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 →
PM + Sultan Brunei in Hanoi
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah have agreed to deepen economic and strategic cooperation during a meeting in Hanoi on 1 December, citing the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.
Chinh proposed expanding collaboration in oil and gas, Halal food processing, tourism and people-to-people exchange, and called for Brunei to support Vietnamese firms in energy services and Halal certification while both countries study a rice trade agreement.
Ed.’s notes: End-October total trade US$513.23 millions – Vietnam deficit US$208.50 millions – Vietnam Customs data.
Danang port bidders
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that three major global port operators from the Netherlands, India and Luxembourg have submitted bids for the privately financed component of Da Nang’s Lien Chieu Port project.
The bidders are the Vietnam–Netherlands consortium of Hateco Group and APM Terminals, India’s Adani Ports with Vietnam’s T&T Group, and Vietnam’s VIMC with Terminal Investment Limited from Luxembourg.
The tender is scheduled to open on 24 December, with construction expected to start in Q1 2026.
Battery storage plant Hung Yen
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Chinese clean-energy giant Goldwind will transfer battery-storage technology to Vietnam under a new deal with GG Industries signed in Hung Yen on 30 November.
Goldwind will supply a 5 GWh-per-year automated production line and transfer full Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology, enabling GG Industries to manufacture GG Power-branded systems for industrial, commercial and grid applications.
The plant in Hung Yen’s Industrial Park No. 5 is scheduled for trial production in January 2026 and commercial operation in March 2026.
Ed.’s notes: Hung Yen hometown of General Secretary, also planned location of Trump golf course.
Japan expands insurance market
Dan Tri is reporting that Manulife has confirmed it has agreed to sell 100 percent of its stake in MVI Life to Japan’s Asahi Life, according to Nikkei Asia.
Asahi Life is set to pay about 30 billion yen (US$192 million), roughly VND 5,082 billion (US$192 million), with the deal expected to close in 2026 pending regulatory approval in Japan and Vietnam.
Rare earth development debate
Tuoi Tre is reporting that lawmakers have raised concerns about rare-earth management during a National Assembly debate on amendments to the Laws on Geology and Minerals.
Delegates have warned of environmental risks from extraction and processing rare earths and called for stronger national oversight.
HCMC metro H1 loss
Dan Tri is reporting that the operator of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line has reported a post-tax loss of 142 billion dong (US$5.39 million) in the first half of 2025.
The company has recorded 104 billion dong (US$3.95 million) in revenue over six months, all from ticket sales, equal to about 600 million dong (US$22,780) per day.
Cuba-Vietnam press cooperation
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged the Vietnam News Agency and Cuba’s Prensa Latina to expand cooperation, modernise operations and strengthen information sharing.
He made the proposal during a meeting in Hanoi with Prensa Latina President Jorge Leganoa Alonso marking 65 years of Vietnam–Cuba diplomatic ties.
Traditional market conversions
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is looking at converting nearly 7,000 traditional markets into convenience stores and modern shopping centres.
The plan was outlined by Tran Huu Linh, head of the ministry’s Domestic Market Department, at the opening of Central Retail Vietnam’s GO! Thang Long shopping centre.
US embassy pop song
The US embassy has released an original music video titled “Never Before,” created in collaboration with Vietnamese rapper Suboi, to mark 30 years of US–Vietnam diplomatic relations, according to a press release.
The video revisits major milestones in the bilateral relationship and uses contemporary visuals and music to engage young audiences, highlighting their role in shaping future cooperation.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for contrast with China + Vietnam joint military training exercises back in July.
Korean series filming Hanoi
The Chosun Daily is reporting that Disney+ has resumed filming its series Delusion in Hanoi after the production cancelled a planned shoot in China two months ago.
The China schedule was scrapped in October due to unspecified “local circumstances,” with industry observers linking the decision to fallout from an anti-China backlash tied to another Disney+ drama, Polaris.
Ed.’s notes: China’s loss, Vietnam’s gain.
