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 Saturday’s news headlines →
Ben Thanh–Can Gio rail
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Ho Chi Minh City Party Standing Committee has approved in principle a Ben Thanh–Can Gio rail project proposed by Vingroup subsidiary VinSpeed.
The line will span nearly 53km with a total investment cost of about 86.650 trillion dong (US$3.29 billion), and is planned to break ground on December 19.
Construction and equipment installation are scheduled through the third quarter of 2027, followed by trial operations and commercial service beginning in early 2028.
Ed.’s notes: Good write-up on this project at Future Southeast Asia.
Questions re: HSR bidders
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnamese companies bidding to join the North–South high-speed railway project have come under scrutiny for limited business activity and unclear financial capacity.
Applicants include firms with large lists of registered business lines but few disclosed projects, and corporate addresses that have been inactive or shuttered.
Observers have raised concerns that companies lacking revenue, sector experience or demonstrable investment capability are pursuing a critical national transport development expected to cost tens of billions of US dollars.
Ed.’s notes: Is there a screening process?
HSR THACO technical support
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s THACO and South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem have signed an agreement on production of rolling stock for rail projects in Vietnam.
Hyundai Rotem will transfer the necessary technology to THACO to support domestic manufacturing of THACO-branded trains and integrated systems including signalling and electrical and mechanical equipment, the article says.
THACO intends to build a rail-industry complex in Ho Chi Minh City’s 786-hectare mechanical-engineering industrial zone, featuring production facilities, a closed test track and a major maintenance centre, the article goes on to say.
Ed.’s notes: Adds weight to THACO HSR bid re: technical abilities.
Storm impact GDP
VnExpress is reporting that the Finance Minister has said Q4 gross domestic product could fall by 0.1 percent due to storms and flooding.
The minister reported that disasters since early in the third quarter have reduced provincial growth in Hue City, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Khanh Hoa by around 1 percent.
Dong Nai LNG plants online
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that PV Power has said the Nhon Trach 4 power plant is ready for commercial operations after completing a 72-hour reliability test.
The gas-fired plant, located in Dong Nai Province, is expected to begin commercial generation before 20 December, following Nhon Trach 3 which entered commercial operation on 20 November.
New trading accounts fall
Tuoi Tre is reporting that new domestic securities accounts fell to a four-month low in November, according to the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation.
More than 237,000 accounts were opened, down about 73,000 from October and ending five consecutive months of growth.
Ed.’s notes: A single trader can have more than one account – above numbers not indicative of the number of people trading stocks.
Arrest in speech crackdown
Vietnam News is reporting that Pham Quang Thien, 47, with links to German-based journalist Le Trung Khoa, has been detained and is being prosecuted on charges of “producing, storing, disseminating and propagandising information and documents aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”.
The Investigation Security Agency issued the decision on December 4 as part of an expanded probe into Khoa who runs a Vietnamese language news site from Germany.
The Supreme People’s Procuracy approved the detention and prosecution, the article notes.
Foreign judges on IFC courts
VnExpress is reporting that lawmakers have presented plans to create a specialised court for international financial disputes, that may see foreign judges on the bench in Vietnam.
The draft law, presented to the National Assembly Standing Committee on December 3, proposes a court in Ho Chi Minh City with jurisdiction over financial centres there and in Da Nang.
Ed.’s notes: There is already a branch of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Hanoi that tackles things like investment disputes – its not clear what gap this new court would aim to fill.
HSR resettlement progress
An Ninh Tien Te is reporting that Nghe An is accelerating resettlement land handover for the North South high speed railway, which will affect about 2,150 households.
The province plans around 30 resettlement sites totalling more than 100ha, with an estimated cost of VND 1,450 billion (US$55 million).
Credit growth
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Thanh Ha told a press briefing on December 6 that credit in the economy has surpassed VND 18.2 million billion (US$690 billion), rising 16.56 percent from the end of 2024.
Ha also said that storms and floods have affected around 250,000 borrowers with nearly VND 60 million billion (US$2.28 billion) in outstanding loans.
