Author: the-shiv
State Bank has pumped US$24 billions into SCB
The State Bank of Vietnam–the SBV–has pumped about US$24 billion into Saigon Commercial Bank–or SCB–to keep it afloat, Reuters is reporting. SCB was at the centre of a fraud scandal worth upwards of US$12 billion. The mastermind of the fraud, Truong My Lan, has since been convicted and given a
State Bank intends to start importing gold?
It was reported earlier this week that the State Bank of Vietnam–the SBV–intends to reinstate gold auctions, however, local media did not report where the gold was set to come from. Today VN Express reported that the SBV has asked the Ministry of Finance to smooth-out the process for importing
Direct power purchases in Vietnam draw closer with draft decree released
A draft decree that, if passed, would finally provide a legal framework for direct power purchase agreements–or DPPAs–is being circulated, according to VN Express. It outlines DPPAs that can use either EVN’s power infrastructure or build their own infrastructure.
Vietnam considering a monthly connection fee for electricity
The state power provider EVN wants to charge a subscription fee on top of metered electricity prices to cover the additional infrastructure costs for some customers, VN Express is reporting. Essentially, the power price is currently calculated on the volume of electricity used and by tiers–the more you use the
Relationship between foreign, Vietnam firms akin to boxing match: Economist
It’s unusual to have commentary in the local media whereby a Vietnamese expert tells it straight up. This article in The Leader, however, covers comments by Associate Professor, Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, where he does just that. Specifically, he points out that local
Mixed feelings on Vietnam applying trade remedies on Chinese steel imports
Vietnam’s Hoa Phat Steel is pushing for an anti-dumping investigation into steel imports from China arguing that they are taking up too much of the market and citing the US restrictions on steel imports on the grounds of national security, The Investor is reporting. Hoa Phat is also being supported
HCMC gold stores take holidays amid pending inspection of operations
A number of gold stores in Ho Chi Minh City have announced long holiday closures just after it was announced that the HCMC General Department of Market Management would be auditing the operations of gold stores in the city, Tuoi Tre is reporting. The publication says the city intends to
State Bank of Vietnam to start auctioning gold
The State Bank of Vietnam intends to undertake a series of gold auctions in an attempt to bring down the price of gold, Tuoi Tre is reporting. The gold price in Vietnam is currently trading at a 13 percent premium to the world gold price. This will be the first
Vietnam’s VN-Index drops 60 points in a day, biggest one-day fall in two years
Vietnam’s VN-Index took a dive on Monday losing 4.7 percent wiping about US$10 billion from its market capitalization, according to Doanh Nhan Vietnam. As far as analysis goes, Tuoi Tre is carrying comments from Tran Hoang Son, the strategy director at VPBank Securities Market. He cites geopolitical tensions that have
Class action launched against Vietnam’s Vinfast
Three law firms have initiated legal action against Vietnamese electric vehicle maker Vinfast on the grounds that it withheld information from shareholders, according to a press release from US law firm Pomerantz. Specifically, that it would be unable to meet its 2023 delivery target and that it lacked the capital
Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice says regulate crypto, don’t ban
Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice has said that crypto should not be banned but does need to be regulated, and soon, VN Express is reporting. Notably foreign currency exchange and gold are both heavily regulated in order to keep a lid on the exchange rate. Crypto has become one way to
Vietnam’s gold bar supply to increase but no word on more imports
The Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Pham Thanh Ha, has said that the central bank will increase the gold bar supply, VN Express is reporting. This is after instructions from the Prime Minister to bring the local price of gold, currently about 15 percent higher than the
Maybank Securities forecasts Vietnam GDP growth of 5.8 percent in 2024
The local arm of Malaysia’s Maybank, is predicting GDP growth for Vietnam of 5.8 percent in 2023, The Investor is reporting. The financial firm says that pressure on the dong is coming from the local gold price being out of step with the world gold price and that this should
ADB forecasts GDP growth for Vietnam in 2024 highest in SEA
The Asian Development Bank is forecasting GDP growth this year of 6 percent for Vietnam, the equal highest with the Philippines in Southeast Asia. Full report: Asian Development Outlook April 2024 GDP Growth Southeast Asia, ADB April 2024 2022 2023 2024 2025 Southeast Asia 5.7 4.1 4.6 4.7 Brunei Darussalam
No feed-in-tariffs for rooftop solar projects in Vietnam?
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the latest report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade says that rooftop solar projects that feed excess power to the grid will not receive a feed in tariff. Zing News on the other hand, earlier this week, said that the MoIT was looking at
Netflix told to remove its video games from app stores in Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Communication–the MIC–has told Netflix it will need to stop advertising its video games on its platform and will need to remove them from the Apple App store and Google Play store by April 15, according to a statement on its website. It is says that Netflix has
HCMC-based real estate tycoon sentenced to death on fraud charges
Truong My Lan, the head of property developer Van Thinh Phat was sentenced to death this week convicted of a number of charges including embezzling US$12.5 billion. Local news coverage is more or less all the same. See: Vietnam property tycoon Truong My Lan sentenced to death in multi-billion dollar
Vietnam’s Imports and Exports, March 2024: Snapshot
Vietnam’s General Department of Customs has released import-export data for March of 2024. Here’s what it has found. Vietnam imports by item, March 2024 March MOM % 2024 YOY % Computers, electrical products, spare-parts and components thereof 8,406,551,184 18.7 24,042,310,269 24.1 Machine, equipment, tools and instruments 3,758,610,687 45.5 10,344,804,723 12.5
AMRO report finds Vietnam GDP likely to grow at 6 percent in 2024
The ASEAN Macroeconomic Research Office has released its Annual Consultation Report Vietnam – 2023 which forecasts a GDP growth rate of 6 percent this year. Other key takeaways from the report include: The expansion is predicted to be off the back of increased exports and increased foreign direct investment; Risks
Vietnam’s MoIT backflips on removal of feed-in tariffs for rooftop solar
In December, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade–the MoIT–circulated a dossier that suggested a draft decree on rooftop solar should have no feed-in-tariffs. However, it has now been reported by Zing News that there has been a reversal of this position with a ‘time-based’ price suggested though it’s not made
In today’s news: 2G services to end September 15, Rising deposit interest rates, Samsung earnings H1, Chinese hot pot chain performance, Battery storage ambitions,
In today’s news: ForEx regs overseas investments SOEs, VinFast GSM 5m unit agreement, US cotton shipments to VN, Samsung semiconductor build-out VN, Tay Ninh
In today’s news: Japan-VN asset tie-up, Import tax refund guidance, Instant noodle consumption, AI plans, SSC + S&P Dow Jones execs meet in NY,
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
This is an interview with John Gardner, CEO and Founding Partner, at Optimum Hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City. It covers fuel price impacts on:
This is an interview with Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro, Associate Professor, International Tourism & Hospitality Management at Copenhagen Business College, formerly of RMIT Vietnam. It