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 →
Cashless payments surge
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam has seen a surge in cashless payments, with 17.8 billion transactions worth 260 million trillion dong in the first nine months of 2025.
At a QR Code payments seminar, SBV Payments Department head Pham Anh Tuan said cashless activity rose more than 43 percent in volume and 24 percent in value year on year, led by rapid gains in internet banking, mobile banking and especially QR Code, which jumped 150 percent in value.
New leader state debt agency
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the State Bank of Vietnam has appointed Tran Trung Dung as Chairman of VAMC for a five year term, placing him in charge of an agency facing mounting pressure to resolve bad debts more effectively.
Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh said Dung must modernise asset management systems, overhaul debt trading processes and professionalise operations, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: Change at the top noted. Monitoring in the context of recent rapid credit growth and challenges selling distressed assets.
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VinMetal development details
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Ha Tinh authorities have ordered investment licensing by 10 December 2025, and a groundbreaking on 19 December 2025, for a Vingroup steel project under its recently established subsidiary VinMetal, in the province.
The project aims to produce 5 million tonnes a year to supply Vingroup’s real estate, electric vehicle, and major infrastructure plans, including proposed high-speed rail lines, the article says.
Industrial real estate profits
VnExpress is reporting that industrial real estate companies have reported sharp profit growth in Q3 as demand for land and ready-built factories rebounds.
Major developers lead gains, with Becamex earning 2,270 billion VND, three times last year, and Kinh Bac reaching 1,560 billion VND, four times higher.
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South-South energy investment Laos
Vietstock is reporting that C47 has approved a VND 100 billion or about US$3.79 million investment in a new energy subsidiary in Laos.
The new company, C47-EL, will be based in Vientiane with a mandate to invest in and operate renewable energy projects, develop energy infrastructure, trade power and equipment, pursue clean-energy technology, and produce construction materials.
Laos is a core market for the company, where it is leading the Nam Neun 1 hydropower project worth nearly US$185 million and serving as a subcontractor on other major hydropower works, the article says.
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Vegetable prices
Tuoi Tre is reporting that green vegetables in Ho Chi Minh City are surging in price, doubling or even tripling compared with before the recent storms as supply tightens sharply.
Vendors at markets such as Ba Chieu and Tan Dinh say herbs and seasoning greens have risen the fastest, with spring onions jumping from 30,000 dong/kg to 90,000 dong/kg and water spinach reaching 70,000–90,000 dong/kg, while varieties of mustard greens and lettuce have also doubled.
The price spike is attributed to floods in the north damaging crops and rising waters in the Mekong Delta inundating gardens, sharply reducing supply to the city.
Ed.’s notes: Direction of CPI, specifically food prices.
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Pho price pressure
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that rising vegetable prices in Hanoi are now directly threatening the cost of a bowl of pho, as herb and garnish expenses surge beyond what shops can absorb.
Daily wholesale quotes for spring onions, coriander and other garnishes have jumped three to four times, with some sellers charging VND 20,000–25,000 or US$0.76–US$0.95 per bunch, the article says.
Pho vendors said the sharp increase in garnish costs is forcing them to consider raising prices from VND 30,000 to VND 35,000 or US$1.14 to US$1.33 per bowl.
Ed.’s notes: At least in Hanoi, movements in pho prices (and iced tea) are generally watched closely and often used as an economic indicator in informal discussions.
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Bac Ninh residential rent regulations
VN Economy is reporting that authorities in Bac Ninh province have issued guidelines for managing and leasing residential properties from 1 December 2025.
It reports that provincial leaders set clear minimum and maximum fees for apartment management, worker dormitory rentals, and social housing rentals, with rates varying by building height.
Ed.’s notes: Nuances of a command economy.
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New footwear parts factory Ninh Binh
WWD is reporting that US firm OrthoLite, maker of performance insoles and foam components for footwear, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Ninh Binh.
The publication highlights the company’s view that the site will cut lead times and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Ed.’s notes: Vietnam exported footwear to the tune of US$2.03 billion in October, up 18.99 percent over September.
MPS 2nd arrest warrant VN in Germany
Bloomberg is reporting that Vietnam police have issued an arrest warrant for Germany-based activist and lawyer Nguyen Van Dai, accusing him of creating and spreading material deemed anti-state.
Dai responded online, saying the accusations only draw more public attention to his work, and noted he has been a political refugee in Germany since 2018.