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Japan auto expansion
Nasdaq is reporting that Japan’s JTEKT Corp. has announced it will establish a dedicated sales company in Hanoi to expand its industrial and automotive aftermarket presence in Vietnam amid rising demand for machinery bearings.
JTEKT said the move supports its 2030 growth strategy by enabling direct engagement with customers instead of relying solely on local distributors, improving product proposals, technical support and service.
5 percent crypto penetration
PWC has issued a report on cryptocurrency in Vietnam in which it puts Vietnam’s crypto holdings at about US$18 billion in 2024, with the potential to reach US$48–109 billion by 2030 depending on the final regulatory model adopted moving forward.
It also puts Vietnam cryptocurrency penetration in 2024 at 5.1 percent.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for contrast with broadly reported Triple-A claim that 20 percent of the population uses crypto.
PWC = tax accountant; Triple-A = Cryptocurrency payments platform – who is saying what? and why?
South Korea logistics expansion
Business Korea is reporting that South Korea’s POSCO Group has established a logistics corporation in Vietnam to strengthen its global supply chain and support steel, raw material and secondary battery material flows.
POSCO aims to improve efficiency across its Vietnamese production bases and may expand into Vietnam’s third-party logistics market as the country’s logistics sector grows, the publication says.
EV charging station regulations
Vietnam News is reporting that HCMC has asked the Ministry of Construction to issue national regulations for installing electric-vehicle charging stations in apartment buildings, citing safety gaps and rising disputes.
The city’s Department of Construction has said current design standards, do not cover EV charging infrastructure or related technical and fire-safety requirements.
Ed.’s notes: Reported earlier this month that HCMC police were warning against charging EVs overnight with 41 fires linked to electric vehicle batteries between October 2024 and October 2025.
Aviation statistics
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam expects the aviation industry to reach 84 million passengers and 1.4 million tonnes of cargo by year-end, increases of 11.4 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
It has forecast further expansion in 2026, targeting 95 million passengers and 1.6 million tonnes of cargo.
Thai-owned beer maker value
Vietnamnet is reporting that Thailand’s ThaiBev’s 53.6 percent stake in beer maker Sabeco is now valued at about US$1.27 billion, down roughly US$3.7 billion from the US$5 billion it paid in 2017.
Sabeco’s share price has fallen about 70 percent from its peak, though the stock has recently rebounded to 49,000 dong (US$1.86) per share.
Despite the drop, ThaiBev has received about 15,500 billion dong (US$588.2 million) in dividends over eight years and Sabeco continues to pay high cash dividends, the publication says.
Used-car dealerships emissions standards
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that car owners and used-car dealers have reported concerns about meeting stricter emissions standards, set to kick in from March 1 2026, saying older vehicles are already difficult to sell.
Dealers report rising consignment volumes and warn that increased supply is pushing used-car prices down.
Ed.’s notes: Still relatively nascent market, probably could have a significant impact. Monitoring.
November Purchasing Managers’ Index
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s manufacturing sector has expanded for a fifth straight month in November, though severe storms have disrupted supply chains and moderated the pace of growth, according to the S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index.
The index came in at 53.8 in November, easing from 54.5 in October but still signalling improving operating conditions.
Stock market performance Monday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,701.67, up 10.68 points or 0.63 percent, with a total trading value of VND 21,041.71 billion or US$798.55 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$11.39 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Monday
the-shiv is reporting that on December 1, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,620 and the sell rate was VND 27,720, a change of 30 and 10, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,670 (down 0.07 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,156, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,368.
Motor vehicle production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 39.94 thousand motor vehicles in October, up 17.40 percent from 34.02 thousand in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, motor vehicle output reached 373.60 thousand units.
Chemical products exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported chemical products to the tune of US$240 million in October, up 0.68 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$2,382 million worth of chemical products by the end of October.
Exports to Australia
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$644 million worth of goods to Australia, down 6.84 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$5,591 million worth of goods to Australia.
Imports from Italy
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$175.83 million worth of goods from Italy, up from US$148.56 million in September, a change of 18.36 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$1,645 million worth of goods from Italy.
