This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media.
It compiles coverage from official outlets such as Dan Tri, Tuoi Tre, and VN Express, highlighting the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
Last updated 3pm | Jump to 9am update
Real estate refunds
Several investors are demanding that Nhan Binh Invest, a property developer, refund their investments for a project in central Vietnam that is still yet to get off the ground after four years, Donah Nhan Vietnam is reporting→view source.
The 9.63-hectare project, approved in 2021 with an investment of over VND 406 billion or US$15.6 million, has stalled due to unresolved site clearance.
Eds note: This speaks to the ongoing challenges in Vietnam’s real estate sector despite a slew of reforms.
Real estate delays
Two key real estate projects, The Light City and Ecotown Phu My, are both facing major legal, financial, and procedural delays, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Inspectorate, Doanh Nhan Vietnam is reporting→view source.
At The Light City, site clearance has not been completed, with over 38,600 square metres (14 percent of phase 1) still unsettled due to incomplete land transfer agreements with current land owners.
Ecotown Phu My, spanning 6.4 hectares, is also delayed by nearly two years. Moreover, the developer has not paid land rent for cultural and educational areas and lacks a completed land lease contract.
The Inspectorate cited coordination failures among provincial departments as key causes of both projects’ prolonged stagnation.
Eds note: Speaks to challenges in the real estate sector being widespread. See points above.
Gold smuggling
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has concluded its investigation into a gold smuggling ring that transported more than 546 kilograms of gold, worth over VND 1.2 trillion or US$46.3 million, from China into Vietnam, the Market Times has reported→view source.
The operation was led by businesswoman Tran Thi Hoan and former Thang Long Trading and Service director Pham Tuan Hai. They coordinated with an unidentified Chinese partner known as “Mrs. Fat” to smuggle gold bars hidden in shoes and clothing across the Lao Cai border.
Eds note: Gold smuggling has become popular in recent years in Vietnam on account of regulations that have stymied legitimate supply and led to a much higher domestic price than the world gold price.
Read more about the challenges facing Vietnam’s gold market→
VP Banks Japan finance
VPBank Securities (VPBankS) has secured a syndicated loan worth US$200 million arranged by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Dong Von Doanh Nhan is reporting→view source.
This marks VPBankS’s largest international financing to date, following a US$125 million deal in May, bringing its total foreign capital raised in 2025 to US$400 million.
The announcement comes as VPBankS moves forward with its IPO of 375 million shares at VND 33,900 each, aiming to raise nearly VND 12.71 trillion or US$489 million.
Xanh GSM expands
Green SM, part of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong’s Vingroup ecosystem, has launched its 7-seat electric taxi service, Xanh SM Limo, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The expansion comes as ride-hailing competition intensifies, with new entrants like Tada and Moovtek, while platforms such as Lalamove also plan to enter passenger transport, the article notes.
Eds note: The reference to new market players is interesting in that Xanh GSM has been a key buyer of VinFast vehicles. A downturn in business for the company would likely impact VinFast, which is already struggling. The company recorded a net loss of US$812 million in Q2 of this year.
Drone transport regulations tabled
The government has proposed adding rules for low-altitude air transport in the amended Civil Aviation Law, VN Express is reporting→view source.
Construction Minister Tran Hong Minh said the provision would create a legal framework for commercial and specialised drone operations, covering delivery, agriculture, and rescue services.
Eds note: The article doesn’t make clear what rules might be added or what problem they are setting out to address.
High level flight delay complaints
National Assembly delegates have criticised airlines for offering only apologies when flights are delayed or cancelled, calling it unsatisfactory, VN Express is reporting→view source.
Dong Thap delegate Nguyen Thanh Cam said passengers paying high fares deserve compensation when disruptions result from airline mismanagement.
Vietnam’s on-time performance reached just 64.6 percent in the first nine months of 2025, with Vietjet at 55 percent and Vietnam Airlines at 70 percent.
Existing compensation ranges from VND 200,000 to VND 400,000 or US$8 to US$16 domestically, and US$25 to US$150 for international routes.
Novaland family divestment
Cao Thi Ngoc Suong, wife of Novaland Chairman Bui Thanh Nhon, has registered to sell more than 17 million NVL shares between 28 October and 26 November 2025, Doanh Nhan Vietnam is reporting→view source.
Following the sale, her ownership will fall from 2.47 percent to 1.62 percent, equivalent to about 33 million shares.
The publication notes that earlier, Diamond Properties JSC, also linked to Mr Nhon, registered to sell 2.15 million shares as part of an investment portfolio restructuring.
