vietnam
The Vietnam category covers economic developments, investment trends, and policy updates specific to the country. It explores market opportunities, trade relations, industry growth, and government initiatives, providing insights into Vietnam’s role in global supply chains, emerging sectors, and foreign business expansion.
Bao Viet Holdings (Insurance): Vietnam Stock Overview
Notably, this month the non-life insurance market experienced a spike in compensation claims due to losses from Typhoon Yagi. Bao Viet received nearly 700 claims, with an estimated total value of nearly VND 1 trillion or US$40.6 million…
Credit growth in Vietnam hovering at 7.26 percent
Of note, it’s not clear that all of the credit entering the Vietnam economy is good. Notably, bad debts are rising among Vietnam’s banks with one analysis of 29 of Vietnam’s biggest banks earlier this year, finding that 27 had recorded an increase in bad debt by the end of June. Between them there was VND 46,719 billion or US$1.86 billion in bad debts, an increase of 20.8 percent compared to the end of 2023.
US$260 million Chinese circuit board factory slated for northern Vietnam
Over the past decade, Vietnam has attracted significant investments from global electronics giants such as Samsung, LG, and Intel, which have established large production facilities here. They have also helped to develop Vietnam’s electronics manufacturing industry which, in turn, is now attracting even greater investment, the aforementioned circuit board factory, for example…
Vietnam launches strategy for semiconductor industry development
Of note, Vietnam has been pursuing a greater role in semiconductor supply chains for sometime. However, it’s never been made clear exactly what a win would be in terms of Vietnam’s role in semiconductor manufacturing… It does, however, already have a place at the end of semiconductor supply chains in assembly, testing, and packaging. Low-value work to be sure but it does give Vietnam a foot in the door. Whether it can leverage this to move its way up semiconductor supply chains remains to be seen.
Vietnam medicines and medical services costs rise .18 percent in July over August
The cost of medicines and medical services in Vietnam went up by .18 percent in August over July, according to the General Department of Statistics’ Consumer Price Index data. This was in line with a year-on-year increase in the cost of medicines and medical services of 8.3 percent.
Vietnam’s richest man wants more English education in Vietnam
English language proficiency has been a priority in Vietnam for some time, crystallised in 2008, with the Foreign Language Teaching and Learning in the National Education System in the 2008-2020 Period plan. This plan outlined a 10-year foreign language education program for all Vietnamese school students by 2020. This target, however, was a tall ask, and in 2017, with this goal still well out of reach, the project was extended to 2025.
Skoda assembly plant in northern Vietnam almost ready-to-go
A new assembly plant for the Czech Republic’s Skoda vehicles is set to go into operation later this year in northern Vietnam, The Investor is reporting. The plant in Quang Ninh province is 90 percent complete, according to the firm, and began a trial run back in May. Set on 36.5 hectares the factory will add a capacity of 120,000 vehicles a year to Vietnam’s automotive industry…
Cost of eating out in Vietnam rises .26 percent in August over July
Vietnam’s food and beverage industry has experienced huge growth in recent years, driven by a combination of factors including rapid urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and a burgeoning middle class. That said, Vietnam recorded a fall in food and beverage outlets of 3.9 percent from the start of the year to the end of June, according to food and beverage point of sale technology provider iPOS. The bulk of this fall was in Ho Chi Minh City which recorded a contraction in the number of outlets of about 5.97 percent.
Vincom Retail: Vietnam Stock Overview
Notably, VRE has successfully opened three Vincom Plaza malls and one Vincom Mega mall so far this year. It had initially planned to open six malls this year, but one mall is set to be delayed until 2025…
Vietnam plastics exports up 14 percent in value August over July
Vietnam’s plastics exports climbed by 14 percent in August over July from US$181 million to US$207.3 million. Vietnam’s plastics exports for the year now stand at US$1.75 billion which represents an increase of 27 percent over the same period last year.
Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation: Vietnam Stock Overview
In the first half of 2024, STK’s revenue declined by 18.2 percent year-over-year to US$23 million due to lower sales. In response, STK stopped a number of machines and instead focused on reducing excess inventory. The company also recorded a net loss of US$2.2 million reportedly due to a surge in financial expenses, the result of unrealized exchange rate losses of US$1.7 million on a US dollar-denominated loan used to invest in a new factory…
Vietnam News Roundup: September 13 to September 19
This week’s Vietnam news roundup covers the latest State Bank foreign currency purchases, the lifting of pre-fund requirements for foreign institutional investors, the latest car sales figures, an update on Vietnam’s pursuit of nuclear power, beer production data, and more…
Vietnam Ministry wants to target car sales of 1 million units a year by 2030
Of note, Vietnam’s cities are already straining to accommodate the rise in car ownership and the penetration rate is only around 5 percent. If the country is to reach car sales of 1 million units a year, there will need to be some fairly big investments in infrastructure. It’s not clear how or if this will be addressed…
Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO to expand presence in central Vietnam
Thua Thien-Hue province, particularly its capital Hue, has a growing retail sector that blends modern shopping experiences with traditional markets. Hue is known for its rich cultural heritage, but the rise of tourism has spurred the development of retail spaces, including shopping malls, supermarkets, and convenience stores…
Education services prices in Vietnam rise .14 percent August over July
In Vietnam, the cost of education services varies widely based on the type and level of institution. Public schools are generally affordable due to government subsidies, making them accessible to most families. Private and international schools, however, are significantly more expensive…
Vietnam stock exchange pre-funding requirements to be lifted for foreign institutions
Of note, the circular appears to only address foreign institutional investors and not foreign individual investors which account for about 42,446 registered trading accounts in Vietnam. Neither FTSE Russell or MSCI, however, appear to make a distinction between the two in terms of the need to remove pre-funding requirements. With this in mind, this latest announcement should be viewed with cautious optimism…
Mobile World (retail): Vietnam Stock Overview
In the first six months of 2024, MWG’s revenue increased by 15 percent compared to 2023 due to a broader economic recovery, stimulating consumer spending. Profit after tax also surged to US$84.1 million compared to US$1.6 million in the first half of 2023. This improvement was primarily driven by strategic restructuring efforts–the company laid off 5,936 workers and closed a bunch of underperforming stores…
Trump golf course could be on the cards for northern Vietnam
Of note, historically Trump has been a popular figure in Vietnam. A Pew Research Centre survey in 2017, not long after Trump was elected president of the United States, found that Vietnam was just one of a handful of countries of the 37 surveyed where the majority of respondents had confidence in the real estate developer and reality TV star…
FIFA launches tender for World Cup 2026 media rights for Vietnam
At this early stage it’s not clear how much the broadcast rights might cost, but in football mad Vietnam they are likely worth a lot. Notably in 2018, Vietnam’s VTV broadcaster paid an estimated US$12 million and for the 2022 World Cup paid US$14 million…
Beer production in Vietnam falls .1 percent in August over July
Of note, Vietnam’s beer industry has been struggling since COVID on the back of a change in consumer behaviour, broader economic challenges that have reduced spending power, an increase in beer imports, and stronger enforcement of drink-driving laws…
In today’s Vietnam news: Crypto transfers to VN not necessary, Novaland bond changes, Perspectives on garment industry, Working hours cut proposed, Adding political component
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
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