Author: the-shiv
Finance: Vietnam mulls stricter cap on private bond issuers’ debt levels to curb risk
Vietnam’s Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang has called for stricter rules on private placement bond issuance, proposing a cap that would bar companies with liabilities more than five times their equity from raising capital through this channel. It would, however, exclude key sectors like real estate, banking, and insurance, The Investor has reported
Agriculture: Vietnam’s pivot to US grain imports on tariff threat raises concerns for current suppliers
Vietnam’s deepening trade engagement with the United States could reduce Argentina’s longstanding dominance as a grain supplier, according to a report by the Rosario Grain Exchange.
Computers & electrical products: Vietnam exports jump 12.36% in May
Vietnam’s exports of computers, electrical products, spare-parts, and components thereof reached an impressive US$9.15 billion in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This marks a substantial increase of 12.36 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) export value to US$38.42 billion.
Industry: Vietnam machines and tools imports jump 7.89 percent in May
Vietnam’s imports of machine, equipment, tools, and instruments reached US$5.32 billion in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This represents a significant increase of 7.89 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) import value to US$22.90 billion.
Vietnam Market Wrap: VN-Index slides as foreign investors resume selling
The VN-Index fell 19.32 points, or 1.45 percent, to close at 1,310.57 on June 9, with total trading value reaching VND 17.82 trillion (US$685.38 million). The market faced strong selling pressure in the afternoon session, dragging major stocks lower across multiple sectors.
Electronics: Vietnam phone imports plunge by 13.92 percent in May, China leads despite decline
Vietnam’s imports of telephones, mobile phones, and parts thereof reached US$746.79 million in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This represents a significant decrease of 13.92 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) import value to US$4.16 billion.
Industry: Vietnam iron & steel imports show slight dip of 2.39 percent in May
Vietnam’s imports of iron and steel amounted to US$939.85 million in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This marks a slight decrease of 2.39 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) import value to US$4.54 billion.
Electronics: Vietnam computer & electrical imports surge by 18.61 percent in May
Vietnam’s imports of computers, electrical products, spare-parts and components thereof reached an astounding US$13.33 billion in May 2025, according to figures released by Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. This represents a substantial increase of 18.61 percent compared to April, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) import value to US$56.19 billion.
Energy: Vietnam signs EPC contract for long-delayed O Mon IV gas power plant
Vietnam has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the O Mon IV thermal power plant in Can Tho, awarding it to a consortium of Doosan Enerbility (South Korea) and PECC2 (Vietnam), English language news site, The Investor has reported. The deal is part of the much-delayed Block B–O Mon power-gas chain.
Trade: Vietnam’s monthly surplus with US grows 16 percent May over April
Vietnam’s trade surplus with the United States expanded significantly in May, according to the latest customs data. Notably, the growing US–Vietnam trade surplus does not bode well for the intensified scrutiny from Washington amid ongoing concerns over bilateral trade imbalances.
Currency: Vietnam avoids ‘manipulator’ tag but still under scrutiny per Treasury FX report
The US Treasury has stopped short of naming Vietnam a currency manipulator, but has continued to flag several key concerns over how the dong is managed, according to its June 2025 Report to Congress on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies.
Banking & finance: Japan’s AEON seeks to void Vietnam finance acquisition over false accounting
AEON Financial Service (AFS) has declared its acquisition of Vietnamese lender Post and Telecommunication Finance Company (PTF) invalid, citing serious accounting irregularities prior to the deal, the firm has said in a statement.
Agriculture: AFIA secures US$242,600 for Vietnam export push
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has secured US$242,600 in funding from the US Department of Agriculture’s Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to expand its market development efforts in Vietnam, World Grain has reported.
Vietnam Market Wrap: VN-Index dips as foreign investors continue selling
The VN-Index fell 12.20 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 1,329.89 on 6 June 2025, with total market trading value reaching VND 24.02 trillion (approximately US$924 million). The decline came amid continued caution from both domestic and foreign investors.
Technology: US think tank says Vietnam’s cloud service framework unfair on US providers
Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has issued a technical framework for e-government cloud services that, while voluntary on paper, effectively restricts market access for foreign providers, US think tank, the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, has said in a statement.
Wood: New Forests makes first Vietnam investment with Tavico Group partnership
New Forests has announced its first investment in Vietnam via its Tropical Asia Forest Fund 2 (TAFF2), acquiring a stake in Tavico Group, one of the country’s largest suppliers of solid wood lumber and logs. The move marks TAFF2’s fourth acquisition and its first in timber processing infrastructure in Vietnam, New Forests has said in a statement.
Trade: Vietnam named in U.S. steel rebar trade petition alongside Algeria, Egypt, and Bulgaria
The Rebar Trade Action Coalition and its member companies filed a petition Wednesday with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The petitioners are seeking Antidumping duties (AD) on imports of steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Vietnam, Algeria, Egypt, and Bulgaria, and Countervailing duties (CVD) on imports from Vietnam, Algeria, and Egypt.
Investment: FDI commitments to Vietnam top US$18 billion by end-May
Vietnam’s total registered foreign investment had reached US$18.39 billion as of May 31, 2025, up 51.2 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Import-Export: Vietnam trade turnover tops US$78.6 billion in May
Vietnam’s total import-export turnover in May reached US$78.64 billion, up 5.8 percent month-on-month and 15.5 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. In the first five months of 2025, total trade hit US$355.79 billion, up 15.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
Manufacturing: Vietnam’s Index of Industrial Production rises 4.3 percent in May
Industrial output maintained strong momentum in May, with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rising 4.3 percent month-on-month and 9.4 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
In today’s Vietnam news: Thailand vs Vietnam tourism, India missile purchase final stages, Airport rail connections Long Thanh, BESS development Northern Vietnam, New US
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In today’s Vietnam news: Vinhomes to stop expanding landbank, 38 percent of businesses paying informal charges, SBV governor meets USTR delegation, Fitch affirms BB+
This is an interview with Chris Walker, a Vietnam Sourcing Expert with Vietnam Factory Tours how rising oil prices and the Middle East crisis are
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This is an interview with Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro, Associate Professor, International Tourism & Hospitality Management at Copenhagen Business College, formerly of RMIT Vietnam. It