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.
See yesterday’s news headlines →
Last updated 3.30pm | 8am update
Nuclear power
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to prepare a pre-feasibility study and begin negotiations with foreign partners to build the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The project, first approved in 2009 but suspended in 2016, was officially revived in late 2024 under new national energy security plans. EVN will oversee plant 1 and Petrovietnam plant 2, while Khanh Hoa Province will handle resettlement and land clearance.
Chinh ordered completion of legal frameworks and international agreements by late 2025.
Eds note: Very little new information or specific details.
Learn more about Vietnam’s nuclear power plans→
State support for bankrupts
An amendment to the Bankruptcy Law has been proposed that would allow state support for companies at risk of insolvency, VN Express is reporting→view source.
The assistance could include tax breaks, low-interest credit, land access, and financial measures to help viable firms recover or exit the market orderly, the Supreme People’s Court Chief Justice Le Minh Tri has said.
The draft law introduces a recovery process independent from bankruptcy proceedings, prioritising business rehabilitation.
It also suggests a business should not be considered involvement until a debt falls more than six months past due.
Eds note: In most developed markets a business is insolvent when it falls 30 days past due. In Vietnam, it’s currently 90 days.
Soft Drink/Soda
Sa Xi Chuong Duong, once a dominant soft drink brand in southern Vietnam, is struggling after 19 consecutive quarters of losses, VN Express is reporting→view source.
It notes that company profits were steady for nearly a decade, but competition from modern beverage brands and outdated production technology eroded its market position.
It says the companies board of directors have warned that if a loan from its parent company Sabeco (HoSE: SAB) is not extended it may be facing bankruptcy.
Eds note: Connects with article above re: bankruptcy. Provides insight into why companies go bankrupt. Delayed investment combined with increasing competition, in this case. Six months is a long time to leave a supplier hanging.
Interview with head of Isuzu
Tuoi Tre is carrying an interview with Isuzu Vietnam CEO Thai Van Toan, who says the company is increasing its purchases of locally made parts while accelerating green transformation efforts→view source.
He notes that Isuzu has invested US$50 million (VND 1.3 trillion) in its Vietnam factory and now sources components such as springs, seats, and glass from domestic firms like Thaco, following strict quality inspections by Isuzu Japan.
Toan said localisation rates range between 17 and 50 percent, depending on vehicle type, but says more government incentives for local parts producers and easier land access are essential for advancing Vietnam’s electric-vehicle and green-logistics industries.
Eds note: Few new insights, reads promotional.
More golf courses planned
Vietnam’s Hoang Gia Group has proposed two major golf and urban complex projects in the newly merged Can Tho region, covering former parts of Can Tho City and Hau Giang Province, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The first, the Truong Xuan Golf and Urban Complex, would span 547 hectares in Truong Xuan commune.
The second, in Tan Phuoc Hung commune, would cover 220 hectares, including a 120-hectare golf course and surrounding commercial and residential areas.
Investment from Thailand
Thai investors visiting Gia Lai this week expressed strong interest in infrastructure readiness, electricity supply, and labour costs before committing new capital, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
Local officials responded by emphasising that Gia Lai has plans to have two airports, new expressways, and emerging renewable energy capacity.
Retail development strategy
Vietnam’s Prime Minister has approved the national retail market development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, targeting average annual growth of 11–11.5 percent in retail and consumer service revenue, Thoi Bao Tai Chinh is reporting →view source.
The strategy lays out plans to shift from traditional retail to modern formats such as supermarkets, malls, and convenience stores while integrating online and offline channels.
It also emphasises building sustainable supply-distribution chains for key goods like food, developing franchising networks, and expanding e-commerce platforms with clear pilot mechanisms and digital infrastructure investment, the publication says.
Eds note: These strategies are generally very specific about what they aim to do, but very vague about how they intend to achieve it. On that note, it’s not clear how targets are set, either, with retail sales growth generally hovering around 9 to 9.5 percent. You can read the actual strategy document here: Decision 2326/QD-TTg.
8am update
Milk production
Vietnam’s fresh milk production fell 0.83 percent month-on-month in September 2025 to 136 million litres, the-shiv is reporting→view source.
