, after 14.38% in Q3/2022. The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector expanded by 3.74%, contributing 5.04% to overall growth. The industry and construction sector rose 9.46%, contributing 46.41%, with manufacturing and processing standing out as a key driver at 9.98%. The services sector grew 8.56%, accounting for 48.55% of the total added value.
For the first nine months of 2025, GDP increased 7.85%, just below the 9.44% growth recorded in the same period of 2024. Agriculture rose 3.83%, industry and construction 8.69%, and services 8.49%, contributing 5.36%, 43.05%, and 51.59% respectively.
Export performance remained a highlight. September exports reached USD 42.67 billion, up 24.7% year-on-year. In Q3, exports totaled USD 128.57 billion, while nine-month exports climbed 16% to USD 348.74 billion. The foreign-invested sector accounted for 75.5% of total exports, while domestic enterprises contributed 24.5%. Processed industrial goods continued to dominate, making up 88.6% of export value. The United States remained Vietnam’s largest export market, with turnover reaching USD 112.8 billion.
Source: Online Newspaper of the Government, General Statistics Office
NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Circular No. 05/2025/TT-BTNMT Promulgating National Technical Regulation on Domestic and Municipal Wastewater (QCVN 14:2025/BTNMT)
Key updates in the regulation include:
National Technical Regulation QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT:
– QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT – National technical regulation on domestic wastewater (promulgated together with the Decision No. 16/2008/QD-BTNMT dated December 31, 2008 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgating National technical regulations on environment) shall cease to have effect in accordance with the transitional clauses specified in Article 3 and the roadmap for application specified in Article 4 of this Circular.
– From the effective date of this Circular, in case a wastewater discharge zone has yet to be determined, Column B specified in Table 1 and Table 2 of QCVN 14:2025/BTNMT shall apply.
Transitional clauses and Roadmap for application:
– This Circular has come into force since September 01, 2025.
– Any establishment which has been put into operation or any investment project which has been issued with the decision on approval of result of environmental impact assessment report appraisal or of which a sufficient and valid application for appraisal of environmental impact assessment report, issuance of environmental license or environmental registration has been received by the competent authority before the effective date of this Circular may continue to apply QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT – National technical regulation on domestic wastewater, QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT – National technical regulation on industrial wastewater and regulations of the local government (including local environmental technical regulation on wastewater) until December 31, 2031.
– From the effective date of this Circular, investment projects (including new investment projects, projects on investment in scale expansion and capacity increase which submit applications for appraisal of environmental impact assessment report, issuance of environmental license or environmental registration after the effective date of this Circular) must apply the regulations enshrined in QCVN 14:2025/BTNMT.
– As of January 01, 2032, the entities specified in clause 1 Article 3 of this Circular shall comply with the requirements specified under QCVN 14:2025/BTNMT.
2. Circular No. 06/2025/TT-BTNMT Promulgating National Technical Regulation on Industrial Effluent (QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT)
Key updates in the regulation include:
– Consolidation/repeal: Establishes one national wastewater standard for industry, and through transitional rules, replaces a range of sectoral QCVNs (e.g. 25:2009 on landfill leachate; 28:2010 medical; 52:2017 steel) and supersedes QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT. This gives permitting and compliance a single benchmark nationwide.
– Three-column limits (A/B/C) tied to receiving-water function: Limit values align with the function/zoning of the receiving waterbody (and provincial decisions under QCVN 08:2023). If the discharge zone has not been determined, Column B applies from the effective date.
– Structured tables and core parameters: Unified tables specify core organics/solids, pH, nutrients, microbiological indicators and other parameters for industrial effluent-designed to slot directly into environmental licenses and plant monitoring plans.
– QCVN 40:2025 is promulgated together with Circular 06/2025 and becomes the controlling technical basis referenced in environmental licensing and oversight from September 1st, 2025.
Transitional clauses and Roadmap for application:
– Establishments already operating or projects with EIA approval/duly accepted EIA-license-registration dossiers received before 01/09/2025 may continue applying the corresponding legacy national and local technical regulations on wastewater through 31/12/2031. If a competent authority later changes the receiving-water zoning/coefficients, follow the roadmap issued with that decision.
– From the effective date (01/09/2025), dossiers submitted on/after this date (new investments, expansions, capacity increases) must comply with QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT.
– From January 1, 2032, all entities covered by the transitional clause must fully comply with QCVN 40:2025/BTNMT, unless a provincial authority mandates an earlier schedule.
Effective date: September 1, 2025.
ONESTEPVIETNAM NEWS
During September 1 – 2, 2025, our firm celebrated the 80th anniversary of the historic Declaration of Independence with nationwide festivities. Upon returning to work on September 3, 2025, OneStep Vietnam conducted a training session focused on updates to the firefighting framework, SLCP verification, and the latest clients’ requirements. Moreover, we continued to provide its services to the finest regarding auditing, consulting, and other services as per the requests from brands and clients based on their requirements and standards.
OneStepVietnam team – September 2025