The transactions come as NVL shares plunged over 13 percent in two sessions to VND 14,400 or US$0.55 per share after the Government Inspectorate concluded that Novaland had breached bond issuance regulations and misused proceeds from bond sales.
Kido Group fined
Kido Group (HOSE: KDC), a food processing company, has been fined a total of VND 240 million or US$9,200 by the State Securities Commission for violating disclosure rules related to a VND 1 trillion or US$38.4 million bond issuance, An Ninh Tien Te is reporting→view source.
The company was fined VND 65 million for late submission of reports on bond proceeds and audited statements, and VND 175 million for providing false information.
Authorities found Kido falsely claimed it had used the bond proceeds to expand its edible oil business and invest in Vibev, a joint venture with Vinamilk, though no such investment occurred.
Eds note: The fines were issued on October 16 but it wasn’t made public by the State Securities Commission until yesterday. This connects to an announcement over the weekend that a slew of companies had been found to have used bond money for purposes other than what they had stated when they sold the bonds.
Can Tho outstanding taxes list
Can Tho Tax Department has published a list of 451 taxpayers with overdue tax liabilities totalling more than VND 2.95 trillion or US$113.5 million as of 30 September 2025, An Ninh Tien Te is reporting→view source.
Of note, NSH Petro tops the list with a tax debt of nearly VND 1.28 trillion or US$49.2 million, while its Can Tho branch owes about VND 114 billion or US$4.4 million.
Other major debtors include Ngan Thuan Construction (VND 635 billion or US$24.4 million) and Southwest Petroleum (VND 192 billion or US$7.4 million).
Eds note: Late last week an Australian business man was detained over fraud allegations. NSH above is the company that raised those allegations.
9am update
Vietnam in Finland
Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam met Finnish leaders and top companies in Helsinki, affirming the upgrade of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, VNA is reporting→view source.
Finnish Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen called Vietnam Finland’s largest Southeast Asian trading partner and a key collaborator in green and digital growth.
Several MoUs were signed, including between Viettel and ICEYE on satellite research, Viettel and Nokia on telecom infrastructure, and VNPT and F-Secure on cybersecurity cooperation, the publication says.
Bank risk
ACB CEO Tu Tien Phat has said banks in Vietnam face narrowing profit margins as low-rate competition intensifies, The Investor is reporting→view source.
Speaking at a Forbes Vietnam forum, he noted that despite headline profits, returns are modest relative to total assets.
Phat warned that the pressure to cut rates drives banks to expand riskier markets and clients.
He also cautioned that digital transformation, though essential, can become a costly trap if mismanaged.
Petrol bike ban
Japan’s government and major motorbike manufacturers have warned Vietnam that Hanoi’s planned 2026 ban on petrol-powered motorbikes could cause job losses and disrupt a US$4.6 billion market dominated by Honda, Reuters is reporting→view source.
In letters reviewed by Reuters, the Japanese embassy and a motorcycle trade group urged Vietnam to adopt a gradual roadmap for electrification to avoid bankruptcies among suppliers and dealers.
The manufacturers, including Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, said the ban could affect hundreds of thousands of workers and nearly 2,000 dealers.
Read more about the challenges implementing said petrol motorbike ban→
Vietnam’s LNG plans
Vietnam’s plan to add 22.5 GW of LNG capacity by 2030 is unrealistic, serving more as political signalling to ease US trade tensions than a viable energy strategy, according to commentary by former Vietnamese political prisoner, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, published by the Asia Times→view source.
Nguyen points out that according to IEEFA, global turbine shortages and long delivery backlogs of 7–8 years make the timeline unattainable.
Moreover, Vietnam’s two existing LNG projects lack finalised turbine contracts.
She also argues Vietnam’s pledges risk credibility loss and capital misallocation, urging a shift toward renewables and hybrid energy models.
Read our commentary on LNG as trade leverage in Vietnam→
Football betting
The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has proposed raising the daily betting limit for international football from VND 10 million to VND 100 million or US$4,000, as part of its submission regarding proposed amendments to the Law on Gambling, VN Express is reporting→view source.
It argues the higher cap would help legal operators attract high-spending players and compete with illegal platforms.
VCCI has also urged cutting the proposed 10 percent post-payout revenue contribution to 5 percent during the pilot phase, warning that combined taxes and contributions now exceed 40 percent of gross gaming revenue.
Eds note: Provisions for a pilot legal sports betting operation in Vietnam were passed back in 2017 but were too onerous to make it worth it and the opportunity was never taken up. Illegal sports betting, however, is rampant with one local outlet even sponsoring a European team.