Year-to-date output reached 1.24 billion litres, up 7 percent year-on-year, reflecting ongoing expansion supported by modernised dairy farms and rising domestic demand.
Scratch ticket revenue
Ho Chi Minh City Lottery Co. reported nine-month scratch ticket revenue of VND 778 billion or US$29.5 million, reaching 119 percent of last year’s level and 108 percent of its 2025 plan — meeting its annual target three months early, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The scratch-card games “Mystery Number” and “Magic Number,” first launched in 2019, have been upgraded with a new top prize of VND 1 billion or US$38,000, up from VND 300 million.
Eds note: Speaks to the popularity of gambling in Vietnam.
Leadership change at VinSpeed
VinSpeed, a company bidding for a high-speed rail project in Vietnam and a subsidiary of one of vietnam’s biggest conglomerates Vingroup, has appointed Pham Thieu Hoa — chairman of Vinhomes (HoSE: VHM) — as its new CEO, Kien Thuc Dau Tu is reporting→view source.
The article does not make clear why the change was made.
Eds note: Vingroup is currently burdened by significant debts on account of its loss making VinFast subsidiary. In this context, the move into high-speed rail looks risky and therefore any movement, in leadership or otherwise, is worth keeping tabs on.
Live-streaming & retail
Nearly 100 small traders in Ho Chi Minh City joined a hands-on training session on professional livestream sales as part of an initiative organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the city’s Department of Industry and Trade, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
Participants were taught how to identify customer segments, tailor tone and content, and refine presentation skills with practical exercises covering storytelling, camera setup, and managing real-time engagement.
Eds note: Supports the notion that live-streaming in Vietnam can be a really effective sales channel, or at least that’s what the authorities are seeing.
Silver instead of gold
Experts are saying that silver has evolved beyond jewellery to become a strategic investment asset alongside gold, the Market Times is reporting→view source.
The publication says that at the 2026 Business Forum yesterday:
- FIDT founder and APG vice-chair Huynh Minh Tuan noted physical silver prices are rising and that silver is gaining traction as a defensive, accumulative asset;
- Nguyen Quang Huy of Nguyen Trai University highlighted silver’s growing demand in green industries such as solar panels and electric vehicles; and
- Gold–silver specialist Chu Phuong cautioned that recent surges may lead to volatility, while economist Ngo Tri Long urged investors to research carefully, buy from reputable sources, and avoid borrowing to speculate on silver.
Eds note: This idea, silver as the new gold, is a recurring theme in local media. It doesn’t seem to be traded in anywhere near the volumes of gold, but still might be worth watching this space.
More resignations at FLC
Two members of FLC Group’s board of directors, Do Manh Hung and Nguyen Chi Cong, resigned on 20 October citing personal reasons and an inability to continue their duties, DanTri is reporting→view source.
Their departure comes less than a year after their appointment and follows the earlier resignation of chairman Le Ba Nguyen, brother-in-law of former chairman Trinh Van Quyet.
Eds note: Trinh Van Quyet, the founder and former chairman of FLC Group, a prominent real estate developer, was arrested in March 2022 for alleged stock market manipulation. This triggered a major leadership shake-up at FLC, leading to prolonged financial and governance difficulties. The recent resignations suggest that three years on those difficulties are still alive and well.
Power purchase agreements
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed expanding the scope of the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism to include data centres, electric vehicle charging operators, and retail electricity providers in industrial zones, Dan Tri is reporting→view source.
The proposal also clarifies system service charges, surplus rooftop solar sales, and eligibility rules requiring large, stable consumers.
Officials say the changes aim to accelerate renewable energy growth and provide a clearer legal basis for private-sector participation in Vietnam’s competitive power market.
Read more about Vietnam’s electricity sector→
Real estate sales, second homes
Vietnam’s property market recorded about 58,000 transactions in the first nine months of 2025, more than twice as many as last year, but most came from buyers purchasing second homes as a “safe haven” assets, Tuoi Tre is reporting→view source.
The publication cites the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS), as saying sales were driven by wealthy investors seeking inflation protection rather than first-time buyers.
VARS noted a persistent mismatch between high-end supply and affordable housing demand.
Eds note: Well worn narrative, noteworthy in that it came from VARS.
