This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media 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’re operating a business or working in Vietnam and want to talk about it, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Gov’t scrutiny trade deficit
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has ordered an investigation into why Vietnam’s trade deficit reached US$770.4 million (VND20.3 trillion), including scrutiny of companies with surging imports and large foreign-invested manufacturers.
He said authorities should determine whether imported machinery, equipment and raw materials are being converted into export production quickly enough, though it’s not clear how this will be determined nor what remedial action might be taken if firms are found not meeting the undefined turnaround timeframe. View source→
Starlink now available
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Starlink has officially launched satellite internet services in Vietnam, offering household plans from VND1,131,990 (US$42.96) per month for 100 Mbps and VND1,711,100 (US$64.94) per month for speeds above 400 Mbps.
Customers can order the service immediately, with unlimited data, a 30-day money-back trial and hardware starting from about VND8.65 million (US$328.27), while the pilot programme is capped at 600,000 terminals until January 1, 2031, the article notes. View source→
Starlink issue naming islands South China Sea
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s telecommunications regulator has said that it has repeatedly asked Starlink Services Vietnam to display the Vietnamese names Hoang Sa and Truong Sa on its service map, though the company is yet to comply.
Deputy Director Nguyen Anh Cuong of the Telecommunications Authority said Starlink had countered that the map shows service coverage rather than territorial claims. View source→
Ed.’s notes: None of the islands in the SCS on the map are labelled. They are all highlighted as having access to Starlink services despite Starlink not being available in China. Map is here.
Fuel prices revised
Vietnamnet is reporting that retail fuel price caps have been cut, with E10 petrol lowered by VND 205 to VND 22,119 per litre (US$0.84) and E5 petrol by VND 493 to VND 21,235 per litre (US$0.81).
The diesel price was also cut by VND 311 to VND 27,233 per litre (US$1.03). View source→
Total real estate loans
Doanh Nhan Vietnam is reporting that property lending reached VND 5.14 quadrillion (US$195.1 billion) at the end of June, up 8.3 percent from the end of 2025 and outpacing overall credit growth, with bad debts in the sector rising 10.5 percent.
Real estate loans accounted for 25.5 percent of total credit, with 94 percent comprising medium- and long-term lending, prompting the central bank to warn of maturity mismatch risks with banks relying heavily on short-term deposits. View source→
Nowhere for HCMC sludge
Tuoi Tre is reporting that about 17.2 million cubic metres of soil and dredged mud from canal projects in HCMC has nowhere to go, with disposal sites yet to be designated. View source→
Israeli airline Tel Aviv – Hanoi route canned
Calcalistech is reporting that Israeli airline El Al has cancelled plans to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and Hanoi after Israel’s Shin Bet security agency declined to approve the route for operation by Israeli aircraft and crews.
The airline said it had received preliminary approvals before selling thousands of tickets and investing in the service, but was later informed that the required security permits would not be granted. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Doesn’t specify what the security risk is.
SBV Liquidity risk concerns
Bloomberg is reporting that the State Bank of Vietnam has warned that outstanding dong loans exceed deposits by about VND 2 quadrillion (US$76.8 billion), creating liquidity and interest rate risks that could threaten financial system stability.
The warning came as Prime Minister Le Minh Hung urged the central bank to maintain policy rates, increase market liquidity and keep lending costs low to support the government’s target of double-digit economic growth in 2026. View source→
Offshore borrowing
Reuters is reporting that Vietnamese banks are increasingly turning to offshore lenders as rising domestic funding costs and strong credit demand create funding pressures, with Chinese, Taiwanese, Middle Eastern, Japanese and South Korean banks seeking a larger role in the market.
Analysts cited, however, have said that while offshore funding can diversify banks’ funding sources, it does not solve Vietnam’s domestic deposit shortage, warning the country’s heavy reliance on bank lending to finance investment increases financial risks. View source→
Car sales
Just-Auto is reporting that Vietnam’s reported new vehicle sales fell 5 percent year-on-year to 25,246 units in July, although the figures exclude major manufacturers including VinFast, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan.
Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association members sold 175,007 vehicles in the first seven months of 2026, up 11 percent from a year earlier, with passenger vehicle sales rising 9 percent and commercial vehicles increasing 15 percent. View source→
Concerns for domestic business growth
The Investor is reporting that economist Tran Dinh Thien has raised concerns that Vietnam’s strong economic growth is masking persistent weakness among domestic private companies, as foreign direct investment and foreign-invested exporters continue to outpace local businesses. View source→
Stock market Thursday
The VN-Index closed at 1,765.63, down 27.55 points or 1.54 percent, with a total trading value of VND 18,664.44 billion or US$708.33 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$21.90 million worth of equities, Thursday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Thursday
On August 13, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 25,950, and the sell rate was VND 25,990, a change of 200 and 190, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 25,970 (up 0.76 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s news
In yesterday’s Vietnam news: LNY holiday 2027, Steel industry performance Q2 2026, Banks lowering lending interest rates, Proposal to restart construction on Saigon One tower, Carbon trading scheme expansion, Premium apartments difficult to move, E-commerce market growth slows, Copyright infringement video game, Possible second LNG supply contract, Vietnam manufacturing development analysis, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, Yesterday’s news, and more. Read the full article →