Vietnam News Roundup: August 8 to August 14

In this week’s Vietnam News Roundup: Motor Show 2025 cancelled, corporate bond issues slow, dong weakens, AISVN faces dissolution, Shake Shack to enter VN, JBS plans two plants, ministry eyes rollback of land pricing reforms, VN-Index up but foreign selling continues, 12 new visa exempt countries, 10k+ customs violations, and more…

In case you missed it…

Vietnam’s Vingroup’s Q2 Financial Statements & Deteriorating Debt Profile: Unpacked 

Vingroup’s latest consolidated financial statements reveal a company that is heavily leveraged and accruing liabilities at a hefty clip. This article breaks down this latest data and looks at what might happen next. Read More »

Automotive news

Vietnam Motor Show 2025 cancelled amid weak market

The Vietnam Motor Show 2025, the country’s largest annual auto industry event, has been cancelled due to a sluggish market and a lack of significant new model launches, Tuoi Tre has reported → view source. 

The decision was announced on August 11 by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) and the Vietnam Automobile Importers Association (VIVA).

See also: Vietnam Automotive Industry 2025: Growth, Imports & Outlook

Banking and finance news

Vietnam corporate bond market sees slowdown in July 2025

In July 2025 Vietnam recorded 31 private bond placements worth VND 27,294 billion or US$1.05 billion and one public offering worth VND 2,649 billion or US$102 million, according to data from the Vietnam Bond Market Association (VBMA) → view source.

For the rest of 2025, VND 109,458 billion or US$4.21 billion of corporate bonds are due, with real estate accounting for VND 55,893 billion or US$2.15 billion, or 51 percent of the total.

Local currency loses 12 dong against the greenback

The State Bank of Vietnam weakened the local currency against the greenback this week, with the central exchange rate ending Thursday at VND 25,240, 12 dong lower than last Thursday.

This puts the currency down 3.69 percent since the start of the year.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), however, continued to pump money into the economy. 

There were US$7.65 billion worth of reverse repos outstanding as of close of business August 14. This was down from US$7.9 billion at the same time last week.

There were no new treasury bills issued; however, there were still US$66.1 million worth outstanding as of last night.

See also: How Low Can the Vietnamese Dong Go? Why It’s Sliding & What Might Happen Next

Education news

Ho Chi Minh City proposes dissolution of American International School Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Education and Training has proposed dissolving the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) after it failed to resolve financial and teaching issues following a year-long suspension, VN Express has reported → view source. 

It was shut down last year when it became apparent that interest free loans given to the school by parents, that were to be refunded when students graduated, could not be repaid.

Established in 2006, AISVN had about 1,200 students before its closure.

See also: Vietnam’s Education Industry 2025: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

Food & beverage news

America’s Shake Shack to debut in Vietnam in 2026 with 15-store plan

Shake Shack will open its first restaurant in Vietnam next year under an expanded licensing agreement with Maxim’s Caterers Limited, aiming for 15 outlets nationwide by 2035, according to a press release from the firm → view source. 

Shake Shack’s president for global licensing, Michael Kark, described Vietnam as a “vibrant, food-loving culture” and said Maxim’s was the ideal partner due to its local insight and operational expertise.

See also: Vietnam’s Food and Beverage Industry 2025: Market Trends, Exports, and Key Players

Human resources news

Vietnam job openings increase 3 percent Q2 vs Q1 2025: Adecco

Total job openings in Vietnam rose 3 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and 20 percent year-on-year (YoY), according to recruitment firm Adecco’s Vietnam Recruitment Market Update Q2 2025 → view source.

Growth has been driven by manufacturing, technology, and renewable energy, with hiring concentrated on key positions, the report says.

See also: Human resources in Vietnam 2025: Labour Laws, Wages, and Compliance

Meat news

Brazilian meat firm JBS to build two plants in Vietnam

Brazilian meat giant JBS S.A. is set to invest in two export-oriented food processing plants in Vietnam, starting with Hai Phong and followed by Ho Chi Minh City, The Investor has reported→view source. 

The project, worth around US$100 million, was first hinted at by Brazil’s president in March and later confirmed by JBS executives.

See also: Vietnam’s Meat Market 2025: Data, Scandals, Risks, and Key Players

Real estate

Ag. Ministry proposes rolling back market-based land pricing

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proposed amending the Land Law to remove market-based principles in land price determination, giving the State full authority to set prices, Tap Chi Tai Chinh has reported→view source. 

The revisions will be submitted to the National Assembly in October.

For some context, this comes barely a year after a new Law on Land took effect which scrapped the centrally set five-year price list and allowed local governments to set annual base prices.

This aimed to bring official valuations closer to real market values and subsequently speed up land acquisitions, reduce disputes, and unlock stalled projects — even if it meant higher land costs.

It also sought to stem the practice of buyers making up the difference between the government set prices and the actual market value of a property through off-the-books payments.

See also: Vietnam’s Land law 2024 for Foreign Investors 

Stock market news

VN-Index gains 55.74 points but foreign-traders continue exit

Over the last five trading sessions to the close of business on August 14, foreign investors net-sold US$230.53 million worth of HCMC Stock Exchange (HoSE) stocks. 

This brings the total net sold by foreign traders for the year-to-date to US$1.95 billion.

Conversely, the VN-Index closed Thursday at 1,640.69 points, up 55.74 since last Thursday.

Foreign trader activity, last five trading days

VND = billions; US$ = millions; source: HSX

See also: Explainer: What’s Driving Vietnam’s Stock Market Rally?

Tourism news

Vietnam grants visa exemption to 12 more countries from August 15

Vietnam will exempt visas for citizens of 12 additional countries from August 15, allowing a temporary stay of 45 days, under a tourism stimulus programme, VN Express has reported → view source. 

The newly eligible countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, with the policy to remain in effect until August 14, 2028.

See also: Vietnam Visa Guide 2025: Types, Application & Requirements

Trade news

Vietnam records over 10,000 customs violations by mid-July

From 15 June to 14 July, Vietnam’s customs authorities detected 1,790 violations worth an estimated VND 1.48 trillion (US$56.9 million), Tien Phong has reported→view source.

These cases add to a year-to-date total of 10,351 violations by mid-July, valued at about VND 15.1 trillion (US$580.8 million).

Main products seized included garlic, electric soldering irons, folding chairs, diesel, coal, cosmetics, frozen food, seafood, breeding stock, poultry, foreign currency, cigarettes, and mobile phones.

This is in line with broader moves to crackdown on counterfeit goods to appease US intellectual property concerns cited as part of a broader review of Vietnam’s trade practices.

See also: Vietnam’s US Tariff Threat Prompted Counterfeit Crackdown: Unpacked

The week ahead

There are a handful of events coming up this week. For more information, see: Doing Business in Vietnam: Events Directory 2025.