Bank lending house deposits halt
The State Bank of Vietnam’s Region 2 branch, covering Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, has ordered banks to halt loans used for real estate deposit payments, VN Express is reporting→view source.
The move aligns with recent actions by HCMC and Binh Thuan construction departments tightening controls on brokers and banning deposit deals for unlicensed projects.
Eds note: This article is a bit wordy so, in a nutshell, some real estate brokers were using informal agreements to collect early deposits from buyers before a project was legally allowed to proceed. Banks were sometimes lending money against these informal agreements, which the SBV is saying is risky for both the bank and borrower with the possibility that the project might not go ahead.
Mobile World Group Q3
Mobile World Investment Corp (HoSE: MWG) posted record nine-month profit of nearly VND 5 trillion or US$189.7 million, surpassing its full-year target, VN Express is reporting→view source.
The article notes that:
- Company executives credited strong electronics and grocery performance despite slow consumer recovery;
- “Analysis groups” cite holiday demand, tighter cost controls, and market share gains from smaller retailers as key growth drivers in the final quarter; and
- KB Securities Vietnam expcts profit to reach VND 5.66 trillion or US$214.8 million, 17 percent above plan, with Phu Hung Securities projecting up to VND 6.28 trillion or US$238.3 million.
Eds note: Article is mostly just numbers from the financial statements, limited analysis.
Gold market overheating
Vietnam’s gold market is showing signs of overheating, VN Express is reporting→view source.
It quotes:
- Veteran gold analyst Chu Phuong as cautioning that new or speculative investors risk sharp losses amid extreme price swings and growing black-market activity. She describes the recent buying frenzy—triggered by gold surpassing US$4,300 an ounce—as driven by FOMO and weak financial literacy.
- With Nguyen Quang Huy of Nguyen Trai University and Huynh Minh Tuan of FIDT advising keeping gold to no more than 10 percent of long-term portfolios. They expect Decree 232/2025 and a planned gold trading floor from 2026 to improve transparency, reduce domestic–global price gaps, and curb speculation.
Eds note: I have my doubts about the recently announced reforms. See→ Vietnam’s Gold Market: The Problem Isn’t Policy, It’s Populism.
FTSE Russel upgrade
Experts expect foreign capital to enter Vietnam’s stock market gradually after its FTSE Russell upgrade, VN Express is reporting→view source.
It quotes:
- Ho Quoc Binh of TCAM as saying inflows will unfold over 12–18 months, starting with active funds;
- Independent analyst Huynh Hoang Phuong as saying FTSE’s phased approach aims to limit volatility;
- Nguyen Thanh Trung of FinSuccess as warning of near-term outflows as frontier market funds withdraw before new emerging market funds invest; and
- VPBank Securities and BVSC as projecting total inflows of US$3–7 billion, mirroring patterns in past market upgrades.
For background see: FTSE Russell to reclassify Vietnam as secondary emerging market in 2026, pending March review.
Eds note: Reading the local press, it felt a lot like the FTSE Russell upgrade announcement was expected to be an immediate trigger for large foreign inflows, but this didn’t happen. In this context, this article looks a lot like local media trying to re-calibrate expectations.
Greenlight for Novaland
Novaland Group (NVL) has secured long-delayed investment approval for its US$5 billion NovaWorld Phan Thiet project in Lam Dong province, The Investor is reporting→view source.
Lam Dong officials reissued an investment certificate on October 12, allowing Novaland to proceed.
The article suggests the provincial merger earlier this year of Binh Thuan into Lam Dong has been key to this change.
Eds note: Noteworthy in its suggestion that this may be a practical outcome from the merger earlier this year.
Apple manufacturing shift
Apple’s new Vision Pro headset, is now assembled in Vietnam instead of China, signalling Apple’s deeper shift away from Chinese manufacturing, Bloomberg is reporting→view source.
Future Apple smart home devices, including a smart display and tabletop robot, will also be made in Vietnam.
Some Vision Pro accessories still originate from China, but the “Product of Vietnam” label marks a milestone in Apple’s broader regional manufacturing strategy, the publication says.
Eds note: Mostly just confirms existing narrative around manufacturing diversifying out of China to Vietnam.