Read more about gambling in Vietnam→
The Phu Quoc ferry
Superdong Kien Giang JSC (SKG) recorded a post-tax profit of over VND 7.3 billion or US$281,000 in Q3 2025, reversing a loss of VND 3.1 billion or US$119,000 in the same period last year, VN Express is reporting→view source.
Revenue rose 21 percent year-on-year to nearly VND 98.7 billion or US$3.8 million, supported by a 50 percent surge on the Phan Thiet–Phu Quoc route.
Eds note: Speaks the often choppy business environment for public transport operators in Vietnam.
Tax evasion
Hoang Tung, founder and chef-owner of T.U.N.G Dining, has been indicted for tax evasion involving more than VND 2.4 billion or US$96,000, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
According to Hanoi prosecutors, Tung and business partner Nguyen Do Nguyet Anh underreported revenue by using personal accounts to receive payments.
Authorities said the undeclared amount included over VND 2.1 billion or US$84,000 in VAT and VND 335 million or US$13,000 in personal income tax.
T.U.N.G Dining, established in 2018, has been recognised by the Michelin Guide and Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants.
Read more about taxes in Vietnam→
Crypto scandal analysis
Following the collapse of Shark Binh’s Antex project, experts have warned of widespread cryptocurrency scams thriving in Vietnam’s legal grey zone, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The aritcle references VinaCapital as saying about 17 million Vietnamese (that’s about one in six men, women, and children) trade crypto worth over US$100 billion annually, mostly on foreign exchanges like Binance and Bybit.
It points out that fraudulent projects such as Antex, Wingstep, and Game Naga Kingdom have collectively taken hundreds of billions of VND from investors with promises of returns up to 180 percent a year before collapsing.
It also quotes legal scholar Phan Phuong Nam as saying regulation alone cannot protect investors without vigilance and education.
Eds note: This article is long and mixes reporting and commentary and it’s often not clear which is which.
Techombank profits
Techcombank (HOSE: TCB) posted pre-tax profit of VND 23.4 trillion or US$900 million in the first nine months of 2025, up 2.4 percent year-on-year, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
Third-quarter profit hit a record VND 8.3 trillion or US$319 million, rising 14.4 percent, the publication says.
Eds note: Reads a lot like marketing copy.
Rooftop solar
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed simplifying rooftop solar installation procedures so households no longer need to notify EVN, Dan Tri is reporting→view source.
Under the draft amendment to Decree 57/2025 and Decree 58/2025, systems not connected to the national grid would only require a basic notice sent to the local commune authority.
Grid-connected systems would use a standard form, with the commune forwarding details to power companies for monitoring.
Installations under 1 kW would be exempt from notification.
The draft also raises the cap on surplus power sold to the grid from 20 percent to 50 percent, with purchase prices based on the previous year’s average market electricity rate.
Read more about Vietnam’s solar industry→
Insurance and climate change
Nguyen Duc Thang, chairman of GAMA Global Vietnam, has told Dan Tri intervention is needed to strengthen the insurance sector amid intensifying climate change→view source.
- He says banks need to separate insurance sales from lending;
- that the government should encourage climate-risk coverage by supporting insurers to design suitable property and agricultural policies (non specified), speeding up claims, and subsidising premiums for vulnerable groups; and
- insurers need to boost operational capacity—deploying local assessors, improving claim efficiency, and working closely with authorities after disasters.
Eds note: Interesting in the context of the role insurance can play in development, as in applying a cost to inaction (higher premiums) and by extension encouraging risk mitigation, for example, things like smoke detectors.
IUU fishing
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered a nationwide campaign to “declare war” on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, warning that local officials will be held personally accountable for violations and delays in removing the EU’s “yellow card”, the Market Times is reporting→view source.
At the 18th meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing, Chinh said the crackdown is vital for national interests and the sustainable development of Vietnam’s seafood industry.
Eds note: Lacks clear policy directives — not substantive enough to warrant detailed reading.
Real estate
A series of infrastructure projects across the former eastern provinces of Ho Chi Minh City — including Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, and Ba Ria–Vung Tau — is accelerating, sparking renewed activity in the regional property market, the Market Times is reporting→view source.
The article points to Avison Young as having identified four key growth drivers: upgraded transport links such as the Hanoi Highway expansion, Ring Roads 3 and 4, and the HCMC–Long Thanh expressway; rising labour migration and foreign investment; abundant land reserves with lower prices; and post-merger urban restructuring.
Eds note: It’s not clear what report this article is referring to. Avison Young’s Q3 report is here but it doesn’t reconcile with this article.