'Digital map' for Hai Phong City’s new development strategy
The 2026 Economic Census serves as an important basis for Hai Phong to comprehensively assess the city’s economic and social landscape in its new development phase.
Objective and comprehensive assessment
As one of the three large-scale national statistical censuses, the 2026 Economic Census is being conducted to collect complete and comprehensive information on economic establishments across the country, including enterprises, household businesses, public service units, associations, and religious organizations.
In Hai Phong, this census carries particular significance as the city has recently merged administrative units and operated a two-tier local government system. Understanding the current status of economic and social development, as well as the structure and types of production and business activities in each newly established ward and commune, has become essential for management, governance, and strategic planning in the upcoming development phase.
According to the Head of Hai Phong Statistics Office, the city’s current economic scale is approximately USD 29 billion, equivalent to VND 734,000 billion. The 2026 Economic Census is expected to cover about 90% of the city’s total economic scale, encompassing more than 40,000 enterprises, over 200,000 household businesses, and around 3,000 religious establishments. This represents a vast amount of information, reflecting almost the entire economic ecosystem operating in the city.
The census also delves into the operational realities of each production and business unit. Data on scale, revenue, workforce, production and business efficiency, technology application, digital transformation, ownership types, and spatial distribution are all collected, standardized, and processed following modern statistical procedures.
Therefore, the cooperation and consensus of local establishments are key factors determining the quality of the census.
A comprehensive overview of Hai Phong’s economy
One of the most notable innovations of the 2026 Economic Census is the enhanced application of information technology, the use of administrative data, and the simultaneous deployment of electronic survey forms (CAPI, Webform). Since 2019, Hai Phong’s statistics sector has been collecting information entirely on electronic platforms, gradually integrating AI technologies and modern data analysis tools.
Although initial challenges arose, particularly for enumerators at the ward and commune levels in adapting to new technologies, through training sessions and hands-on practice, the survey team now meets the requirements for procedures, professional standards, and data quality. Across the city, over 1,300 enumerators and nearly 200 supervisors have been selected, with dozens of training courses organized to ensure synchronized data collection across more than 3,200 localities.
In 2026, Hai Phong has set 22 key socio-economic targets, including a GRDP growth rate of 13%, an industrial production index (IIP) of 15.5–16%, and nearly VND 195,000 billion in budget revenue. To sustain high growth and achieve these targets, the city requires a comprehensive, objective, and realistic economic overview to guide decision-making and governance.
The results of the 2026 Economic Census will enable the two-tier local government, particularly newly established wards, communes, and special zones, to fully understand the current status of economic and social development in their areas; grasp the structure, scale, and characteristics of each type of production and business activity. This is a prerequisite for designing appropriate growth scenarios, efficiently allocating resources, and formulating strategic development plans.
THANH VAN