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 →
ASF pig culls
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that 1.23 million pigs were culled in the first 11 months of 2025 as African swine fever spread nationwide.
In November alone, 402 outbreaks were reported in 31 provinces, bringing the total to 2,495 outbreaks in 34 localities since January.
Veterinary authorities have said most outbreaks are occurring in smallholder farms with weak biosecurity, while heavy rainfall and high humidity are helping the virus persist, the publication notes.
Ed.’s notes: Would be interesting to know how effective the vaccine was/is – number worse no vaccine?
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HCMC free trade zone proposal
VnExpress is reporting that the government has proposed establishing a free trade zone in Ho Chi Minh City with special land, tax and financial mechanisms to support its regional economic role.
On Wednesday Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son presented a draft resolution allowing the city to decide on the formation and expansion of the zone, and to allocate or lease land for non housing projects without auctions.
The draft offers incentives including a 10 percent corporate income tax rate for 20 years, reduced personal income tax for high skilled workers and permission for enterprises to list and transact in foreign currency, the publication says.
Hanoi beer relocation
Dan Tri is reporting that the Hanoi People’s Council has approved a resolution requiring the relocation of the historic Hanoi Beer factory, built in 1890 and now serving as the headquarters and production site of Bia Ha Noi.
The 52,000-square-metre site in Ngoc Ha Ward is among industrial facilities deemed incompatible with the revised master plan for the capital’s central urban area.
Strike action garment factory
Tien Phong is reporting that hundreds of garment workers at Thien Dieu Company in Phu Tho Province stopped work on 2 December to protest what they described as inappropriate behaviour by a supervisor.
Workers said they were frequently shouted at, fined for small mistakes and pressured by strict requirements from the supervisor.
Local authorities said they intervened the same afternoon, with the commune’s People’s Committee, police and the company’s grassroots union mediating between the two sides.
EU concerns VN ILO commitments
the-shiv is reporting that the European Union Domestic Advisory Group has said that Viet Nam’s progress on labour rights has not kept pace with the economic benefits generated by the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, in a statement released December 1.
It has noted that while Viet Nam’s exports to the European Union have risen by more than 70 percent since the agreement entered into force, commitments on worker protections remain unmet.
Ed.’s notes: Keen to hear from any EU businesses in VN with views on this one way or the other. HMU: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Bank risk
Fitch Ratings has issued a press release in which is says Vietnam’s economic growth is sustaining the credit profiles of major banks, supported by 7.9 percent year-on-year GDP growth and a 19 percent rise in system credit in the first nine months of 2025.
However, the agency also warns that rapid loan expansion and a proposed removal of individual credit growth limits could increase already-high leverage and elevate medium-term asset-quality risks.
Inter-bank rates record high
Dan Tri is reporting that the State Bank of Vietnam has sharply increased liquidity support as overnight inter-bank lending rates jumped to 7 percent.
Outstanding open market operation lending has reached about 342.642 trillion dong (US$13.01 billion), marking a record level of system support.
Experts cited suggest widening gaps between credit growth and deposit growth, stronger competition for deposits, public-investment disbursement needs, and exchange-rate pressures are all key drivers of the liquidity strain.
They also pointed to rising bad debt, noting that tens of thousands of businesses have closed each month and that banks are raising deposit rates to keep pace with credit demand.
Exchange rates Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that on December 3, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,450 and the sell rate was VND 27,520, a change of 70 and 100, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,485 (down 0.31 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 26,373.
Novaland bonds repayment goal
Bloomberg is reporting that real estate developer Novaland is seeking fresh funding to repay outstanding bonds as it works to revive stalled projects and return to profitability.
Chief Executive Officer Duong Van Bac said the company aims to clear all retail bonds by June 2026 and expects to secure financing within eight months.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting comments in this article from Bac – very optimistic.
New airport December 19 deadline
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Long Thanh International Airport contractors are deploying nearly 14,000 specialists, engineers and workers to accelerate construction to meet a December 19 deadline.
