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.
Samsung chip testing and packaging facility possibility
Bloomberg is reporting that Samsung Electronics is planning a US$4 billion investment in a new chip packaging plant in northern Vietnam, with an initial US$2 billion phase in Thai Nguyen.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance said it is working with Samsung on a memorandum of understanding for the semiconductor project, without disclosing details. View source→
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Household income sentiment declines
The Investor is reporting that household income sentiment in Vietnam declined in Q1 despite wages rising 8.5 percent year-on-year, according to the National Statistics Office.
Nguyen Thanh Mai, acting head of the population and labour statistics department, said 95.8 percent of households reported income equal to or higher than before, a decline from the previous quarter and year.
She said uneven income growth, high informal employment and rising costs for essentials, including food and housing, weighed on perceived living standards. View source→
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Burger King scales back operations
Inside Retail is reporting that Burger King has closed all Hanoi stores, except for one at the airport, and scaled back in Ho Chi Minh City after more than a decade in Vietnam, its operator, Imex Pan Pacific Group, has said.
The chain now has no standalone outlets in Hanoi and only three locations outside the airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Burger King entered Vietnam in 2012, aiming for 60 stores within five years, but had only 16 by 2016. View source→
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Fuel prices reduced
Thanh Nien is reporting that the Ministry of Industry and Trade cut fuel prices on April 9, with diesel dropping VND9,872 per litre (US$0.37), according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
RON95 fell to VND23,543 (US$0.89) per litre and E5RON92 to VND22,344 (US$0.85), while mazut also declined.
View source→
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Just 2 projects >2/3 March FDI
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that two projects worth over US$6.2 billion drove Vietnam’s first-quarter foreign direct investment to US$15.2 billion, up 42.9 percent year-on-year.
A US$4 billion Samsung semiconductor project in Thai Nguyen and a US$2.2 billion LNG power project in Nghe An accounted for more than two-thirds of March inflows. View source→
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Food price management
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association, has said food producers are absorbing rising input costs and relying on inventories to keep prices stable.
She said companies are using up stock to offset higher fuel, logistics and raw material costs, but that prolonged cost pressures could force price increases if fuel and input prices do not ease. View source→
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Private sector state propaganda
Vietnamnet has published what looks to be a press release from Zeit Media highlighting its participation in several large-scale projects in 2025, including political programmes, national anniversary campaigns and exhibitions.
The company worked on productions such as “Glory of the Vietnam People’s Public Security,” the 80th anniversary campaign of the People’s Public Security, and the “95 Years of the Party Flag Lighting the Way” exhibition.
It also produced the reality television programme “Brave Soldiers,” combining political content with an emotional storytelling format, the article says. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Interesting piece of communications material. Not clear what its purpose is. Interesting to know who it is for and what it is supposed to achieve.
Note focus on role played producing party propaganda + slogan ‘Art Comes First’.
Feels like this company might be worth watching.
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Standing committee agrees to fuel tax cut extension proposal
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly Standing Committee has agreed to submit a proposal to waive fuel-related taxes until June 30, 2026.
The proposal includes setting environmental protection tax, value-added tax and special consumption tax on fuel products at zero percent. View source→
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“Off-budget” funds to support PSF proposal
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Ha Huy Ngoc, director of the Centre for Strategy and Policy at the Vietnam Institute of Economics and World Economy, proposed using idle funds from “off-budget” financial funds to support the fuel price stabilisation (PSF) fund.
Ha Huy Ngoc said the measure would help offset fuel price shocks. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Noted for reference to “off-budget” funds. Not clear what these are – curious to know why they are off-budget.
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Ford + Tasco Auto MoU EV charging infrastructure
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Ford Vietnam and Tasco Auto have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and share electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The partners plan to expand their combined network to about 89 charging points nationwide by the end of 2026, up from 32 currently in operation. View source→
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MoIT on US trade investigations
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Nguyen Quynh Mai, deputy director general of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, has responded to recently announced US investigations by pointing out that it covers other major economies including the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
He also said, Vietnam and the United States have completed six rounds of tariff negotiations, with most positions aligned but some issues unresolved. View source→
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New SBV governor + bank meeting
Znews is reporting that forty-six commercial banks agreed to cut deposit and lending rates after a meeting with State Bank of Vietnam Governor Pham Duc An on April 9.
Pham Duc An said the central bank will monitor rate movements and support liquidity while maintaining policy rates to stabilise the market. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Suggests new PM intends to continue existing practice of monetary policy through bank interest rates as opposed to policy rates.
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Public investment goals 2026 – 2030
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan has said the government is planning VND8.22 quadrillion (US$312.05 billion) in public investment for 2026–2030.
Public investment is expected to account for 20–22 percent of total social investment, with development spending making up about 40 percent of the state budget, the article notes. View source→
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Seafood sector challenges on provincial merger
Thanh Nien is reporting that Nguyen Van Do, chairman of the Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Export Association, has said administrative changes after the provincial mergers last year left farming areas off quality monitoring lists, blocking export certification and triggering order cancellations.
Ngo Minh Hien, chief executive of SEANAMICO, said the company lost orders of more than 30.6 tonnes worth over VND20 billion (US$758,993) and risks further cancellations. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Adds to provincial merger downsides.
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Stock market Thursday
The VN-Index closed at 1,736.68, down 19.87 points or 1.13 percent, with a total trading value of VND 28,902.02 billion or US$1,096.85 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$94.61 million worth of equities, Thursday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Exchange rates Thursday
On April 9, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,910, and the sell rate was VND 26,960, a change of 0 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,935 (down 0.00 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
WB revised growth forecasts
Vietnam’s 2027 growth forecast has been raised to 7.6 percent while its 2026 projection was cut to 6.3 percent, compared to 6.6 percent previously, in the World Bank’s April Economic Update. Read the full article →
March bond market report
Vietnam corporate bond issuances in March totalled VND 16,311 billion (US$619.02 million), including private placements and public offerings, according to Vietnam Bond Market Association data. Read the full article →
Vietnam news roundup yesterday
In yesterday’s Vietnam news: New C.bank governor, Rearranging April-May public holidays, President-GS To Lam to visit China, Facebook extortion, MoIT cuts fuel prices, Electricity peak pricing review, Deposit interest rates peaking?, VN perspective on Philippines rice import probe, Garment sector push for imported textile scrap, Electricity overload warning, Government bond issue April 8, Vietnam Stock Market and the Iran War: Impact, Risks, and Outlook, Tourist arrivals from Asia, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, Television production March, Interview: Hugo Bosch, HSC’s Emerging Asia Podcast Host RE: Middle East Conflict / Vietnam Stock Market, and more. Read the full article →