Pumped hydro delays
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam Electricity has said delays in compensation payments are affecting progress at the Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower project in Khanh Hoa.
Compensation for 29 affected households worth nearly VND 6.6 billion (US$250,000) has been approved but has been delayed by administrative procedures, the article says.
Vingroup Africa
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vingroup has approved an investment of US$28 million (VND 737.8 billion) to establish a subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The move follows a memorandum of understanding on October 25 for Kinshasa to allocate about 6,300 hectares of land for a riverside mega-urban project including housing, public services and commercial facilities.
Fund performance
The Investor is reporting that foreign investment fund PYN Elite posted a -5.8 percent return in November, in contrast to Vietnam’s VN-Index rising 3.1 percent, citing a 7 December update from the fund.
It notes Vingroup companies drove the benchmark’s gain, without which the market would have fallen 1.2 percent.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to Vingroup performance masking underlying lacklustre performance.
Gold loans auction
Dan Tri is reporting that Agribank is auctioning two long-overdue personal loans that carry not only unpaid principal but thousands of SJC gold chi in accrued interest, causing the debts to balloon far beyond the borrowers’ ability to repay.
The loans, extended in 2008 when gold-linked lending was still common, have grown to a combined book value of nearly VND 90 billion (US$3.4 million).
Ed.’s notes: The perils of gold loans = interest + gold price appreciation.
Local firms struggling abroad
Tuoi Tre is reporting that large Vietnamese companies pursuing international expansion are facing significant challenges, including rising AI-driven competition and low-priced Chinese goods.
FPT said growth in its overseas information technology services slowed to just over 10 percent because competitors are using artificial intelligence to cut costs and underbid contracts.
Thien Long has also stated that low-priced Chinese stationery products are eroding profit margins.
Ed.’s notes: Article a bit all over the place but interesting what these firms are experiencing as the challenges expanding outside of Vietnam.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
CPI November
the-shiv is reporting that consumer prices in November increased by 0.45 percent from October, driven mainly by higher food prices in flood-affected provinces and rising input and fuel costs, according to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics (NSO).
The consumer price index has increased by 3.28 percent from December 2024 and by 3.58 percent from November last year.
Trade turnover November
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s total import and export turnover of goods in November is estimated at US$77.06 billion, down 5.4 percent from October but up 15.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics.
In the first eleven months of 2025, total trade in goods reached US$839.75 billion, up 17.2 percent from the same period last year, with exports increasing by 16.1 percent and imports by 18.4 percent, resulting in a surplus of US$20.53 billion.
Registered/disbursed FDI November
the-shiv is reporting that foreign investment registered in Vietnam had reached US$33.69 billion as of November 30, up 7.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics.
Implemented foreign direct investment in the first eleven months of 2025 is estimated to have reached US$23.6 billion, up 8.9 percent from a year earlier.
Industrial production November
the-shiv is reporting that industrial production in November continued to grow as businesses increased output to meet year-end domestic consumption and export demand, according to the latest data from the National Office of Statistics (NSO).
The industrial production index is estimated to have risen by 2.3 percent from October and by 10.8 percent from November last year.
Imports from Argentina
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$287.90 million worth of goods from Argentina, down from US$363.22 million in September, a change of -20.74 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$3,002 million worth of goods from Argentina.
Imports from Cambodia
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$290.91 million worth of goods from Cambodia, up from US$275.05 million in September, a change of 5.76 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$4,795 million worth of goods from Cambodia.
Exports to UAE
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$499 million worth of goods to UAE, up 3.91 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$4,899 million worth of goods to UAE.
Fruit and veg imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported fruits and vegetables to the tune of US$250 million in October, up from US$231 million in September, a change of 8.12 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$2,157 million worth of fruits and vegetables by the end of October.
Bags + accessories exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported handbags, purses, suitcases, headgear and umbrellas to the tune of US$381 million in October, up 11.31 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$3,725 million worth of bags and accessories by the end of October.
