As the calendar flipped to 2026, investors around the globe found themselves navigating a market landscape marked by sharp contrasts, record highs, and a growing sense of uncertainty. According to VnExpress, the previous year had been a banner one for nearly every major investment channel: silver surged over 146%, gold bars and jewelry followed with gains above 83% and 79% respectively, and Vietnam’s VN-Index notched a robust 41% climb. Real estate, too, was on a tear, with primary apartment prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi jumping 20-30%, confirmed by multiple market research agencies.
But as the new year dawned, the mood shifted. On January 12, 2026, gold prices set a new record above $4,600 per ounce—a milestone driven by instability in Iran and ongoing pressure from the U.S. Federal Reserve, as reported by Investing.com. The surge in gold underscored a growing appetite for safe havens amid geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty. Yet, even as gold soared, the broader investment outlook was anything but straightforward.
“2026 is shaping up to be a year of rebalancing, not runaway growth,” said Ngo Thanh Huan, CEO of FIDT, during a January 10 panel organized by his investment consulting and asset management firm. Huan pointed out that Vietnam’s traditional growth engines—real estate, cheap labor, and loose monetary policy—were losing steam. Instead, he argued, the country would need to pivot toward innovation and public investment in infrastructure, a structural shift that would take time and patience. “Rather than expecting explosive profits, this is a period for strategic accumulation and portfolio restructuring,” he advised.
The sentiment was echoed by other experts at the event. “2026 should be seen as a ‘buying zone’—a time to accumulate assets for the medium and long term, not to chase quick wins,” said Bui Van Huy, FIDT’s Deputy CEO. He noted that while the banking sector was likely to see a modest uptick in deposit and lending rates—projected at 0.5-1%—this increase would be proactive, signaling a healthier economy rather than a reaction to external inflationary shocks. Still, Huy warned against holding too much cash, as rising inflation could erode real returns. Instead, he recommended using savings accounts as a liquidity buffer, ready to be deployed into higher-yielding assets when opportunities arise.
On the equities front, the exuberance of 2025 was unlikely to repeat itself. Nguyen Ngoc Anh Kiet, Business Director at VinaCapital, reminded investors of the “green shell, red core” phenomenon: while the VN-Index soared, most individual stocks either stagnated or fell. With capital flows becoming more selective, Kiet urged investors to focus on sectors benefiting from policy support and genuine domestic recovery—namely, banking, retail, and industrial real estate. “These industries have solid fundamentals and remain reasonably valued,” he said.
Bonds, often overlooked in the recent bull market, are regaining attention. Huy argued that 2026 could be an opportune moment to revisit this asset class, citing improvements in legal frameworks, stricter issuer accountability, and the survival of financially sound companies after the tumult of 2022. “Bond yields are attractive, ranging from 7% to 15% depending on risk appetite—well above what savings accounts offer,” he explained. Huan added that bond fund certificates could provide both yield and liquidity, allowing investors to adjust their portfolios as macro conditions evolve.
Meanwhile, real estate remains the heavyweight in most Vietnamese portfolios. Although the urban apartment market showed clear signs of recovery last year, with gains radiating out to suburban areas, 2026 will see the implementation of new laws on land, housing, and real estate business. Huan believes these regulations will bring greater transparency but also higher input costs. “2026 is a clear buying zone for those with a five-year horizon,” he asserted. However, he cautioned that speculative money would no longer flow into far-flung regions where prices have run ahead of economic value. Instead, the safest bets are centrally located apartments with strong rental demand and land plots in satellite cities with real infrastructure and foreign direct investment inflows. The growing appeal of all-in-one mega-urban projects—offering green living and convenience—was also highlighted as a trend to watch.
While gold’s spectacular run in 2025 made it a star performer, experts now see its role shifting. “Gold should be viewed as a financial safe haven and a tool for portfolio diversification, not a vehicle for outsized returns in 2026,” Huy cautioned. Huan went further, warning that another 50% surge in gold prices would be a deeply negative signal for riskier assets like stocks and property. In other words, gold remains a storm shelter rather than a growth engine this year.
Turning to the global stage, Bitcoin’s story has been one of resilience and range-bound drama. According to Investing.com, Bitcoin began 2026 with a rally from $86,000–$88,000, a level that had twice provided support in late 2025. Strong buying into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs early in the week lifted prices to the $92,000–$94,000 range. Yet, as ETF outflows picked up midweek, Bitcoin slipped back toward $90,000. Michael Saylor’s company, Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), added 1,286 BTC to its holdings, underscoring the continued involvement of institutional investors during these market adjustments.
Technical indicators showed Bitcoin was overbought near $94,700, triggering a correction. The $90,000–$91,000 zone has emerged as a critical support level, aligning with short-term moving averages. If buyers can hold the line here, another attempt at the $94,700 resistance could be in the cards, with further upside targets at $100,000–$102,000 and even $116,000 if momentum builds. Conversely, a decisive break below $90,000 could send prices tumbling toward $85,000. On-chain data points to a decrease in profit-taking, suggesting reduced selling pressure and a lower available supply—both factors that support the current recovery.
All told, the message from experts is clear: 2026 isn’t the year for “fast wins.” Instead, it’s a time for careful allocation, liquidity management, and building the foundation for future financial health. As Huan put it, “Liquidity is the keyword for 2026.” A well-diversified portfolio, with an emphasis on real value and sustainable cash flow, is the order of the day. For investors willing to bide their time and hunt for quality assets at reasonable prices, this could be the necessary pause before the next chapter of growth unfolds.
