Manufacturing & Industry
This category focuses on industrial production, from electronics and textiles to automotive and heavy industry. It covers FDI trends, supply chain developments, factory expansions, and government regulations shaping the industrial landscape. As a key driver of economic growth, manufacturing plays a crucial role in global supply chains, technological advancements, and industrial competitiveness.
Fitch Ratings gives Vietnam a BB+ rating with a stable outlook
Rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded Vietnam’s rating from BB to BB+ and said the outlook is stable, according to a press release December 8. The upgrade was based on: robust foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows; and confidence… property-sector stresses, weak external demand and delays in policy implementation owing to
Vietnam coffee consumption to increase 32 percent by 2027: Euromonitor
Vietnam will lead growth in coffee consumption in Southeast Asia with Euromonitor predicting the local market to grow by 32 percent, Nikkei Asia is reporting. However, the article notes that competition is fierce and that many local brands in Vietnam are expanding overseas. See also: How to Open a Cafe
Vietnam’s insurance market records strong growth despite bad press
The total assets of insurance companies in Vietnam reached almost VND 913.37 trillion (US$$37.6 billion) in the first 11 months of 2023, up 11.12 percent year-on-year, Vietnam News reported citing Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance data. It also reported that total equity of insurance firms in Vietnam was estimated to be
Airfare price caps weigh on recovery from pandemic for Vietnam’s airlines
Vietnam’s airline industry is urging the government to remove price caps on airfares with many local airlines still struggling to recover from accumulated losses during the pandemic, The Star is reporting. “Domestic airlines have seen recoveries in revenues, but the sharp increase of input costs undermines their profits, which makes
Chinese coffee chain opens first Vietnam store in HCMC
China’s Cotti Coffee has opened its first store in Ho Chi Minh City, the World Coffee Portal is reporting. This is in line with a number of international coffee chains looking to enter Vietnam’s consumer coffee market. Data included in the article claims Vietnam to be East Asia’s fifth biggest
US senators call for halt of Vietnam non-market economy status review
A handful of US senators have called for a halt to a review of Vietnam’s designation as a non-market economy (NME), Politico is reporting. It cites this letter signed by US senators JD Vance, Josh Hawley, and Tom Cotton which says “the recently announced process defies both normal order and
Nvidia considering establishing ‘base’ in Vietnam
Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam this week and discussed expanding Nvidia’s presence in the Southeast Asian nation, Reuters is reporting. The company already has investments in the country of US$250 million. Specific details of any future investments have not been provided as yet.
VN-Index gains 1.06 points (0.09 percent) to close at 1,125.50, December 11
The VN-Index gained 1.06 points Monday to finished the day at 1,125.50 points. Foreign traders continues to net-sell pulling another US$17 million from the market, making the total withdrawn in the last five trading sessions to US$157 million. Most traded among foreign investors were all banking stocks today. Foreign investor
Starlink Vietnam: Possibility or Pipedream?
Earlier this year representatives of Elon Musk’s Starlink met with government officials to discuss launching Starlink in Vietnam. But whereas talks reportedly went well, seeing this ambition realised may be more complicated. The internet has played a key role in Vietnam’s economic development. It’s brought new ideas, greater access to
Singapore bank predicts Vietnam interest rates steady in 2024
Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) has said it believes the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will keep rates on hold next year to boost growth, Vietnam Plus is reporting. The UOB predicted back in September that rates would be cut before the end of this year, but this has not
Banking data breaches behind majority of financial fraud in Vietnam
A total of 15,900 cases of financial fraud have been reported this year with 91 percent related to data breaches at banks in Vietnam, VN Express is reporting. Why it matters: The recently passed Personal Data Protection Decree requires foreign firms to store the data of Vietnamese users in Vietnam.
TikTok investigation update reveals only four of nine conditions met
The results of an inspection into TikTok earlier this year by Vietnam’s Ministry of Communications (MIC) listed nine points that the company needed to address in order to be compliant with Vietnamese regulations but it has only complied with four so far, Saigon News is reporting. Those four are: strengthening
Vietnam Airlines to follow Vietjet and fly direct to Perth
Vietnam Airlines has announced it will fly direct to Perth, Australia, from Ho Chi Minh City three times a week, VN Express is reporting. The airline intends to extend the flight frequency to five flights a week by 2024. In September 2021, Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways began operating direct flights from
VN-Index up 2.85 (0.26 percent) to close at 1,124.44, December 8
The VN-Index has finished the week in positive territory, up 2.85 points or .26 percent, to finish the day at 1,124.44. Foreign traders, however, continued to net-sell to the tune of another US$18.5 million bringing their combined total for the week to just over US$163 million. Notably, there are limits
Taiwan firm starts work on machine factory north of Hanoi
Taiwan’s Lioho Machine Works has started building a factory in Vinh Phuc north-west of Hanoi, The Investor is reporting. The project is reportedly worth US$75 million and is set to cover five hectares. When complete it will produce car parts, farm equipment, and pumps.
Hong Kong camera manufacturer considering factory in north-central Vietnam
Hong Kong based Qtech is considering building a US$430 million factory in Vietnam’s Nghe An province, The Investor is reporting. If realised it would cover 10 to 15 hectares and produce eight million products a month. Notably the company is looking for tax, human resources, and administrative support from Nghe
Resolution 98 could see sports complex in Ho Chi Minh City finished after 30 years
Resolution 98, which was passed by Vietnam’s National Assembly in June and gives HCMC greater power over the collection and disbursement of taxes, may be a game changer with respect to the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex in HCMC, which was started in 1994, but is still unfinished, Tuoi Tre
Vietnam PM calls on banks to be more flexible when issuing loans
A quote has appeared on a government website attributed to Vietnam’s Prime Minister that reads “We do not lower lending standards, but can we be more flexible?” according to Bloomberg. This is in line with an approach from the government heavily weighted toward encouraging banks to lend more rather than
VN-Index down 4.94 (0.44 percent) to close at 1,121.49, December 7
The VN-Index has finished the day down 4.94 points or .44 percent to close at 1,121. 49 points. Foreign traders, however, continued to exit the market taking a net US$33.6 million out of the local bourse. Foreign investor trading activity on the HoSE, December 7 Buy Sell Change Date VND*
Japan to process scallops in Vietnam after China bans seafood imports
Japanese scallop producers are considering shifting their processing operations from China to Vietnam after China banned the import of Japanese seafood over the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, The Japan News is reporting. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 tons of scallops from Japan were processed
In today’s Vietnam news: Fuel prices cut, Double-digit growth target reinforced, New airport services delay approval requested, TikTok VN investment, Bybit in Vietnam, LG
In today’s Vietnam news: VN renews antidumping tariffs on Thai sugar, Power supply challenges continue, USTR tariffs forced labour, AMRO growth forecast downgrade, Foreign
In today’s Vietnam news: Fund outflows May, New HCMC airport trial operations to begin September, M&A HCMC 2026, Compensation for gas-to-electric bike switch Hanoi,
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