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 →
Government planning
VnExpress is reporting that the Minister of Construction explained during a National Assembly group discussion in Hanoi on November 7 that Vietnam’s planning often spans 10 to 30 years rather than 50 to 100 because both national and local resources are limited → source.
He suggests Vietnam’s development planning lacks long-term continuity because it depends on limited government funding and short political terms.
He also implies that leadership changes cause instability — new provincial leaders often revise or replace previous plans, shortening their lifespan.
Ed.’s notes: 50 to 100 years is a long time in a developing economy.
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Solar power development challenges
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that at the 5th Vietnam Clean Energy Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on 7 November 2025, organised by the Electricity Regulatory Authority and the Vietnam Energy Association, solar firms complained of inconsistent local rules hindering project development→ source.
Tran Van Hoi of Anh Duong Luxury Co. said inconsistent technical and fire safety standards across provinces cause costly delays and confusion.
He urged a unified national standard for construction, safety, and fire prevention.
Hoi also said financing remains difficult because banks do not yet recognise solar or battery energy storage system assets as collateral, and called for a clear legal framework to classify these systems as assets eligible for loans.
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Wind power curtailments
Dan Tri is reporting that wind power firms in Quang Tri have appealed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the provincial People’s Committee, EVN, and the National Load Dispatch Centre over prolonged power output cuts reaching up to 99 percent → source.
The article says companies have warned that generation curtailments of 20–90 percent, particularly during the October–February peak wind season, have severely reduced revenue.
The firms urged authorities to limit curtailments to 2–5 percent during peak wind periods and schedule them during low-impact hours.
They also requested EVN and dispatch centre publicly disclose curtailment data across all energy types to ensure fairness.
Ed.’s notes: See comments on planning above; public disclosure request is interesting.
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Vingroup wind farm
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vingroup has proposed investing in the Halcom Hong Duc wind power project in Quang Tri worth VND 9.13 trillion or about US$352 million → source.
The 200 MW project will span 1,606 ha and supply 549.4 GWh annually to the national grid.
The plan follows Vingroup’s push into energy and infrastructure through VinEnergo, which targets 47,500 MW of renewable capacity by 2035, the article says.
It also note that in September, Vingroup also broke ground on the US$6.1 billion Hai Phong LNG Power Plant, one of northern Vietnam’s largest energy projects.
Ed.’s notes: This is the same province where the windpower curtailments mentioned above have been happening.
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HCMC-Can Gio Railway 2028
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that VinSpeed, founded by Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong in May 2025, plans to start construction this year on a Ben Thanh–Can Gio high-speed railway and begin operations in early 2028 → source.
VinSpeed expects to complete the feasibility study by late 2025, begin site clearance in the fourth quarter, and conduct trial runs by late 2027.
VinSpeed, now capitalised at VND 15 trillion or US$569 million, is also proposing other high-speed lines, including the 1.5 million billion VND (US$61.35 billion) North–South railway and the VND 153 trillion (US$5.8 billion) Hanoi–Quang Ninh route, the article notes.
Ed.’s notes: Timeline super-tight. Land clearance and feasibility study at same time seems counter-intuitive.
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Vietnam’s other aerospace company
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam now has two entities pursuing ambitions in the space sector: VinSpace and ThaiSpace → source.
It was reported that VinSpace had been established as a subsidiary of Vingroup a few days ago, with six business areas registered, including research in science and technology, aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing, air cargo transport, and satellite telecommunications.
Dan Tri notes that before VinSpace, billionaire Nguyen Duc Thuy, known as Bau Thuy, had launched ThaiSpace JSC in 2021 through Thaiholdings with plans for a VND 26.7 trillion (US$1.01 billion) “space tourism port” in Phu Quoc.
However, ThaiSpace later scaled down, changed its name to Bai Thom – Phu Quoc Investment, Trade and Service Co., and was eventually divested by Thaiholdings in 2022.
Ed.’s notes: Earlier this year the Philippines announced plans for a spaceport. Not clear what is driving this interest in the aerospace sector. Monitoring.
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Digital asset market withdrawal
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that Vietcap Securities (VCI) has withdrawn its plans to establish a digital asset market in Vietnam because the required charter capital of VND 10 trillion or about US$379 million is beyond its capacity → source.
