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 Saturday’s news headlines →
VAT refund delays
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnamese businesses are facing financing bottlenecks due to delayed VAT refunds.
Industry groups quoted say the main obstacle is verifying whether upstream suppliers have paid taxes, causing compliant firms to have to wait until that confirmation is completed.
Some exporters have not received VAT refunds since 1 July, leaving hundreds of billions of dong frozen, the publication says.
It also says that seafood, pepper, and coffee exporters have reported that banks are not lending for the 5 percent VAT they have to cover and this is then eating into their cash flow.
Ed.’s notes: Recurring theme after VAT changes – rice exporters have voiced similar grievances. More detail in this article relating to pepper firms.
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Slow Black Friday
Vietnamnet is reporting that Hanoi clothing stores are offering Black Friday discounts of up to 70 to 80 percent, but foot traffic remains low.
Shops began promotions early in November to stimulate demand, yet sales have not increased.
Consumers report widespread mistrust of deep discounts, saying prices are often raised before being reduced and that stock is usually old, low quality, or leftover items.
Ed.’s notes: Numbers game marketing, more people through the door means better odds of a sale but short term thinking = reputation damage.
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Thailand’s Central Retail performance in Vietnam
VnExpress is reporting that Central Retail, the Thai retail group, earned nearly 29,000 billion dong or about 1.1 billion US dollars in Vietnam in the first nine months of the year.
The company reported 35.3 billion baht in revenue, down 6 percent year on year due to exchange rate movements, though revenue in dong rose about 7 percent.
Its performance was slightly below Bach Hoa Xanh but higher than WinCommerce, the article notes
Ed.’s notes: Thai baht free float, Vietnam dong crawling peg to US dollar – knock on effects on doing business in alternative currencies.
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Egg prices up
VnExpress is reporting that egg prices in Ho Chi Minh City have risen to 3,800–8,000 dong per egg, up 25 to 30 percent from last year due to reduced supply.
Flooding, storm damage, and farmers cutting flock sizes after prolonged losses have limited production, the article says.
Traders have also reported fewer deliveries with some suppliers prioritise storm-affected regions and year-end demand increases.
Ed.’s notes: Adds to price pressure. Vegetable prices also spiking on floods.
Banks promoting saving money
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that major state-owned banks are keeping deposit rates steady but are intensifying promotional campaigns to attract savers.
Agribank is giving depositors entry codes for prize draws when they place term deposits and VietinBank is offering gifts, cash incentives, and double loyalty points for customers who place fixed-term deposits.
These campaigns are designed to boost deposit mobilisation at a time when credit growth is outpacing deposit growth and demand for year-end lending is rising, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: More people saving is good for credit growth (more money to lend) but not good for consumer spending.
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Electric motorbike sales jump
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Vietnam’s electric motorbike sales are rising sharply while petrol motorbike sales are falling
The article notes that electric motorbike demand has surged after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City announced plans to restrict petrol motorbikes in central areas and promote a shift to electric models.
Ed.’s notes: Supporting data/math/calculations questionable.
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Revised Bankruptcy Law contradictions
VN Economy is reporting that NA delegates have warned that vague insolvency criteria in the amended Bankruptcy Law could allow small debts to be used to pressure businesses to settle outstanding debts, harming their reputation and access to capital.
They also pointed to contradictions in giving legal representatives both the right to seek rehabilitation and the obligation to file for bankruptcy, along with risks in allowing 65 percent of unsecured creditors to approve full asset transfers.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting read in that it almost frames the delinquent party as the victim as opposed to the creditor which could be a firm’s employees.
Put another way, it seems to favour the interests of the owners of the means of production over those of their workers. #whatwouldMarxthink?
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Corporate bond draft decree
An Ninh Tien Te is reporting that the Finance Ministry and the State Securities Commission released a draft decree on November 21 to regulate private corporate bond offerings, replacing Decrees 153, 65, and 08.
The draft clarifies issuer responsibilities, requires full disclosure of issuance purposes, tightens rules on amending bond terms, and mandates approval from at least 65 percent of bondholders.
It introduces credit ratings and standardised collateral to protect investors and restricts individual professional investors to purchasing rated, secured, or guaranteed bonds.
