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 →
Circumvention investigation steel
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is investigating whether wide-width HRC imports from China are being used to evade existing anti-dumping duties.
Hoa Phat and Formosa argue that traders import coils wider than 1,880mm to avoid duties of 19.38 percent to 27.83 percent, then cut them down for domestic use.
Ed.’s notes: MoIT’s statement. Adds colour to challenges for steel industry.
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Construction materials oversupply
VN Economy is reporting that BSC Securities sees clear oversupply in construction materials, especially steel, as factory capacity, coal and iron-ore supply exceed demand.
Steel and cement exports have risen in 2025, but BSC expects pressure from US and Taiwan trade actions from early 2026, the article says.
It also noted that anti-dumping measures have sharply cut China’s HRC share in Vietnam, with temporary duties on wide-width HRC likely in Q1 2026.
The article adds that Vingroup’s new subsidiary VinMetal, is likely only a processing plant rather than full-cycle steel production.
Vingroup defendant investigated by police
Bloomberg is reporting that Vietnam’s police have opened a criminal investigation into Berlin based editor Le Trung Khoa, accusing him of producing and spreading material deemed opposed to the state.
Police say Khoa, a Vietnamese citizen and editor of Thoibao.de, engaged in activities violating laws on anti state content.
Ed.’s notes: MPS statement.
Comes just weeks after Vingroup took same journalist to court in Germany re: defamation claims – court found mostly in favour of defendant.
Nothing in the MPS statement to suggest related to Vingroup but timing suspicious – might speak to often tight relationships between business and state.
Also, bit of an own goal – lots of free publicity for Khoa’s website.
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Selling unapproved real estate
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that some home buyers in HCMC risk losing large sums because developers sell projects before legal approval, creating widespread financial vulnerability.
In the article, buyers describe being pressured to take early-bird deals, only to discover years later that projects remain empty lots with no construction progress.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to drivers of consumer sentiment toward the real estate sector in Vietnam.
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Novaland high-profile share exits
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Novaland insiders linked to Chairman Bui Thanh Nhon have been consistently selling millions of NVL shares throughout 2025, including his wife registering to sell more than 17.2 million shares.
The article says these insider sales contrast sharply with a surge of outside buying with NVL’s share price climbing nearly 30 percent in five sessions, backed by strong domestic demand and foreign investors purchasing about VND 36 billion or US$1.37 million worth.
The article says outsiders are buying because Novaland has finally removed legal bottlenecks at Aqua City, resumed large-scale handovers and secured over VND 18,000 billion or US$684 million in bank financing.
Novaland continues delayed bond payment
Tien Phong is reporting that Novaland has again failed to repay a major bond, leaving nearly VND 816 billion in principal and about VND 72 billion in interest overdue.
The company says it could not arrange funds by the 14 November deadline, paying only a small portion while continuing to negotiate with bondholders.
The bond was issued in 2021 to finance projects in Dong Nai.
Novaland is also seeking waivers from holders of its 300 million US dollar convertible bond due 2027, saying short term cash pressures prevent full interest payment.
Ed.’s notes: See article above – stock purchases/price increasing, key shareholders exiting, bond payments delayed – together very difficult to square.
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Listed real estate developer performance Q3
Vietstock is reporting that housing property developers on Vietnam’s stock exchanges recorded weaker third quarter 2025 results despite some firms posting sudden profit spikes.
Nationwide transaction data was positive but net revenue and net profit for 76 listed housing developers still fell to VND 44 trillion or US$1.67 billion and VND 8.9 trillion or US$338 million, the article says.
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Gold black market
VnExpress is reporting that jewellery firms are struggling to access legal gold supplies, forcing some to rely on informal sources.
The publication quotes Vu Hung Son of Bao Tin Manh Hai, a local jeweller, as saying the lack of authorised imported gold leaves manufacturers facing high risk and unstable production.
It also has comments from Nguyen The Hung from the Vietnam Gold Business Association who says many firms in HCMC have had to suspend operations due to shortages.
Role of media in gold market
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that economist Can Van Luc says he does not encourage the public to invest in or store gold and urges the media not to fuel curiosity or speculation by showing queues of buyers.
He warns that scarcity and difficult access amplify herd behaviour, so authorities should expand legal supply, cut production costs and create alternative investment channels.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to understanding of role of media in Vietnam – a means to mange behaviour rather than to serve the public interest.
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VAT tax rewards for consumers
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that lawmakers are considering a proposal in the amended Tax Administration Law to allocate 0.1 percent of value added tax revenue to reward consumers for requesting invoices.
Le Van Hai from the Tax Department says international experience shows invoice-reward schemes significantly reduce VAT losses, especially among small businesses.
Hai says the 0.1 percent fund would transform tax policy from a punitive tool into an incentive mechanism.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting idea. Not sure how practical. Monitoring.
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Thai supercenter in Danang
Vietnamnet is reporting that MM Mega Market Viet Nam, owned by Thailand’s TCC Group, has opened its first shopping mall, MM Supercenter Da Nang, a US$20 million project positioned as a major step in its expansion strategy.
The article says the centre will serve as MMVN’s new logistics hub for central Viet Nam.
Bancassurance reform debate
Dan Tri is reporting that lawmakers are debating amendments to the Insurance Business Law, with concerns that allowing agents to sell products for multiple insurers could create conflicts of interest.
Deputy Nguyen Huu Thong warns that agents may be influenced by commissions and no longer prioritise customers’ interestes, especially given widespread complaints about misleading advice and pressure to buy insurance through banks.
Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang acknowledges that bank staff have bundled non-compulsory insurance with banking services, causing confusion for customers.
Ed.’s notes: This has been problem in past – circa 2023 a number of high-profile investigations found banks telling customers they were depositing money into high-interest savings products, but in reality, they were sold insurance policies.
A number of reforms followed to stamp out the practice, but this article makes it sound like it is still happening.
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Foreign ETF withdrawals HoSE
VN Economy is reporting that foreign ETFs continued to pull money out of Vietnam last week, with net withdrawals of more than VND 37 billion or about US$1.4 million, driven mainly by Xtrackers FTSE Vietnam Swap ETF and smaller outflows from VanEck.
Thai investors also withdrew 100,000 depositary receipts from the VNDiamond DR, equal to VND 7.4 billion or about US$281,000, the article notes.
Securities trading fines
Vietstock is reporting that Vietnam’s State Securities Inspectorate has fined Phoenix Holdings VND 80 million for failing to report its planned share transactions.
The firm, linked to Vietcap board member Nguyen Lan Trung Anh, traded 198,000 VCI shares in July 2025 without submitting the required advance notice.
Stock market performance Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,659.92, up 5.50 points or 0.33 percent, with a total trading value of VND 22,663.62 billion or US$860.10 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$1.75 million worth of equities, Tuesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Imports from India
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$505 million worth of goods from India, up 1.44 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$4,862 million worth of goods from India.
Exports to Germany
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$818 million worth of goods to Germany, up 7.64 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$7,781 million worth of goods to Germany.
Exchange rate Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting on November 18, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,710 and the sell rate was VND 27,770, a change of 10 and 20 respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,740 (up 0.05 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,132, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,373.
Iron & steel imports
the-shiv is reporting Vietnam imported iron and steel products to the tune of US$731 million in October, up 0.34 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