The move follows identical charges this week against Berlin-based journalist Le Trung Khoa, who has criticised Vietnam’s restrictions on free expression.
Ed.’s notes: Original MPS statement.
It’s not clear what the objective is with these lawsuits.
In marketing if you dominate the market (in this case the market for ideas) you generally avoid acknowledging your competitors because it elevates their status vis-a-vis Dai’s comments.
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Removing land-use fees on purpose change
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that NA delegates have argued that households should not pay land-use conversion fees based on market prices.
Several warned that fees reaching VND 10 million or US$379 per square metre make conversion unrealistic for rural families.
Others criticised the use of fluctuating market prices, saying the State charges more when markets rise but does not adjust when they fall.
Ed.’s notes: This makes a bit more sense than past suggestions that Vietnam should go back on market based pricing. That is to say, reduce or remove fees for land conversion and just charge on ownership changes.
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High-end washing machines discounted
Vietnamnet is reporting that high-end washing machines in Vietnam are seeing steep discounts, with some models reduced by up to VND 19 million or US$722.
A major trend is integrated wash–dry towers with central controls and Smart Pairing, allowing the dryer to auto-select settings based on the wash cycle, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: Another in a hard hitting series of articles on high-end appliances from VietnamNet that read like marketing copy, that already include — fridges, televisions, rice cookers, and clothes driers. Still not clear who, what these articles are for. Monitoring.
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Cold water on Mekong port plan
Vietnamnet is reporting that Doan Manh Thang, Director of Water & Planning at Haskoning Vietnam, part of the Netherlands’ Royal Haskoning DHV Group has questioned the economic viability of the proposed multibillion-US-dollar Tran De deep-sea port in the Mekong Delta, raising concerns about high costs, technical challenges, and uncertain cargo volumes.
He notes:
- Tran De must be built 16km offshore due to heavy silt deposits, requiring an expensive sea-crossing road and a full wave-break system that cannot be built in stages;
- That the project could cost billions of US dollars, yet private investors see limited goods supply and unclear returns; and
- Recommends prioritising the Hon Khoai deep-sea port instead, citing better transport links and no siltation issues, instead.
Officials acknowledged Tran De’s immense cost, uncertain cargo sources, and long-standing difficulty attracting strategic investors, the article says.
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HOREA rejects real estate transaction centre suggestion
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that HoREA has said it is not yet necessary to establish a state-run real estate transaction centre, arguing that transparency rules for developers should come first.
The Ministry of Construction had submitted a proposal for a national pilot between 2026 and 2027, with centres handling disclosures, legal checks, taxes, contracts and land-use certificates through a unified digital platform.
HoREA has argued the proposed pilot centre overlaps with existing one-stop administrative mechanisms and could increase bureaucracy, staffing and state budget costs.
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China tea franchise downsizes
VnExpress is reporting that Chinese tea and ice-cream chain Mixue has cut underperforming stores in Vietnam for the first time, reflecting a tougher F&B market and a shift toward optimising existing outlets rather than expanding aggressively.
Executives said poorly located or weak-performing shops have been shut or relocated.
In Vietnam, Mixue had grown rapidly to 1,304 stores by late 2024 and became the country’s largest F&B chain, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: Expanded very quickly – franchisees were complaining back in 2023 that too many stores in too small space – struggling to compete against each other/pricing policy of chain wasn’t popular either.
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Toy/sporting goods exports
Vietnam exported toys and sporting goods to the tune of US$962 million in October, down 9.56 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$7,514 million worth of toys and sporting goods by the end of October.
Chemical products imports
Vietnam imported chemical products to the tune of US$701 million in October, up 0.52 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$6,585 million worth of chemical products by the end of October.
Stock market performance Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that The VN-Index closed at 1,649.00, down 10.92 points or 0.66 percent, with a total trading value of VND 24,312.63 billion or US$922.68 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$24.71 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Wednesday
On November 19, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,740 and the sell rate was VND 27,820, a change of 30 and 50 respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,780 (up 0.14 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,132, the same as yesterday, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,376.
Asian tourist arrivals
In October, Asia accounted for 1,376,126 tourist arrivals, an increase of 10.60 percent from September, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Petrol production
Vietnam produced 1,895.59 thousand tons of gasoline and oil production in October, up 3.17 percent from 1,837.43 thousand tons in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 15,735.81 thousand tons.
