Industry News

Vietjet has launched a major promotion, offering 12 million discounted tickets across its domestic and international routes. This sale celebrates the airline’s expansion, including new services from Hanoi to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Prague, Czech Republic, starting 10 October 2026. Singapore travellers can benefit from Eco-class fares starting at S$86 one-way, inclusive of taxes and fees, on direct routes between Singapore and Vietnam.

The promotion, available for bookings until 8 June 2026, aims to enhance connectivity for Singapore travellers. Currently, Vietjet offers direct flights from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc, with Nha Trang joining the network on 11 December 2026. The airline’s expanding network allows travellers to connect through Hanoi to new destinations in Europe and Central Asia, offering more options for multi-destination journeys.

Promotional fares are valid for travel from 5 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, with blackout dates applicable. Additional offers include 15% off Deluxe fares on the new Hanoi–Prague and Hanoi–Almaty routes using the promo code HELLOVIETNAM. Vietjet’s Summer 2026 Sale also provides up to 30% off Deluxe fares and 20% off SkyBoss and Business fares with specific promo codes.

Vietjet’s growing network not only facilitates easy getaways to Vietnam but also serves as a gateway for broader adventures across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. The airline’s expansion offers Singapore-based travellers more flexibility and opportunities to explore Vietnam’s vibrant cities and beyond.

Lifestyle hotels are experiencing rapid growth in the Asia Pacific region, driven by the preferences of the Gen Z demographic, according to a new report by CBRE. The report, titled “Gen Z Checks In: The Rise of the Lifestyle Hotel,” outlines how this influential group is reshaping the hospitality landscape with their demand for experiential travel, authentic local culture, and seamless technology.

The report reveals that lifestyle hotels, which focus on unique cultural and design elements, are among the fastest-growing segments in the hospitality industry. Ananth Ramchandran, Head of Advisory & Strategic Transactions, Hotels & Hospitality, Asia at CBRE, noted, “Lifestyle hotels are well positioned for sustained growth as Gen Z’s spending power rises.”

Key findings from the report include the projection that the penetration rate of branded lifestyle hotels in the Asia Pacific region will increase from the current 1% to 8%. Additionally, the region’s total hotel supply has a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%, whilst lifestyle hotels boast a significantly higher CAGR of 19%.

Singapore and Hong Kong SAR lead the region in lifestyle hotel penetration, attributed to hotel owners’ willingness to adopt new brands. Despite challenges such as rising construction costs, CBRE suggests that conversions of existing properties offer a cost-effective alternative for investors.

The report concludes that smaller independent assets present attractive opportunities for conversion into lifestyle brands, providing value-added and opportunistic investment options. As Gen Z continues to influence market trends, the lifestyle hotel segment is poised for further expansion.

Finmo, a treasury operating system, has partnered with Gotrade Securities to streamline cross-border payment infrastructure for retail investors in Southeast Asia. This collaboration allows investors to access U.S. equities, including fractional shares, using local payment methods.

The partnership addresses significant barriers such as currency conversion and international wire transfers, which have previously hindered Southeast Asian investors from participating in the U.S. market. David Hanna, CEO of Finmo, stated, “Partnering with Gotrade lets us put Finmo’s payments capability to work where it matters most, removing the last-mile friction that has kept cross-border investing out of reach.”

Gotrade’s mobile-first platform, combined with Finmo’s local currency collection and payout capabilities, enables users in cities like Manila and Jakarta to invest in U.S. stocks without the complexities of international transfers. This initiative is expected to open global markets to millions of potential investors in the region.

Finmo, supported by PayPal Ventures, Citi Ventures, and Quona Capital, is known for its comprehensive treasury management system that integrates data from various financial tools, offering real-time visibility and control. Licensed in eight jurisdictions, including Singapore and the UK, Finmo is committed to enhancing financial infrastructure for the digital economy.

This partnership marks a significant step in making global investment opportunities more accessible to Southeast Asian retail investors, potentially transforming the regional investment landscape.

Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, has released its Q2 2026 Global Trends and Tactics report, shedding light on real estate dynamics across the Asia Pacific region. The report highlights divergent market performances, with Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea maintaining investment momentum due to favourable financing conditions.

The report underscores the importance of sector and market selection, noting resilience in prime offices in North Asia and non-discretionary retail in Australia. Despite challenges from elevated fuel costs impacting leasing demand, long-term structural tailwinds remain strong. Capital is expected to flow towards modern logistics facilities and infill assets within urban centres and transport networks.

