The 25th edition of the Golden Dragon Awards  – Golden Dragon Awards 2026 – was held in Hanoi on May 13, with the Vietnam Economic Association and Vietnam Economic Times /VnEconomy acting as its host, where top 50 outstanding FDI enterprises were announced and honored for their significant contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development during 2025-2026.

The event followed the 6th Vietnam Connect Forum that was organized earlier on the same day by the Vietnam Economic Association and Vietnam Economic Times /VnEconomy.

 Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Golden Dragon Awards 2026, Mr. Dao Quang Binh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Economic Association, Deputy Chairman of the Editorial Board of Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy, stated that this award serves as a motivational value, creating incentives for outstanding FDI enterprises as well as promoting the creation and strengthening of an effective and increasingly robust FDI business community in Vietnam, that has made positive contributions  to the Vietnamese economy.  

According to Mr. Dao Quang Binh, at the time of its inception, the Golden Dragon Awards had created a strong attraction for large FDI corporations in Vietnam in early 2000s. At that time, major FDI brands had been in Vietnam for nearly 10 years (since the first wave of FDI attraction around 1991-1993 after the Foreign Investment Law came into effect). Notable FDI brands at that time included: Toyota, Honda, Mercedes, HSBC, Samsung, Deloitte, Heineken, Coca-Cola, Chifon, Zamil...  

As a press agency providing accurate and timely economic information for readers both at home and abroad,  while serving as a bridge between policymakers and the business community in Vietnam, including FDI enterprises,  Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy have helped investors and businesses update information on Vietnam’s mechanisms and policies as quickly and accurately as possible, Mr. Binh said, adding that  it is also a channel for information feedback to policymakers and management agencies to create understanding and aim for common efforts. 

Accordingly, the value of the Golden Dragon Awards is the communication value it brings to participating businesses as well as the widespread impact on social communities, creating a deep awareness of the activities, achievements, and efforts of the FDI business community in Vietnam, he said.  

Over the past 25 years, Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy hassurveyed and honored hundreds of FDI business brands in Vietnam. Many brands have joined the program for many years, with some brands being honored nearly as many times as the number of years the program has been held. This not only affirms the prestige and value of the award and the program for businesses but also reflects the anticipation and striving of FDI enterprises to have the opportunity to present reports and documents for participation in the following year's program with more positive and outstanding points than the previous year.  

This is the value of the press in promoting growth and sustainable development, from the scope of enterprises to various sectors, industries, and the national economy as a whole.

Accordingly, over the past 25 years, Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy has continuously strived to implement many activities alongside the Golden Dragon Awards to create more opportunities for connection and exchange between domestic and foreign business communities, and between the business community and policy-making and management agencies from central to local levels in Vietnam. In recent years, exchange-dialogue activities, policy connection, and practice have developed comprehensively around the award activities. This has brought significant value to FDI enterprises in Vietnam.  

A clear demonstration is that over the past 6 years, the Vietnam Connect Forum has been established and created many activities, attracting participation and bringing practical values to the FDI business community. Direct exchanges between policymakers and business leaders have created understanding and consensus, thereby promoting stronger implementation and commitments, aiming for prosperity and sustainable development for Vietnam and FDI investors and enterprises.  

The milestone of 25 years of the Golden Dragon Awards can be said to be a long journey, embodying the persistent efforts of the organizing unit as well as the coordinating agencies.  

"The next phase of the Golden Dragon Awards will certainly be a new, different, and more breakthrough journey. Its mission of serving and accompanying  business communities will be further enhanced, with new methods and approaches," Mr. Dao Quang Binh stated.

Source: VnEconomy