Key items in apron, internal transport and technical infrastructure packages are scheduled for basic completion by 19 December, including passenger terminal apron structures, drainage, lighting and priority tunnels, the publication says.
Ed.’s notes: Terminal 3 at Tan Son Nhat rushed for the National Reunification 50th anniversary celebrations – opening marred by leaking roof.
New airport next phase
Thanh Nien is reporting that ACV has proposed leading phase two of Long Thanh International Airport for consistency.
It also notes that according to the Ministry of Construction has said phase two, which includes a third runway and second passenger terminal, was slated for completion over 2028–2032, but double-digit GDP growth expected in 2026 will accelerate passenger demand and therefore phase two should begin earlier than planned.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for comments on double-digit growth – this is a target not a forecast – risky foundation for future planning.
Government bond auction
the-shiv is reporting that the State Treasury put VND 13,000 billion (US$493.2 million) of government bonds up for auction on 3 December, but only the 10-year tranche managed to sell, yielding VND 7,850 billion (US$298 million) out of a possible VND 8,000 billion (US$303.7 million), according to the Vietnam Bond Market Association.
All five-year, fifteen-year and thirty-year bonds attracted registrations but produced zero winning bids.
Opinion: Hanoi EV transition
VnExpress is carrying an opinion piece from Hoang Thanh Tuyen, an Information Technology Specialist, in which he argues that Hanoi’s plan to restrict petrol vehicles, coupled with apartment-block bans on electric bikes and scooters, leaves Hanoi residents without viable transport options.
He goes on to call for Hanoi to come up with a plan to issue standards for EV parking and charging, upgrade older buildings and prevent ad-hoc bans that undermine the city’s clean-transport goals.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to public perceptions/expectations re: Hanoi petrol bike ban.
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Private investment power sector
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Ministry of Finance told a conference on 3 December, that Vietnam will need about US$134 billion in power-sector investment between 2021 and 2030, with private capital expected to play a central role.
International experts at the event noted that clear and predictable regulatory frameworks are essential to mobilise large-scale private financing for the energy transition.
Ed.’s notes: See below.
Thai pressure FiT delays
Dan Tri is reporting that the Thai Chamber of Commerce has asked the Prime Minister to step in with respect to paying preferential feed-in tariffs for renewable-energy projects backed by Thai investors.
The association said its members have invested more than US$2.57 billion in renewables in Vietnam for a combined capacity of 2,594MW.
The chamber says that temporary FIT cuts of 25–50 percent and payment suspensions have persisted despite more than 20 letters and multiple meetings with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Electricity of Viet Nam and the Electricity Power Trading Company.
It goes on to warn the delays are creating financial strain and policy-risk concerns, and urged the government to restore full FIT payments and clear outstanding arrears, the publication says.
Margin lending limits
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange has lifted the number of stocks ineligible for margin trading to 66 as of 2 December 2025, after adding TIX due to an audit opinion on its 2025 financial statements.
The list includes firms placed under warning, control or trading restriction, those reporting negative after-tax profit, companies with qualified or adverse audit opinions, and stocks listed for less than six months.
Well-known tickers remaining on the list include BCG, DLG, LDG, HVN, NVL, SMC and TTF, the publication notes.
Stock market Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,731.77, up 14.71 points or 0.86 percent, with a total trading value of VND 28,594.96 billion or US$1,085.20 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$138.37 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Imports from Belgium
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$61.45 million worth of goods from Belgium, down from US$90.21 million in September, a change of -31.88 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$665 million worth of goods from Belgium.
Cotton imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported cotton to the tune of US$187 million in October, up from US$167 million in September, a change of 12.26 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$2,447 million worth of cotton by the end of October.
Cement production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 16.76 million tons of cement in October, up 7.50 percent from 15.59 million tons in September, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Over the first ten months of the year, output reached 152.77 million tons.
Imports from Brazil
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$442.24 million worth of goods from Brazil, up from US$415.10 million in September, a change of 6.54 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$4,189 million worth of goods from Brazil.
