This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam and about Vietnam in the international press.
It endeavours to highlight the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
Ed’s note: I’m always looking for new sources with unique insights. If you have anything to share, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Gym closures
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnamese gym chain Citigym will close two major Ho Chi Minh City branches from October 1 as part of a restructuring and downsizing plan.
The move follows closures or downsizing this year by other major gym chains, including CORE Fitness & Yoga, Elite Fitness, and California, the article notes, saying the sector is facing weaker consumer spending and intense competition. View source→
Hanoi public transport EV financing
Nguoi Quan Sat is reporting that Vietcombank has committed VND 1 trillion (US$38 million) in 2026 financing for Hanoi bus operator Transerco’s transition to electric vehicles.
The bank will also consider financing Transerco’s broader VND 3.6 trillion (US$137 million) plan to convert all 840 buses to electric vehicles and develop charging infrastructure by 2030. View source→
*It will be interesting to see which brand of electric vehicles Transerco uses those funds to buy.
Credit limit exemption proposal
CafeF is reporting that BIDV has proposed excluding lending for key Hanoi government projects from banks’ annual credit-growth quotas.
The bank also proposed State Bank of Vietnam liquidity support and greater flexibility in calculating prudential ratios for lending to strategically important Hanoi projects. View source→
*This would add to a range of infrastructure projects that were exempted from banks’ credit growth limits earlier this year. Note that credit growth limits were put in place to control inflation, so carving out exemptions to these limits should have the opposite effect.
US$ gov’t bond issuance sought
Reuters is reporting that Vietnam is considering its first sovereign US-dollar bond issuance since 2014 as the government seeks additional funding for infrastructure and other projects.
Investment banks have proposed 10-year bonds of US$500 million–US$1 billion, with one recommending a coupon of around 7 percent, the article says. View source→
*The concern here is that increasing foreign borrowing increases the borrowers’ interest in the Vietnamese dong staying strong. In this case, the borrower is also in charge of monetary policy (interest rates and foreign currency reserves).
SBV reference rate at record high
VnExpress is reporting that the State Bank of Vietnam raised its reference exchange rate to a record VND 25,617 (US$1) on September 15.
The move set the commercial-bank trading range at VND 24,336–26,898 (US$0.95–US$1.05) per dollar under the central bank’s ±5% band. View source→
*See above.
Australia suspends VN pomelo imports
The ABC is reporting that Australia has suspended fresh pomelo imports from Vietnam for six months after detecting exotic pest and disease symptoms in imported consignments.
An Australian government audit in Vietnam found that export systems and processes were not complying with the agreed biosecurity arrangements. View source→
*I’d just note that agricultural exports generally come from lower-income farming communities and locally owned firms.
Japan retailer VN revenue growth
The Investor is reporting that Japanese retailer Takashimaya Vietnam posted a record operating profit of JPY1.16 billion (US$7.49 million) in the year ended February 2026.
Vietnam recorded the fastest revenue growth among Takashimaya’s profitable overseas department-store markets, while its Shanghai and Thailand operations remained loss-making. View source→
Foreign investors’ state budget contributions
Dan Tri is reporting that major foreign manufacturers, including Samsung, Canon and Intel, were absent from Vietnam’s 200 largest corporate budget contributors in 2025 despite the FDI sector dominating exports.
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry official Dau Anh Tuan attributed the disparity partly to foreign manufacturers importing large volumes of inputs, leaving relatively little value added domestically, and investment incentives that include tax holidays and preferential corporate tax rates. View source→
Electricity shortages forecast
Thanh Nien is reporting that Vietnam faces electricity shortages from 2027 as delays to power generation and transmission projects threaten to leave supply behind rapidly growing demand.
The Industry and Trade Ministry estimates a 2.9 billion kWh shortfall in 2027, rising to 20.7 billion kWh in 2028 and 61.18 billion kWh by 2030. View source→
LNG power development delays
Vietnamnet is reporting that delays to liquefied natural gas power projects threaten planned additions to power generation capacity.
Most new LNG power projects remain in preparation, with financing, turbine procurement, power purchase agreements, and volatile imported LNG prices delaying construction, the article says. View source→
Exchange rates
As of 7.30am today, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 25,720, and the sell rate was VND 25,770, a change of 40 and 40, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 25,745 (down 0.16 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,617, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 25,964. 
Stock market yesterday
The VN-Index closed at 1,811.15, up 22.92 points or 1.28 percent, with a total trading value of VND 16,695.93 billion or US$633.62 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$27.29 million worth of equities, Tuesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Yesterday’s news
In yesterday’s news: SCommerce liabilities jump, Former GSM CEO new EV bike firm, Novaland guarantor, Fake news fines over Grab driver strike news, Tesla market entry, Thai gas power project revived, Garment worker shortage HCMC, Semiconductor plans Hung Yen, Wistron to expand, Online mobilisation containment challenges, China biofuel import deal, Thai retailer expansion plans, Exchange rates, Stock market Monday, Yesterday’s news, and more. View source→