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 →
US honey import duties reduced
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the United States has reduced anti-dumping duties on raw honey from Vietnam following the second administrative review covering 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024.
It states that Ban Me Thuot Honey JSC received a preliminary margin of 6.72 percent and DakHoney received 21.55 percent.
It notes that twelve companies eligible for separate rates will face a 14.14 percent duty, compared with 100.72 to 156.96 percent in the first review, with all other exporters subject to a 60.03 percent rate.
New AI Law
Doanh Nghiep is reporting that that Vietnam’s draft Artificial Intelligence Law was presented to the National Assembly on 21 November 2025, describes a four-tier risk classification, with unacceptable systems banned and high-risk systems facing strict liability and fines up to VND 1 billion or US$37,950 for individuals and VND 2 billion or US$75,900 for organisations.
It notes proposals for national AI governance bodies, data standards, liability distinctions, sandbox mechanisms and a shift toward post-inspection regulatory models.
Ed.’s notes: Unclear, a bit skint on details. For review.
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Can Tho airport
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction has proposed allocating about VND 2.661 trillion or US$101 million in the 2026–2030 public investment plan to upgrade Can Tho Airport’s runway and taxiways.
It notes:
- The airport currently has a 3,000-metre runway, ten aircraft stands and a terminal with capacity for 3 million passengers a year;
- That annual passenger throughput averaged 1 to 1.4 million between 2019 and 2023, reached 1.035 million in 2024 and about 0.8 million in the first nine months of 2025; and
- That Can Tho is planned as a level-4E airport with capacity targets of 7 million passengers by 2030 and 12 million by 2050.
Ed.’s notes: Currently running at a third of capacity – not clear what the business case for an upgrade is.
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NKG steel exports collapse
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Nam Kim (NKG) is shifting focus to Vietnam’s domestic steel market as export sales collapse under new foreign trade barriers.
Nine-month revenue declined to VND 11.672 trillion or US$443 million and net profit fell to VND 206 billion or US$7.8 million, largely because coated-steel exports dropped 53 percent.
Nam Kim stopped exporting to the US from October 2024 and has lifted its domestic market share from 9 percent to about 17 percent, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: Feeds into ongoing steel industry challenges.
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Cement firm delisting
An Ninh Tien Te is reporting that Thai Binh Cement (TBX) faces mandatory delisting from the Hanoi Stock Exchange after losing its public-company status due to not having enough shareholders or charter capital.
It notes that TBX’s charter capital of VND 15 billion or US$0.57 million, and total capital slightly above VND 20 billion or US$0.76 million, fall below regulatory thresholds and that its business decline has been driven in part by growing pressure from imported white cement.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for mention of imports in business decline – impacts of free trade.
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Opinion Philippines commentator VinFast
Clean Technica is carrying an op-ed from Raymond Tribdino in which he argues that VinFast is taking an extremely high-risk, financially painful, almost reckless path, but one that he believes is intentional, strategic and consistent with the company’s history of bold decisions.
He argues that VinFast is “burning cash” not because of mismanagement but because its chairman, Pham Nhat Vuong, is deliberately spending whatever it takes to secure long-term global EV dominance.
He portrays the company as audacious, unconventional and willing to lose huge sums in the short term to win later, comparing the approach to Tesla’s early losses.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting perspective/interesting timing so close to VinFast Q3 results (see next).
VinFast Q3 loss
Barron’s is reporting that VinFast reported a third-quarter net loss of VND 24 trillion or US$910 million, almost twice last year’s loss over the same period.
The company delivered about 38,200 EVs in the quarter, bringing 2025 deliveries to 110,000 units, up 149 percent year on year.
It notes the firm posted more than US$3 billion in losses last year despite tripling deliveries.
Inflation prospects analysis
Nguoi Lao Dong is carrying analysis from economist Ngo Tri Long in which he notes that Vietnam is entering a period of clear cost-push inflation driven by supply shocks, rising input costs, exchange-rate volatility, and regulated price adjustments, making year-end inflation control far harder than in previous years.
He believes monetary tightening alone cannot solve the problem and may even weaken growth while prices remain under pressure.
He supports a broad, coordinated policy response that includes flexible but predictable exchange-rate management, cautious fuel and electricity price adjustments, reducing administrative and logistics costs, and improving transparency to stabilise public expectations.
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AirAsia possible market entry
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that AirAsia is negotiating to buy a minority stake in Vietravel Airlines.
It notes, Vietravel Airlines is still small, operating three aircraft, but backed by T&T Group it plans to expand to 10 aircraft by late 2025.
AirAsia hopes to add operational expertise and brand strength, though the article points out a 34 percent foreign ownership limit may be problematic, the article says.
It also notes that foreign investment in Vietnam’s aviation sector has a mixed record citing ANA’s 2016 purchase of 8.8 percent of Vietnam Airlines which was then hit hard by Covid-19, and Australia’s Qantas’ investment in Pacific Airlines which performed poorly, with years of losses leading to Qantas exiting in 2020 and giving its 30 percent stake back to Vietnam Airlines.
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Digital technology in banking
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting on comments from Pham Xuan Hoe, former Deputy Director of the Banking Strategy Institute, at a digital economy forum in which he noted that 87 percent of Vietnamese adults have bank accounts.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for comments on number of banked 87 percent = 13 percent unbanked. The rest of article confusing.
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EAEU antidumping investigation tires
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s tire exports to the Eurasian Economic Union are facing an anti-dumping investigation after import volumes surged.
The EAEU’s domestic market protection authority has launched a probe into Vietnamese and Thai truck and multi-axle vehicle tires.
Vietnam is accused of dumping at 19.59 percent.
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Trump golf course delays
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that a US$1.5 billion urban, tourism and golf complex in Hung Yen, being developed by Kinh Bac (KBC) under the Trump International Hung Yen brand, is facing land-clearance delays.
It says phase-one site clearance covers more than 510 hectares in Khoai Chau and Chau Ninh, but agricultural and public-land clearance has fallen short of the November target.
It notes KBC has recorded more than VND 425 billion or US$16.1 million in work-in-progress costs so far.
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Imports from Germany
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$379 million worth of goods from Germany, up 2.28 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$3,361 million worth of goods from Germany.
Exports to India
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$836 million worth of goods to India, up 0.10 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$8,561 million worth of goods to India.
Stock market performance Friday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,654.93, down 1.06 points or 0.06 percent, with a total trading value of VND 20,090.87 billion or US$762.46 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$22.35 million worth of equities, Friday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Friday
the-shiv is reporting that on November 21, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,700 and the sell rate was VND 27,800, a change of 30 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,750 (down 0.05 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,136, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,357.
Tourist arrivals from Europe
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Europe accounted for 218,096 of Vietnam’s tourist arrivals, an increase of 35 percent from September, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Seafood exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported fishery products to the tune of US$1,159 million in October, 14.35 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$9,328 million worth of fishery products by the end of October.
