Services & Trade
This category includes the service sector, retail, logistics, finance, e-commerce, and tourism, alongside trade policy and investment trends. It covers import/export dynamics, banking regulations, stock market movements, and infrastructure development. With increasing integration into regional and global trade, this section provides insights into consumer behavior, foreign investment, and evolving service industries.
Asian tourist arrivals in Vietnam grow by 19.85 percent in November
Year-to-date, Asian arrivals totalled 12,614,542, reflecting a 43.3 percent year-on-year increase. Among the top contributors, China led with 339,399 arrivals in November, up 11.11 percent…
Vietnam tourist arrivals see a 20.54 percent month on month growth in November
Vietnam welcomed 1,711,512 international tourists in November, representing a month-on-month increase of 291,679 visitors or 20.54 percent, according to Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism. Year-to-date, the country has recorded 15,836,661 arrivals, marking a year-on-year increase of 38.8 percent. Asian visitors dominated the figures, contributing 1,357,769 arrivals in November, up by
Vietnam C.bank readying itself to resume Forex sales: Local media
Of note, CafeF has reported, citing ‘sources’, that the SBV has advised some local banks that it intends to resume selling foreign currency. This has also been reported by Vietnam Securities Economic Magazine which has noted the intervention price has been set at 25,450–Vietcombank, among Vietnam’s biggest foreign currency traders, was selling US dollars yesterday for 25,475…
Vietnam retail sales for travel and tourism decline
Year-to-date, retail sales in this sector amounted to VND 44.01 trillion, or US$2 billion. While the overall performance remains steady, the October drop highlights challenges in maintaining growth momentum in travel and tourism services.
Vietnam retail sales for accommodation and food services decline
In September, sales in this sector were VND 62.45 trillion, equivalent to US$2.46 billion. By October, the figure had declined to VND 59.87 trillion, or US$2.36 billion, marking a month-on-month drop of 4.13 percent.
Vietnam real estate developer Novaland drops PWC as tax agent
Of note, in September, Novaland recorded its worst half year on record after audited financial reports found huge discrepancies from what was earlier reported by the company. Specifically, the company’s own financial statements reported a profit of VND 3.5 trillion or US$142.2 million, however, an audit found the company had actually made a loss of VND 7.3 trillion or US$296.6 million. This the company largely blamed on its auditors being overly cautious…
Vietnam accommodation and food services FDI sees dip in newly registered capital in October
Despite the fluctuations, the accommodation and food services sector continues to attract interest, driven by Vietnam’s expanding tourism industry and growing demand for hospitality services. It’s expected that FDI levels will continue to grow, as Vietnam’s hospitality sector remains a key component of its economic and tourism growth trajectory.
Vietnam’s CPI for culture, entertainment, and tourism shows moderate annual increase
Year-to-date, the CPI for culture, entertainment, and tourism rose by 1.91 percent from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This steady growth is likely supported by rising consumer interest in leisure activities and tourism within Vietnam.
Vietnam holds position on US currency manipulation watchlist in November report
Vietnam has met two of three of the US Treasury’s currency manipulator criteria. Specifically it has a material current account surplus greater than 3 percent of its GDP (5 percent in the 12 months ended June 30) and a bilateral trade surplus with the US in excess of US$15 billion (US$111.7 billion in the 12 months ended June 30)…
October outcomes mixed for Vietnam’s stock exchanges
As of late October, 725 stocks and fund certificates were listed on Vietnam’s main exchanges, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) and Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), while 885 stocks were registered on the Unlisted Public Companies (UPCoM) platform…
US dollar exchange rate reaches new high against Vietnam’s dong
Dan Tri has contextualised this with black market prices. On the unofficial market US dollars were being bought for VND 25,570 and sold for VND 25,670, according to the publication…
Vietnam’s real estate sector sees surge in FDI projects in October, despite capital dip
Year-to-date, the real estate industry has attracted 64 projects, with cumulative capital reaching approximately US$5.23 billion, reflecting strong interest from foreign investors despite fluctuations in monthly capital inflows…
Concerns grow about real estate debt being carried by Vietnam’s banks
At the end of September outstanding debt in the real estate industry was up 9.15 percent since the end of 2023 and this is raising concerns that risks that have been prevalent over the last couple of years in the housing industry may be being transferred to the banking industry…
HCMC public assets leased without auction draw attention of City Inspectorate
A Ho Chi Minh City Inspectorate investigation has found that a number of prime pieces of real estate in the city that were owned by the state were leased without an auction, breaching public asset management regulations…
Ho Chi Minh City apartment supply 90 percent high-end, luxury segment
The publication goes on to lament the lack of affordable housing which has become a recurring theme in local media as the housing market thaws but not for everyday Vietnamese…
Pre-funding gone for some foreign stock traders in Vietnam, as new circular kicks-in
Tuoi Tre is covering the expectations of market watchers that this will give the market a welcome boost, Dau Tu Online on the other hand is suggesting that local securities firms with large cash buffers stand to benefit most, and VN Economy, conversely, has pointed out that after coming into effect there have still been large net cash outflows from the market from foreign investors.
South Korea’s SK Group no longer major stakeholder in Vietnam’s Masan
Of note, in 2018, SK group bought 109.9 million shares in Masan Group for VND 100,000 or US$4.29 per share for a total of just over US$470 million. When it announced that it would be divesting, shares in Masan, which trades under the ticker MSN, were trading at about VND 76,200 or US$2.99 valuing the company’s holding at about US$328.6 million…
Vietnam sees 34 percent drop in new units added to housing supply in Q3
This comes after a challenging year for the real estate and construction industries which have been struggling following on from a number of high-profile arrests in the industry for fraud back in 2022. Though there has been some speculation that the industry is on the path to recovery, these numbers suggest there may be a way to go yet…
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PetroVietnam Power Corporation: Vietnam Stock Overview
POW is currently constructing two LNG power plants with a combined capacity of 1,500 megawatts. These are the first LNG power plants in Vietnam. This is in line with the country’s shift from coal to gas power, however, declining domestic natural gas production means that much of Vietnam’s LNG will need to be imported….
Vingroup: Vietnam Stock Overview
Notably, in the first half of 2024, Vingroup sold the majority of its equity capital of Vincom Retail, which owns and leases a range of commercial spaces around Vietnam. This led to leasing revenue declining by 46 percent…
In today’s Vietnam news: GS TL on AI, Saigon Economic Times last issue, Fuel prices cut, Vinhomes issuing more bonds, Counterfeit Korean cosmetics store,
In today’s Vietnam news: Power supply imports, Hanoi boulevard project protests, Antidumping duties coming for boxes, Maersk container terminal project Hanoi, Vinpearl foreign investment,
In today’s Vietnam news: Credit limits removed for some major projects, Estonian web security company market entry, Vingroup’s Vuong becomes major shareholder LP Bank,
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