In the office sector, prime assets continue to attract demand, whilst secondary properties face rental pressures. Tokyo stands out with a rental recovery driven by tight availability and fixed-term leases. Retail faces challenges from rising living costs and rate hikes, affecting consumer sentiment and expansion plans, though Tokyo remains resilient with low vacancy rates.

Logistics sees increased uncertainty due to global energy market volatility, impacting freight costs. However, high-quality logistics assets are expected to remain resilient, supported by e-commerce growth and AI-driven shopping improvements. In the residential sector, Japan’s multifamily market shows positive rental growth, whilst South Korea’s rental housing attracts foreign investors despite regulatory risks.

The report also notes a surge in investment in alternative sectors, particularly data centres, with student housing in Australia and Hong Kong gaining interest. As the real estate landscape evolves, Nuveen’s insights provide a roadmap for navigating opportunities and risks in the Asia Pacific region.

A recent study by cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has uncovered a vast malvertising operation targeting 13 Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore. Conducted between January and April 2026, the research identified over 400,000 scam ad sightings across Meta platforms, linked to more than 12,000 campaigns. These scams exploit paid social media advertising as their primary distribution channel.

In Singapore, scammers have employed sophisticated tactics by embedding real financial data into fake investment tools, making them appear credible. This approach is particularly effective in deceiving financially literate users who are accustomed to advanced digital products.

The research highlights three main tactics used by scammers: fake app downloads, urgency-driven narratives, and AI-themed fraudulent schemes. Health and finance scams dominate, accounting for 37.3% of all campaigns. Health scams often involve fake doctor testimonials and pseudo-scientific claims, whilst finance scams use lookalike sites to steal personal information.

Bitdefender’s findings reveal that these scams are not merely opportunistic but are executed with the same precision as legitimate advertising campaigns. The scammers utilise paid distribution, tested creative, and coordinated infrastructure, making detection challenging.

To combat these threats, Bitdefender advises users to be wary of urgency in ads and offers tools like Scamio and Link Checker to verify suspicious links. For mobile users, Scam Radar provides real-time alerts on active scams in their area. The full research report is available on Bitdefender’s website.

AnyMind Group, a Singapore-founded and Tokyo-headquartered company, has announced the establishment of AnyAI Lab, a research and development hub in Hangzhou, China, set to open in June 2026. This new facility will focus on developing autonomous AI agents, enhancing the company’s AnyAI suite, and improving overall operations through AI integration.

The decision to locate the hub in Hangzhou is strategic, given the city’s reputation as a centre for AI talent and innovation. Hangzhou is recognised as one of China’s National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zones, making it an ideal environment for rapid AI technology deployment. The city is home to numerous digital and AI-related companies, fostering a robust ecosystem for cutting-edge research and application.

AnyAI Lab will spearhead initiatives such as the applied development of AI agents, which will automate workflows and enhance AI capabilities like memory and reasoning. The lab will also integrate its findings into AnyMind’s existing AnyAI solutions, leveraging data from 15 markets across Asia to align AI features with real-world needs.

Kosuke Sogo, CEO of AnyMind Group, highlighted the importance of AI in transforming business operations, stating, “We see it as a foundation for transforming the business itself, and we are advancing our AI-native transformation across the company.”

The establishment of AnyAI Lab will also bolster AnyMind’s global recruitment efforts, seeking AI engineers and product development talent to work on the forefront of AI innovation. This move is expected to strengthen the company’s competitiveness by integrating advanced AI capabilities into its products and operations.

UOB and FPT Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic collaborations in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and financial services innovation. The agreement, signed on 29 May at the Vietnam-Singapore Tech Connect Forum, aims to modernise banking services across UOB’s key markets by leveraging AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies.

The collaboration will focus on several strategic areas, including digital banking transformation, fintech innovation, and ecosystem development. By integrating AI and digital solutions, the partnership seeks to enhance how banking services are designed, delivered, and scaled. This initiative will also support cross-border financial services and enterprise expansion, particularly in Vietnam and other regional markets.

Lawrence Goh, Head of Group Technology and Operations at UOB, stated, “This MoU reflects UOB’s strategic intent to build a future-ready bank through strong technology foundations, responsible AI, and purposeful partnerships.” David Nguyen, CEO of FPT Asia Pacific, added, “Together with UOB, we aim to build more scalable AI-first models whilst opening stronger pathways for innovation and enterprise growth.”

FPT, a leading global technology company headquartered in Vietnam, brings expertise in AI, cloud, and automation, complementing UOB’s regional banking network. The detailed plan of the MoU, including pilot initiatives and governance models, will be finalised within the next 90 days.

