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 →
Legislated open hours petrol stations
Tuoi Tre is reporting that retail fuel stations in Dong Thap Province will be required to open for at least 12 continuous hours a day under a new provincial decision.
The rules, effective from December 2025, prohibit stations from opening later than 6am or closing earlier than 6pm and apply to all retail fuel traders.
Ed.’s notes: Counters claims Vietnam operates as a market economy.
Xanh GSM 23 percent VinFast sales
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that VinFast’s sales to ride-hailing operator Xanh SM fell to 23 percent of deliveries in the first nine months of 2025, down from 72 percent in 2023.
It cites BSC Research as reporting that VinFast delivered more than 110,300 electric cars and 234,500 electric motorbikes globally during that period.
Ed.’s notes: Increased taxi supply = cheaper fares; cheaper fares = less incentive to buy a car? For review.
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Corporate bonds maturing December
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Viet Dragon Securities Corporation (VDSC) has warned that about 30 trillion dong (US$1.14 billion) in corporate bonds will mature in December, sharply higher than November’s 3.09 trillion dong (US$117 million).
Its November report notes rising issuance and stronger secondary-market activity but highlights continued payment delays by multiple issuers, mainly in real estate.
Foxconn Bac Ninh expansion
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that Foxconn’s subsidiary Fushan Technology is seeking approval to expand its Bac Ninh plant to produce unmanned aerial vehicles and Xbox gaming devices as part of an VND 8.4 trillion (US$317 million) project.
The company plans to add three new production lines, aiming to assemble 100,000 UAVs annually, raise mobile-phone output to 140 million units and add 4.8 million Xbox devices and related components.
Czech real-estate development Hai Phong
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that CTP, the Czech Republic’s largest commercial real-estate developer, has signed a memorandum of understanding to invest 1 billion euros (about US$1.16 billion) in Hai Phong.
CTP plans to build ready-built factories and warehouses under its CTPark model, which it says attracts technology investors.
Meat imports
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam spent more than US$535.52 million importing meat from India in the first 10 months of 2025, remaining its largest supplier of meat and meat products, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Import–Export Department said.
India accounted for 150,200 tonnes, or 18.52 percent of Vietnam’s total meat imports, with volumes down 5.8 percent but value up 0.8 percent from the same period in 2024.
Overall, Vietnam imported 811,300 tonnes of meat worth US$1.62 billion, up more than 15 percent year-on-year.
Influencer club launch
Dan Tri is reporting that the Vietnam KOL and KOC Club was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on 2 December to support content creators amid tighter regulation of influencer activity.
Speakers said the new club will update members on legal requirements and introduce a Trusted Status system to verify credibility for brand partnerships.
Power generators deployed to Phu Quoc
Tuoi Tre is reporting that An Giang Power Company has deployed 20 large mobile generators to supply temporary electricity to northern Phu Quoc after a cable fault on 29 November cut power to a large section of the island.
The Southern Power Corporation said the units, with a combined capacity of about 2.5MW, will rotate power to 32 low-voltage public substations in Gan Dau, Bai Thom and Rach Tram.
Ed.’s notes: Might be down for a while? Monitoring.
New ILO leader
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that the International Labour Organization has appointed Sinwon Park as the new director of its Vietnam office, the agency announced on 2 December.
Park previously served at South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour, where she worked on employment services for vulnerable workers, employment-insurance development and workplace safety initiatives.
NetZero + revised geology law
VN Economy is reporting that a Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly delegate has urged lawmakers to reduce reliance on mineral extraction and incorporate Vietnam’s 2050 NetZero commitment into the revised Law on Geology and Minerals, during a 2 December debate.
Delegate Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran said the draft law still focuses on licensing and enforcement but lacks provisions on cumulative environmental impacts, phased reduction of high-risk mining and development of alternative materials.
She said uncontrolled extraction has contributed to erosion, flooding and ecological damage.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting point – mining industry significantly underdeveloped – manufacturing reaching limits – diversification needed = opportunity, growing environment concerns = key challenge. Monitoring.
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Rare earth policy development
VIR is reporting that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment plans to submit a national rare earth strategy in early 2026 to establish a closed manufacturing chain and limit raw exports.
National Assembly deputy Trinh Xuan An said rare earths are essential to weapons systems and core military technologies, particularly precision weaponry.
He noted that China, Japan and the United States classify rare earths as highly sensitive and said Vietnam should elevate the resource to national-stature importance.
Ed.’s notes: An seems to be suggesting using rare earths as a bargaining chip in international relations. Cart before horse – need to get them out of the ground at scale first.
Vegetable prices settle
Tuoi Tre is reporting that vegetable prices in Ho Chi Minh City have begun to ease thanks to additional supplies from Thailand and China, but remain well above normal levels as output from Da Lat continues to drop sharply.
Suppliers said Da Lat’s vegetable output has fallen 40–60 percent due to prolonged rain and cold weather, while root vegetables may face end-of-year shortages because of longer production cycles.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for practical example of benefits of trade.
Approved energy projects
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam has approved a list of national energy projects, including two nuclear power plants in Khanh Hoa scheduled to operate between 2030 and 2035.
The government list covers 32 power-source projects such as liquefied natural gas plants, hydropower stations and offshore wind developments.
Hanoi EV basement charging ban
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the HH Linh Dam, one of Hanoi’s most densely populated apartment complexes, has announced it will stop accepting electric motorbikes and electric bicycles for basement parking due to overload and fire risks.
The building’s management said the rapid increase in electric vehicles has exceeded the basement’s designed load capacity and raised concerns about battery-related fires in enclosed spaces.
Ed.’s notes: Adds to objectives versus realities narrative around petrol bike ban policy.
Foreign trading certification recognition
The Investor is reporting that Vietnam’s State Securities Commission has proposed a draft circular with new licensing rules to improve oversight of securities practitioners, including replacing paper practising certificates with electronic versions.
The draft circular would also recognise certain international qualifications such as CIIA and CFA Level II as equivalent to domestic certificates, the publication says.
Stock market Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,717.06, up 15.39 points or 0.90 percent, with a total trading value of VND 22,394.95 billion or US$849.90 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$24.06 million worth of equities, Tuesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange
Exchange rates Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting that on December 2, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,520 and the sell rate was VND 27,620, a change of 100 and 100, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,570 (down 0.36 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,153, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,377.
Motorbike production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 312.35 thousand motorbikes in October, up 22.04 percent from 255.95 thousand in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 2,757.35 thousand.
Rice exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported rice to the tune of US$177 million in October, down 23.86 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$3,661 million worth of rice by the end of October.
Imports from Netherlands
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$76.80 million worth of goods from the Netherlands, up from US$64.12 million in September, a change of 19.78 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$664 million worth of goods from Netherlands.
