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 →
Last updated 5.20pm
Exchange rates today
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s exchange rate movements on 4 November 2025 showed minor fluctuations, with the black market mid-rate rising to VND 27,805 per US$1, up 30 dong or 0.11 percent from the previous day → source.
Stock market today
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s stock market surged on 4 November 2025, with the VN-Index climbing 34.98 points, or 2.16 percent, to close at 1,651.98, with foreign traders net-buying US$45.73 million worth of stocks, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange→ source.
Draft solar policy
Dan Tri is reporting that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed financial support for households installing rooftop solar power systems for self-consumption → source.
It says households would receive VND 500,000 to VND 1 million, or about US$19 to US$38, depending on capacity, plus an extra VND 1 million or about US$38 if the system includes at least 2kWh of battery storage, under the proposal.
The ministry estimates that if half of Vietnam’s 28 million households adopt rooftop solar, total support could reach VND 28 trillion or about US$1.06 billion from 2026 to 2030.
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Gold miner profit surge
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that mining firm Vimico’s profits have surged amid record domestic gold prices → source
It says the average gold price reached VND 2.47 billion or about US$93,700 per kg, up VND 741 million or about US$28,100, while sales increased by 136 kg.
Silver, copper, and zinc also recorded both higher prices and stronger output, boosting total revenue.
The company’s foreign exchange gains and higher bank deposit income further lifted profit.
Ed.’s notes: A lot of interest in mining from abroad but only fraction of economy and mostly SOEs. Updates like this one few and far between so taking note.
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Youth unemployment
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s youth unemployment rate exceeded 9 percent in the third quarter of 2025, rising 1.3 percent year-on-year→ source.
The article notes that most unemployed youths lacked degrees or professional certificates, highlighting a skills mismatch between training and market demand.
It says the processing, manufacturing, and service sectors absorbed more workers, but new positions did not keep pace with youth labour force growth.
Ed.’s notes: See point below – for those that are employed there is a good chance this is in informal employment.
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Data collection
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the National Statistics Office reported 1.6 million Vietnamese aged 15–24 were not working, but that only 1 million people were unemployed overall → source.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, acting head of population and labour statistics, said the difference between the 1 million unemployed overall and the 1.6 million unemployed young people was normal and that UN statistical standards have been followed.
Mai also noted that informal employment remained high at 63.4 percent, and underemployment affected 1.83 million people.
Ed.’s notes: Generally speaking, when a segment of anything is bigger than the whole it’s a red flag that something isn’t working like it should.
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Outbound investment
Vietstock is reporting that Vietnamese tech firm FPT has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Indonesia’s LAPI ITB and Digital Utama Lestari to support the country’s national digital transformation programme → source.
It says the partnership aims to generate US$100 million in revenue over five years through technology platforms and services in public administration, finance, tourism, agriculture, and logistics.
FPT will contribute technological expertise, LAPI ITB will provide research capacity, and DUL will manage market execution.
Ed.’s notes: Highlights developing south-south cooperation in ASEAN, useful for insights into how Vietnamese firms are expanding/finding opportunities abroad.
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HCMC tourism
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Ho Chi Minh City recorded tourism revenue of VND 208.07 trillion or about US$7.9 billion in the first ten months of 2025, reaching nearly 72 percent of the annual target → source.
It says the city welcomed 6.5 million international visitors, up 17.7 percent year-on-year, and 33 million domestic tourists.
Ed.’s notes: Total tourist arrivals to end-September was 15.4 million – only roughly a third of tourists visit HCMC based on above data.
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Saigon Zoo profits
VnExpress is reporting that Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens earned a post-tax profit of VND 4.8 billion or about US$182,000 in the first nine months of 2025, up 12 percent year-on-year→ source.
It says new initiatives such as night tours, student promotions, and cultural festivals helped renew public interest.
The article notes that Thao Cam Vien operates without state budget support and aims to become a self-sustaining centre for education, biodiversity, and tourism.
Ed.’s notes: Of note, in late 2024, the city’s tax department issued the zoo a notice demanding payment of VND 846 billion or about US$32.5 million in arrears. Zoo is a state-owned enterprise but expected to be financially independent.
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Regulating livestreaming sales
VnExpress is reporting that the government proposed Monday, that domestic online sellers verify their identity via VNeID, while foreign sellers must provide legal documentation proving their legitimacy, in a draft Law on E-commerce presented to the National Assembly → source.
Commerce Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said stricter identification rules aim to prevent fraud, protect consumers, and ensure tax compliance amid a surge in livestream commerce.
Economic Committee Chairman Phan Van Mai said regulations for cross-border livestreaming must be clarified, including legal representation, deposits, and data storage responsibilities within Vietnam.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to this growing concern, or importance, around/of commerce via Livestream.
Not clear how this might be enforced on a practical level.
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Economist interview Vietnam ICOR
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s upcoming Party Congress is looking at setting a target of an Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) of around 4.5 → source.
