This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and some others.
It compiles coverage from official outlets like 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 →
Anti-corruption law changes
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that at a National Assembly session on November 5, delegate Hoang Van Cuong argued that Vietnam’s anti-corruption law, to which draft changes are currently being discussed, should not automatically trigger asset verification when a public servant’s wealth increases by one billion dong → source
He said what matters is how assets are declared and explained, not the absolute increase, noting that legitimate income from selling property or other lawful sources should not raise suspicion.
Cuong criticised the current random “lottery-style” inspection process and suggested rotating through a set number of officials each year.
He also called for stronger measures to trace and recover illicit assets, including investigating the property of relatives to prevent concealment or transfer during corruption probes.
Ed.’s notes: Core corruption drivers are things like low public sector wages and a lack of accountability mechanisms. With this in mind, proposed changes and Cuong’s suggestions are more about treating the symptoms than curing the disease.
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Game maker lawsuit
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that a lawsuit brought by Decom Holdings to block the dissolution of video game maker Whydah has shed light on the troubled IronSail project once hailed as a major Vietnamese GameFi initiative → source.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on September 29, temporarily suspending Whydah’s dissolution and ordering the company to settle outstanding debts and liquidate assets first.
Whydah, founded in 2021 with VND 10 billion in capital, developed IronSail — a GameFi ecosystem that raised US$25 million in 2021 but halted operations by the end of 2022 after producing only a few of its planned seven games.
The case has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny following investigations into the Antex project, prompting investor concerns over IronSail’s fund management and prompting a ChainTracer blockchain audit that found US$22.42 million in verified receipts.
Ed.’s notes: During COVID when digital assets really took off, and particularly after HCMC game maker Sky Mavis achieved a US$1 billion valuation, a lot of money poured into Vietnam’s tech sector. That is to say hype can often mask less than impressive fundamentals.
Export expectations coffee tariffs
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that the United States’ high tariffs on Brazilian coffee have created a rare opening for Vietnam to overtake Brazil as the world’s leading coffee exporter → source.
Export expert Nguyen Tuan Viet of Vietgo said Vietnam could earn around US$10 billion in coffee exports in 2025 if it converts this opportunity into genuine capacity.
He said if US import tariffs on Vietnamese coffee fall to zero, three waves of orders will follow: direct imports by American roasters, purchases by European traders, and investment shifts from US firms in Brazil to Vietnam.
He stressed that Vietnam must diversify from Robusta to Arabica and invest in processing to sustain long-term gains.
Ed.’s notes: Last point interesting alongside comments from VICOFA Vice Chairman a week or two ago in which talked about Americans changing their taste for Arabica to Robusta (as opposed to Vietnam changing what it grows).
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Vinfast car sales India
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that said VinFast sold 131 units in India in October 2025 → source.
Data from Autocar Professional showed total e-PV sales in India reached 17,783 units in October, up 56 percent year-on-year and 9 percent month-on-month.
The article notes VinFast assembles the VF 6 and VF 7 locally at its US$500 million Thoothukudi plant, with expansion plans to 150,000 cars a year and 35 dealerships nationwide.
National gold maker revenue drop
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) saw revenue fall to VND 8.84 trillion or about US$336 million in the first half of 2025, down sharply from nearly VND 25 trillion or about US$949 million a year earlier → source.
It says the drop came as Decree 232/2025 ended SJC’s state-backed monopoly on gold bar production.
The article also points to a scandal involving the company’s former CEO embezzling over 17,000 taels of gold, as also having damaged the company’s reputation.
Ed.’s notes: Break up of SJC gold bar monopoly only in last month or so. Revenue drop might actually indicate supply problems. For review.
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Seafood + recipricol tariffs
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s tuna exports could benefit from 0 percent tariff under the new Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade Framework with the United States → source.
The article quotes Nguyen Ha of VASEP as having said frozen tuna loins and fillets might be included, which would boost competitiveness against Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines.
Ed.’s notes: Speculative.
Uniqlo Vietnam perspective
VnExpress is reporting that Koji Yanai, senior executive director of Fast Retailing, has told a press conference in Tokyo that Vietnam remains a highly promising market → source.
He said Uniqlo had only begun operating in Vietnam a few years ago and still had vast room to grow, highlighting Vietnam’s young, growing consumer base and strong retail growth, the publication says.
E-commerce challenges
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam’s e-commerce sector is facing a number of challenges including rising platform fees, tightening regulation, and slowing consumer spending → source.
It said sellers reported fees on Shopee and TikTok Shop climbing to 26–29 percent, squeezing small distributors’ margins and forcing many to shift offline.
Experts references in the article said new tax and VAT rules created short-term pressure on small online retailers, while only 39 percent believed Vietnam had flexible regulation.
Ed.’s notes: Possible pinch point emerging between government regulations, increasing seller fees, consumer uptake, and local vendors. Monitoring.
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Cashew nut challenges
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s cashew industry faces mounting pressure as raw nut import costs surged 21 percent to US$1,523 per tonne in 2025, squeezing already thin margins → source.