Board member To Hai said Vietcap had joined the pilot scheme in February 2025 as one of four licensed participants but decided to exit by August after assessing the capital burden and high risk of the new sector.
Ed.’s notes: Hype dying down. Requirements for pilot project onerous and expensive. More similar announcements likely coming.
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Fact-check gold holdings
Dan Tri is reporting that the World Gold Council has said the long-cited estimate that Vietnamese citizens hold 400–500 tonnes of gold outdated and unverifiable. This comes after a reporter asked about the claim after it was made by an unnamed delegate at the National Assembly last month → source
Ed.’s notes: Fact checks are really rare in Vietnamese news. Note that it doesn’t specify the delegate who made the original comments, but the fact someone chose to question what was said in a media environment when questioning authority is generally discouraged, is encouraging to see.
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Coffee sales to Mexico
Dan Tri is reporting that Mexico spent nearly 35 times more on Vietnamese coffee in the first ten months of 2025, reaching US$195.2 million for 37,627 tonnes → source.
The article quotes:
- Analyst Nguyen Quang Binh as saying the rise stems from a 50 percent US tariff on Brazilian coffee, pushing American buyers to source Arabica from Mexico, which then imported cheaper Robusta from Vietnam; and
- Vicofa as saying Mexico’s high demand for instant coffee, mostly made from Robusta, and improved Vietnamese processing boosted exports.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting example of how tariffs distort markets and divert trade. Interesting to think about in terms of getting around circumvention tariffs.
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US ASEAN Trade Clause
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the United States has inserted “poison pill” clauses into new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, alarming ASEAN members → source.
These clauses allow Washington to end any deal if a partner signs agreements that threaten US interests, a move widely seen as targeting China.
Ed.’s notes: Rehash of other news coverage; noted for the fact that it is being covered by local media. Raises questions for Vietnam, political alignment with China versus economic dependence on US, and then trade with both.
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Plastics imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported plastics to the tune of US$1 billion in October, down 0.40 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs → source.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$10,377 million worth of plastics by the end of October.
Censorship fines
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that “Singer Jack” has been fined VND 55 million or about US$2,115 and banned from performing for nine months by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports → source.
Authorities said he used lyrics “contrary to Vietnamese customs and morals” during his performance at the Moonlit Childhood show on 16 October.
The event organiser, The East Entertainment, was also fined VND 50 million for staging a performance not approved in its licence.
Ed.’s notes: Context here.
Nine month ban is loss of income for whole ecosystem – stage hands, security staff, performers, lighting technicians, food and beverage vendors, merchandisers, makers of merchandise etcetera. Cost-vs-reward.
Also, seems Jack made up a song on the fly – might speak to attitudes toward innovation, what kind of innovation is acceptable and what kind of innovation is not, and then, can you have one without the other?
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Interest rate cuts/hikes
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that at a forum in Hanoi, Fulbright economist Nguyen Xuan Thanh warned that Vietnam’s low-interest environment may soon reverse → source.
He identified three main pressures: rising inflation expectations, a weakening dong, and credit growth outpacing money supply.
Thanh said maintaining aggressive growth targets could strain macro-stability, with inflation and exchange-rate pressure likely to extend into 2026.
He concluded that Vietnam must balance growth and stability, as ultra-loose monetary policy is reaching its limits.
Ed.’s notes: Public statements along these lines are becoming more common but policy does not seem to be shifting. Monitoring.
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State-owned banks dominate lending
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that credit across Vietnam’s banking system has grown at its fastest pace since 2020, rising about 14.5 percent year-to-date by the end of the third quarter of 2025, according to VDSC → source.
BIDV, VietinBank and Vietcombank together hold 43 percent of total system credit, underscoring the dominance of state-owned lenders, the article notes.
Ed.’s notes: Stated owned = state backed, less risk, priorities aligned with government policy (credit growth for GDP growth) rather than shareholder returns.
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Cashew nut exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported cashew nuts to the tune of US$504 million in October, up 2.63 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$4.28 billion worth of cashew nuts by the end of October. → source