Cashew industry outlook uncertain
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam’s cashew industry is facing growing pressure as African producers expand domestic processing, threatening the country’s long-standing supply of raw cashews.
VINACAS Chairman Pham Van Cong told an event Friday that countries such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Tanzania are restricting raw exports and investing heavily in their own processing facilities.
He added that stricter ESG and traceability standards in markets such as the US and EU are creating additional challenges for Vietnamese processors.
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Czech Senate Chairman Skoda factory visit
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that he Chairman of the Czech Senate, Milos Vystrcil, visited TC Group’s Viet Hung automobile plant in Quang Ninh on November 22, which began operations in March 2025 as the first Skoda manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia.
The plant has a designed capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year and currently assembles the Skoda Kushaq and Skoda Slavia for the Vietnamese and ASEAN markets.
State-owned tobacco divests noodle maker
VnExpress is reporting that Vinataba plans to sell its entire 20 percent stake in Colusa-Miliket, the maker of “two-shrimp” instant noodles, through an auction in mid-December with a starting price of VND 114.7 billion or about US$4.35 million.
The sale covers 960,000 shares, while foreign investors are excluded due to a 5 percent ownership cap.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for example of SOE investing outside of core business.
Lottery operator consolidation
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Finance Ministry has proposed transferring eight lottery companies in northern Vietnam to Vietlott with many struggling to generate significant revenue/profits.
Vietnam currently has 64 state-owned lottery firms, including 28 in the North, while Vietlott operates nationwide.
Despite total 2024 lottery revenue of VND 159.477 trillion or about US$6.05 billion and budget payments of VND 50.907 trillion or about US$1.93 billion, northern firms contribute little and some have negative equity, the publication says.
Ed.’s notes: Provincial versus central management – local control versus economies of scale.
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Economic cost floods
An Ninh Tien Te is reporting that flooding in South Central Vietnam has caused estimated economic losses of VND 13.078 trillion or about US$496 million as of 23 November.
Damage includes more than 1,154 houses destroyed or damaged, over 200,000 homes flooded, and extensive losses across 82,147 hectares of rice and crops, 117,067 hectares of perennial trees, and 1.157 hectares of aquaculture.
More than 3.3 million livestock and poultry were reported dead or swept away.
Transport disruptions added to the economic impact, with landslides on national highways and railway services suspended or rerouted, the publication says.
Credit card interest rates 40 percent
Dan Tri is reporting that major banks sharply increased credit card interest rates in November, with some products approaching 40 percent a year.
Financial experts reference in the article say the moves reflect pressure to shore up net interest margins (NIM), which have been squeezed by extensive preferential lending programs.
Industry-wide NIM fell to 3.18 percent in the second quarter, down from 3.31 percent in the previous quarter and the lowest level since 2018, according to S&I Ratings.
Ed.’s notes: Knock-on effects of credit growth push.
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Tourist arrivals Australia/New Zealand
the-shiv is reporting in October, Oceania accounted for 51,156 tourist arrivals, an increase of 5.10 percent from September, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Powdered milk production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 14.79 thousand tons of powdered milk in October, up 4.94 percent from 14.10 thousand tons in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 127.55 thousand tons.
Imports from Singapore
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$493 million worth of goods from Singapore, up 8.07 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$4,947 million worth of goods from Singapore.
Exports to Taiwan
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$521 billion worth of goods to Taiwan, down 2.83 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$5,474 million worth of goods to Taiwan.
Chemical imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported chemicals to the tune of US$720 million in October, up 10.14 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$6,633 million worth of chemicals by the end of October.
Digital camera exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported still image, video cameras and parts thereof to the tune of US$875 million in October, 3.82 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$6,743 million worth of still image, video cameras and parts thereof by the end of October.
Processed seafood production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 682.92 thousand tons of processed seafood production in October, up 3.57 percent from 659.40 thousand tons in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 5984.65 thousand tons.
Tourist arrivals from US/Canada
the-shiv is reporting that in October, the Americas accounted for 82,416 tourist arrivals, an increase of 28.90 percent from September, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