It said imports totalled US$4.01 billion in the first ten months, nearly equal to export earnings of US$4.25 billion, leaving little profit for processors.
Businesses reported higher input prices not offset by export gains, while 80–90 percent dependence on imported materials created a structural bottleneck.
Vietnam milk investment Russia
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded Vietnam’s Thai Huong, founder of TH Group and CEO of Bac A Bank, the Order of Friendship at the Kremlin for her contributions to Vietnam–Russia cooperation in food security→ source.
Thai Huong launched a US$2.7 billion high-tech agricultural investment in Russia in 2015, establishing dairy farms and processing plants across Moscow, Kaluga, Bashkortostan and Primorsky, the publication notes.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to relationship between Vietnam and Russia. Interesting decision to expand abroad in context of huge demand in Vietnam.
Production to consumption economy shift
VN Economy is carrying an opinion piece by economist Nguyen Xuan Hai in which he argues that Vietnam’s path to prosperity should continue prioritising investment and exports over stimulating domestic consumption → source.
He says:
- History shows that high-income economies such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Singapore all achieved rapid growth by suppressing consumption to boost savings and industrial investment;
- Vietnam has followed a similar “catch-up” model since Doi Moi, with household consumption falling from 74.4 percent of GDP in 1996 to 54 percent in 2024, while FDI now accounts for over 70 percent of exports;
- Vietnam’s production base remains fragile, with low localisation, weak supply chains, and high logistics costs; and
- That shifting prematurely toward a consumption-driven model could fuel inflation and erode export competitiveness, stressing that sustainable growth requires continued capital accumulation, productivity reform, and industrial upgrading.
Ed.’s notes: An interesting read.
TV format purchases
Variety is reporting that Vietnam has become Southeast Asia’s leading buyer of international TV formats, accounting for 33 percent of the region’s unscripted acquisitions, according to data presented at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest → source.
It references Nguyen Trang of K7 Media as saying 85 percent of imported unscripted formats came from Asia, led by South Korea and China and that Chinese-language dramas are now seen as important as Korean dramas.
Weighing check-in luggage at gate
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority has ordered airlines and airports to review procedures for screening carry-on luggage at check-in and boarding areas → source.
It says the directive followed complaints that recent inspections (Vietnam Airlines started checking baggage at the gate a few days ago) were poorly organised and inconvenient for passengers.
Ed.’s notes: Weighing, payment, disputes all at gate as opposed to check in counter, significant friction foreseeable. Speaks to leap first ask questions later thinking.
EV development non-VinFast
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Selex Motors and Dong Minh Group signed an agreement on 5 November 2025 to develop a shared battery network and electric motorbike ecosystem → source.
It said the partnership aimed to produce more than 10,000 high-tech batteries and battery-swapping stations, while also offering fixed batteries, home charging rentals, and swap services for Dong Minh’s dealerships and customers.
Ed.’s notes: Noted in that a lot of smaller companies (more Vietnam sized) are doing some interesting things in the EV space, moving slow and steady and focusing on their core business, but are often eclipsed in public discourse by bigger players, most notably VinFast.
Raising retirement age
VnExpress is reporting that HSBC Vietnam CEO Tim Evans has said he supports raising the retirement age, arguing it is necessary to maintain the workforce and pension system amid rapid ageing and low birth rates → source.
He said economies were shifting toward less physically demanding, service-based jobs, and Vietnam should adopt an “active ageing” approach to keep older workers productive, the publication says.
Ed.’s notes: May be indicative of the direction the domestic media, as an extension of the government, intends to take the discussion.
FiT dispute escalation
Dan Tri is reporting that 23 foreign investors in Vietnam’s wind and solar sectors have requested a meeting with government ministries after delayed or suspended payments for 173 renewable projects under the fixed-price (FIT) mechanism → source.
The investors warned that cash shortages were pushing several projects toward bankruptcy and undermining confidence in Vietnam’s energy transition.
They asked to meet the Ministers of Industry and Trade, Justice, and Finance in early November.
Ed.’s notes: It was reported a couple of weeks ago that investors had agreed not to pursue lawsuits or demand late-payment interest if EVN settled outstanding debts by October 31.
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Vingroup clearing land Ha Tinh factory
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vinhomes Ha Tinh Industrial Park Investment, part of Vingroup, has begun distributing compensation payments to residents whose land it is acquiring for a VND 21.4 trillion or US$823 million electric vehicle parts factory project in Ha Tinh → source.
The project covers 132 hectares and aims to develop supporting facilities for Vietnam’s electric vehicle supply chain.
Construction of infrastructure and workshops is scheduled to begin in December 2026 and finish by June 2027.
Ed.’s notes: Would suggest Vingroup/VinFast intends to keep expanding despite significant losses and already carrying a significant debt burden.
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Motorbike production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 259,000 motorbikes in September 2025, down 16.41 percent from August, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office → source.
Output for the first nine months reached 2.45 million units, roughly unchanged from the same period last year, with September production at 107 percent of September 2024 levels.