The publication explores this through an interview with Economist Mac Quoc Anh who notes that ICOR reflects capital efficiency but has long been neglected in local growth reports due to a focus on quantity over quality, lack of unified measurement, and limited transparency.
He says Vietnam’s ICOR averaged 6.1 in 2016–2020, much higher than Thailand or Malaysia, showing weak investment efficiency and calls for publishing ICOR by sector and province to boost transparency, accountability, and competition.
He said improving labour productivity, investing in innovation, green energy, logistics, and vocational training is essential to achieve sustainable growth and a lower ICOR.
Ed.’s notes: ICOR measures how much investment is needed to generate one unit of GDP growth — the lower the ratio, the more efficient the economy.
So, US$6 of capital to create US$1 of GDP growth.
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Viet brand’s capital raising
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnamese fashion start-up Coolmate completed its Series C funding round led by Vertex Growth Fund, with participation from Cool Japan Fund, YoungOne CVC, and existing investors → source.
It says the new capital will drive three strategies: expanding into women’s sportswear, opening physical stores, and scaling internationally.
Vertex Growth Fund CEO James Lee said Coolmate represents a new generation of Vietnamese digital-first brands combining disciplined operations, product innovation, and global ambition.
Ed.’s notes: Example of local firms playing to Vietnam’s strengths (garments and textiles) and finding success.
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LNG offtake ratios
VN Economy is reporting that the Vietnamese government plans to raise the annual contracted electricity offtake ratio for LNG projects from 65 to 75 percent to boost investor confidence and speed up power purchase agreement signings → source.
It quotes VIS Rating as saying the proposal is unprecedented in ASEAN and could attract new investment, though some investors seek 20–25-year guarantees instead of 10 years to improve returns.
But VIS Rating also notes infrastructure and legal hurdles still threaten LNG project timelines.
Ed.’s notes: This reporting contrasts with reports last week that LNG investors were looking for offtake ratios of 90 percent.
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Car manufacturing
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 39,000 motor vehicles in September, up 2.48 percent month-on-month, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office → source.
Total output in the first nine months of 2025 reached 338,000 units, representing a 53 percent year-on-year increase, reflecting a recovery in both domestic demand and export-oriented assembly.
Singapore’s Keppel Vietnam divestment
Vietstock is reporting that Singapore’s Keppel divested to the tune of SGD 322 million or US$247 million in Vietnam, equal to VND 6.5 trillion, in the first nine months of 2025 → source.
It says Keppel sold 42 percent of Palm City for SGD 141 million, 22.6 percent of Saigon Centre phase 3 for SGD 98 million, Nam Long shares for SGD 58 million, and 30 percent of a housing project in Ho Chi Minh City for SGD 25 million.
Ed.’s notes: Article doesn’t say why it’s divesting. For review later.
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Swedish business delegation
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Swedish State Secretary for Climate and Enterprise Sara Modig is leading a business delegation to Vietnam from 2 to 4 November to enhance cooperation in sustainable infrastructure and innovation → source.
It says the visit follows the Sectoral Strategic Partnership Agreement signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s June visit to Sweden and that Modig is meeting with Swedish firms in Hai Phong, including ABB, Atlas Copco, and SKF, key suppliers to VinFast.
Wuling distrubutor profits
VnExpress is reporting that TMT Motors, distributor of Wuling electric cars, earned a post-tax profit of VND 1.9 billion or about US$72,000 in the third quarter after losing VND 93 billion or US$3.5 million a year earlier → source.
The article says TMT Motors’ return to profit was driven by stronger domestic sales, including 10-tonne trucks and Euro 5 models with better quality, design, and competitive pricing.
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12 year bankruptcy
Vietstock is reporting that the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court declared the bankruptcy of Southern Seed Mechanical JSC (SSE), a subsidiary of Southern Seed Corporation (SSC), on 29 September after 12 years of delay → source.
It says the bankruptcy process began in 2013, when SSE’s shareholders had approved the bankruptcy plan, but was prolonged due to administrative and legal complications, including the death of SSE’s former legal representative in 2019.
The article says SSE had lost solvency and had no remaining assets to cover bankruptcy costs.
Ed.’s notes: This is a very long time for creditors to wait.
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Mobile phone manufacturing
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 16 million cellular phones in September, up 1.59 percent month-on-month, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Total output for the first nine months of 2025 reached 140 million units, up 2 percent year-on-year, maintaining steady growth despite global demand headwinds. → source
Seafood group profits
Vietstock is reporting that Minh Phu Seafood Group posted a post-tax profit of VND 223 billion or about US$8.46 million in the third quarter, its highest since 2022, helped by higher-value product sales, lower selling expenses, and favourable exchange rates → source.
Deputy General Director Le Van Diep says profit margins rose to 15.8 percent as the company focused on value-added shrimp processing.
Ed.’s notes: Noteworthy in that the US is a major export market for Vietnam seafood exports – speaks to impacts of “recipricol” tariffs.
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