This collaboration underscores UOB’s commitment to advancing digital banking and supporting economic growth across ASEAN, whilst FPT continues to elevate Vietnam’s position on the global tech map.

Vietnam Airlines has announced a strategic partnership with 2C2P by Antom, a leading payments platform in Southeast Asia, to expand its payment options beyond traditional card payments. This collaboration, revealed at the Vietnam–Singapore Tech Connect Forum, aims to enhance the airline’s digital payment ecosystem across eight markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan, by the second half of 2026.

The partnership will initially introduce domestic bank transfer options, such as QR payments and internet banking, with mobile wallets to follow. This move aligns with the growing trend of digital payments in Southeast Asia, where domestic payments are expected to increase by 104% and mobile wallets by 107% by 2029, according to an IDC InfoBrief commissioned by 2C2P by Antom.

Vietnam Airlines will utilise 2C2P by Antom’s Payment Air Controller (PACO) platform, which allows for dynamic transaction routing and improved cost efficiency. This integration is designed to support the airline’s expansion and digital growth strategy, ensuring a secure and seamless checkout experience for customers.

Worachat Luxkanalode, Group CEO of 2C2P by Antom, stated, “By combining PACO’s orchestration capabilities with local QR and bank payment methods across Asia Pacific, we are partnering with Vietnam Airlines to enhance the checkout experience and deliver a more intuitive and inclusive customer experience at scale.”

Nguyen Quang Trung, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, added, “Our partnership with 2C2P by Antom enables us to further expand our digital payment ecosystem across the Asia Pacific region, enhancing customer experience and convenience.”

This partnership is part of Ant International’s broader efforts to support Vietnam’s digital and financial development, reflecting its commitment to cross-border connectivity and fintech innovation.

DBS has announced a significant expansion of its wealth management services, with plans to open 18 new wealth centres across Asia by the end of 2027. The bank will also upgrade 36 existing centres over the next 18 months, enhancing its presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan. This move aims to cater to the growing demand for wealth management among affluent clients seeking closer relationships with their banks.

The expansion represents DBS’s largest physical growth in its wealth franchise to date. Sanjoy Sen, Group Head of Consumer Banking at DBS, highlighted the importance of personal relationships in banking, stating, “What clients tell us, more than anything else, is that the relationship they want with their bank should feel personal, familiar and close to home.”

The new wealth centres will be designed to support clients’ entire wealth journey, offering services from portfolio advisory to sophisticated wealth solutions. They will also provide spaces for relationship managers to engage in meaningful conversations with clients, focusing on long-term wealth planning and multi-generational discussions.

DBS’s decision comes as Asia’s affluent wealth pool is projected to reach $4.7t by 2026. Despite the rise of digital platforms, many clients still value face-to-face interactions, with surveys indicating that nearly half of respondents in Hong Kong and Singapore prefer in-person meetings with their relationship managers.

The first of the new wealth centres is expected to open in the third quarter of 2026, with further details on market-specific launches to be announced in the coming months.

OCBC has announced a strategic partnership with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) to accelerate cross-border trade, investment, and financial flows between Greater China and ASEAN. This collaboration, signed on 28 May 2026 at the Conference on International Industrial Cooperation, aligns with OCBC’s corporate strategy, The Next Frontier, which focuses on capturing ASEAN-Greater China trade and investment flows.

The partnership leverages CCCME’s network of over 10,000 Chinese enterprises, SCCCI’s regional business connections, and OCBC’s strong ASEAN presence and financial capabilities. In 2025, OCBC supported a 50% increase in new Chinese companies establishing a presence in ASEAN, highlighting the growing momentum in intra-Asia flows.

The collaboration aims to support SMEs and mid-sized corporates in accessing cross-border opportunities, focusing on sectors such as green development, digitalisation, and advanced manufacturing. A joint coordination group will be established to ensure sustained momentum and tangible outcomes.

Roy Tan, Head of Enterprise Banking International at OCBC, stated, “Partnering with CCCME and SCCCI enables us to deliver a more targeted and holistic proposition that addresses market access, business matching, and providing on-ground ecosystem support combined with integrated financing solutions.”

Additionally, the Singapore Investment Guide 2026/2027 was unveiled at the conference. Developed by SCCCI with contributions from OCBC, the guide aims to simplify the market entry process for foreign companies in Singapore and ASEAN, amidst Singapore’s strengthening as a global innovation hub and China’s increasing openness.