This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and in the international press about Vietnam.
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
AstraZeneca VN business change
Thanh Nien is reporting that the Ministry of Health has revoked AstraZeneca Vietnam’s pharmaceutical import-export business certificate at the company’s request, though it’s not clear why.
AstraZeneca, however, will continue to have medicines licensed and operate clinical trials in Vietnam, the article says. View source→
Stock market upgrade inflows estimate Vietcap
Cafef is reporting that securities firm Vietcap has raised its estimated passive inflows into Vietnamese stocks after FTSE Russell increased Vietnam’s FTSE Emerging All Cap Index weighting.
Vietnam’s weighting rose from 0.329 percent to 0.49 percent, with Vietcap raising its estimate of index-fund inflows from VND52.6 trillion (US$2.0 billion) to VND78.9 trillion (US$3.0 billion). View source→
Can Tho airport low passenger numbers concerns
Tien Phong is reporting that Can Tho officials are pushing Vietjet to operate more flights out of Can Tho International Airport.
Vietjet, however, has responded that previous international routes to Taipei and Incheon were loss-making outside Tet, with current domestic services having load factors of about 48-53 percent, with around 80 percent needed to break even. View source→
VN stocks joining FTSE Russell index
Bloomberg is reporting that FTSE Russell has added more than 100 Vietnamese companies to its global indexes in line with Vietnam’s transition to secondary emerging-market status.
New constituents include Vingroup, Hoa Phat Group, Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank and Vinhomes, while six stocks joined the FTSE All-World Index, the article notes. View source→
EU packaging challenging VN exporters
Vietnam News is reporting that new European Union packaging rules require Vietnamese exporters to meet stricter chemical-safety requirements and progressively tougher environmental standards, though they have limited supplies of compliant recycled materials.
It also notes challenges in testing capacity and waste collection infrastructure, and that smaller packaging companies have constrained investment capacity. View source→
M&A in July
The Investor is reporting that in July, Vietnam recorded 31 announced mergers and acquisitions, with 22 disclosed or estimated deals worth about US$228 million, according to Grant Thornton analysts.
Real estate, logistics and infrastructure, and metals and mining accounted for about 59 percent of disclosed transaction value, totalling US$134.5 million. View source→
PNJ cleared diamond smuggling investigation
Bloomberg is reporting that Thanh Hoa police have cleared Phu Nhuan Jewelry’s diamond import and distribution operations of wrongdoing in a wider cross-border smuggling investigation.
It does, however, note that two employees of its wholly owned certification unit remain accused of assisting in smuggling diamonds from Hong Kong for personal profit. View source→
German gas company US$40m investment
Dig Watch is reporting that German industrial gases company Messer has announced a US$40 million investment to expand production capacity in northern Vietnam.
Messer will build an air separation unit in Yen Binh producing nitrogen, oxygen and argon, alongside a Song Cong liquefier expanding liquid nitrogen supplies, the article notes. View source→
Samsung exports
The Investor is reporting that Samsung Vietnam generated US$44 billion in revenue and US$39 billion in exports from January to July of this year.
This equates to 12.2 percent of Vietnam’s US$319.53 billion goods exports, down from 13.4 percent at the end of 2024, the article notes. View source→
Customs law changes
Reuters is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved customs law amendments including giving customs officers greater powers to halt suspected infringing imports, exports and transit goods, and extending enforcement powers to shipments passing through Vietnam.
The changes follow a United States Trade Representative Section 301 investigation that cited counterfeiting, weak border enforcement and limited proactive customs seizures, the article notes. View source→
Israel infrastructure investment
VIR is reporting that Israel’s Baran Group has offered to arrange up to €140 million (US$164 million) in preferential financing for Vietnamese infrastructure projects. View source→
SK fashion brand market entry
The Korea Herald is reporting that South Korean fashion platform Musinsa has announced it will be entering the Vietnam market through an exclusive distribution agreement with Imex Pan Pacific Group affiliate ACFC.
Musinsa said Vietnam sales through its global online store grew about 40 percent annually on average from 2023 to 2025. View source→
Stock market Friday
The VN-Index closed at 1,768.12, up 33.88 points or 1.95 percent, with a total trading value of VND 18,356.34 billion or US$696.64 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$1.52 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Friday’s news
In today’s Vietnam news: Fuel price changes, Removing export barriers to reduce trade deficit, Land valuation changes, Carbon market challenges, Adidas possible kit supplier VN soccer, Carbon market agreement w/Singapore, SBV outlook, VN response US transhipment report, Long Thanh airport progress report, Stock market Thursday, Exchange rates Thursday, Yesterday’s news, and more. Read the full article →