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.
See yesterday’s news headlines →
Public servant private sector participation
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the National Assembly passed the revised Law on Public Employees on December 10, to be effective from July 1 2026.
The law allows public servants to sign labour or service contracts with other organisations, and can contribute capital and join the management of private entities as long as there are no conflicts of interest.
Interior Minister Do Thanh Binh said the change supports labour mobility between public and private sectors.
Ed.’s notes: Higher incomes from side hustles = less need to engage in corruption to supplement income. Mix private sector/public sector income streams = greater opportunities for conflicts of interest/corruption.
Vietnam-Texas flights increase
Vietnamnet is reporting that Taiwan’s EVA Air says it is expanding long-haul services linking Vietnam with Dallas-Fort Worth, shifting from five weekly flights to seven from 15 December 2025.
Ed.’s notes: Reads like an advertisement, noted because United Airlines announced would restart flights to HCMC in October after 8 year hiatus = increasing long haul competition.
SBV foreign exchange swap
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s central bank conducted a 14-day USD/VND swap on December 9 with a maximum limit of US$500 million to meet rising demand for USD.
The State Bank of Vietnam set a spot buying rate of 23,948 VND/USD and a forward rate of 23,958 VND/USD, with credit institutions allowed to register for up to 80 percent.
Ed.’s notes: Focus still on short term solutions to long term problems. Monitoring.
Deposit insurance amendments
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the Deposit Insurance Law, adding early payout provisions and zero-interest special loans when credit institutions face difficulties, effective from May 2026.
Early insurance payouts will be triggered if a bankruptcy plan is approved, deposit taking is suspended with accumulated losses exceeding charter capital, or the State Bank of Vietnam orders it.
Live stream regulations pass NA
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed the E-commerce Law, introducing new rules to tighten management of livestream sales from July 1 2026.
The law requires livestream sellers to provide identifying information to platform operators and bans them from language, images, clothing or behaviour that violates social ethics or traditional customs.
VPBank Securities HoSE debut
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that on 11 December, 1.875 billion VPX shares of VPBank Securities will start trading on HoSE at VND 33,900 (US$1.29) per share.
The listing gives the company a market capitalisation of nearly VND 64,000 billion (US$2.43 billion).
Revised PIT passes NA
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the Personal Income Tax Law, effective July 1 2026, covering income from business, wages, capital, real estate and gold bullion transactions.
Household businesses with annual revenue of VND 500 million (US$18,970) or less will not be taxed, while higher revenue bands face rates of 15 percent, 17 percent and 20 percent.
Real estate transfers will be taxed at 2 percent of the transfer price and gold bullion transfers will be taxed at 0.1 percent of each transaction.
Press Law revisions
Bloomberg is reporting that Vietnam’s parliament has passed amendments to the press law that expand authorities’ powers to compel journalists to disclose sources during criminal investigations, prosecutions or trials.
The revisions add police to the bodies authorised to demand disclosure, replacing limits in the 2016 law that restricted such orders to the courts.
Ed.’s notes: Fewer people talking to local press = deterioration in news quality = fewer readers = less revenue.
Russia-Vietnam nuclear waste
NEI Magazine is reporting that Russia’s Federal Environmental Operator, Rosatom Environmental Integrator and Vietnam’s Academy of Sciences and Technologies have signed an agreement to cooperate on hazardous waste management and environmental rehabilitation.
Rosatom said the agreement aligns with Vietnam’s plans to pursue a nuclear power programme, noting its environmental work supports nuclear industry safety and waste handling.
Coal mining policy reform
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a special mechanism for the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) to resolve procurement barriers that currently hinder underground mine development.
Under existing rules, many technically capable TKV units cannot bid for tunnelling work because they are part of the same legal entity, even though domestic contractors outside TKV largely lack the capacity to perform these specialised tasks.
Public status revoked Apax
Viet Times is reporting that Vietnam’s State Securities Commission has revoked the public-company status of Apax Holdings, meaning the firm will be removed from the stock market.
The company, led by chairman Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, had already been delisted from HoSE in 2023 and later restricted on UPCoM for repeated disclosure violations.
The education business, once known for its Apax Leaders English-teaching chain, has faced complaints, failed restructuring efforts and the March 2024 arrest of Nguyen Ngoc Thuy on fraud charges.
Ed.’s notes: Death by 1,000 cuts continues.
High-Tech law passes NA
VN Economy is reporting that Vietnam’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the High Technology Law, which set out new incentives and regulatory frameworks to accelerate the development of Vietnam’s high-tech sector.
The revised law prioritises state investment in research, development, testing and commercialisation, and commits to providing the highest levels of incentives permitted under investment, tax and land regulations.
New crypto management body launched
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s State Securities Commission has formally launched the Digital Asset Trading Market Management Board, a new body assigned to oversee the emerging market for crypto-asset transactions.
The board has been tasked with drafting regulations, studying international models and improving market-monitoring capacity.
Brain drain Hanoi
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Hanoi’s science and technology director Tran Anh Tuan has told the Vietnam Corporate Governance Forum, that the city has lost significant intellectual and financial resources and must overhaul how it attracts, deploys and rewards talent.
He said the capital is facing a sustained “brain drain,” with skilled workers leaving for Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and overseas, weakening the city’s competitiveness.
Government bond issuance
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s State Treasury offered VND 13,000 billion (US$493.2 million) across 5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 30-year maturities, Wednesday, but investors bought just VND 7,950 billion (US$301.7 million) worth, all in the 10-year term, according to the Vietnam Bond Market Association.
Stock market Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,718.98, down 28.19 points or 1.61 percent, with a total trading value of VND 19,904.19 billion or US$755.38 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$14.04 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that on December 10, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,100 and the sell rate was VND 27,150, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,125, according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,155, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,357.
Beer production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 417.35 million litres of beer in November, up 3.02 percent from 405.11 million litres in October, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 4,162.23 million litres.
Exports to USA
the-shiv is reporting that in November, Vietnam exported US$12.4 billion worth of goods to the USA, down 7.16 percent over October, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$138.6 billion worth of goods to the USA.
Tourists from Asia
the-shiv is reporting that in November, Asia accounted for 1,477,295 tourist arrivals, an increase of 7.40 percent from October, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Fabric imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported fabrics to the tune of US$1,257 million in November, down from US$1,281 million in October, a change of -1.93 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$13,763 million worth of fabrics by the end of November.
