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.
LT Airport scale cost concerns: GS
The Investor is reporting that Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary To Lam has questioned the efficiency and projected returns of the US$16 billion Long Thanh International Airport project, citing concerns over scale and comparative cost.
He asked how long it would take to recover the investment and what annual contribution the airport would make to gross domestic product growth, warning of potential waste without clear calculations.
Ed.’s notes: Will the answers to these questions make a difference? Is not completing the project as planned a possibility?
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Apostille Convention implementation deadline
VOV is reporting that a plan to implement the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leading enforcement and drafting guiding regulations before June 15, has been approved.
Electronic Apostille services and online public services will be provided via the National Public Service Portal, with the system scheduled to operate before September 11, 2026.
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Meta legal action Vietnam advertiser
Meta has announced in a press release that it is taking legal action against a Vietnam-based advertiser accused of running a subscription fraud scheme using cloaking techniques to evade ad review systems.
The individual, identified as Ly Van Lam, allegedly used scam advertisements offering heavily discounted branded goods to redirect users to fraudulent survey sites requesting credit card details.
Victims were charged recurring unauthorised fees after providing payment information, a practice described as subscription fraud, while the ads concealed their true content from Meta’s review systems.
Ed.’s notes: Specifics of legal action not disclosed – will be interesting to see if this is through VN courts and then how that might play out #monitoring
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Boeing stock on VN deals
Yahoo Finance carrying analysis of the recently announced Vietnam aircraft orders as evidence that Boeing continues to attract strong demand from high-growth markets despite ongoing regulatory and legal pressures.
The deals with Sun PhuQuoc Airways and Vietnam Airlines are presented as reinforcing Boeing’s long-term backlog strength and supporting future production and services revenue.
Ed.’s notes: These are not all new announcements. Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines have been saying for years that they intend to buy large numbers of Boeing jets, but only a handful have been delivered.
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16m tonne steel plant proposal
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Xuan Thien Group, a relatively little talked about conglomerate, has proposed a deep-water port with 100 million tonnes annual capacity and a 16 million tonne phase-one steel complex in Can Tho.
This comes on the heels of Xuan Thien committing nearly VND100,000 billion project, about US$3.80 billion, to a 9.5 million ton steel complex in Ninh Binh.
Ed.’s notes: Crude steel output last year 23.3 million tonnes, output in 2021 30+ tonnes – change looks to stem from demand side issues, not supply.
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Tourism sustainability calls
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is carrying an editorial (?) arguing that headline visitor numbers are not necessarily a proxy for tourism success, with spending, length of stay, satisfaction and repeat visits better metrics.
It calls for timed ticketing, capacity limits and better visitor distribution to address infrastructure and environmental pressure.
Ed.’s notes: Authority of speaker not clear, but they sound knowledgeable.
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Thai firm bids on local sarsaparilla factory
VnExpress is reporting that F&N Ventures, part of the Thai Beverage group, has offered VND98 billion, about US$3.72 million, to acquire the struggling Chuong Duong Beverage’s Nhon Trach 3 soft drink factory.
The offer includes VND66 billion, about US$2.50 million, for tangible assets and VND32 billion, about US$1.21 million, for the Saxi brand.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting to see if the brand will survive – was the problem business management or the product?
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Updates to Law on Geology and Minerals
VN Economy is reporting that a consolidated decree under the Law on Geology and Minerals has been issued, prohibiting exports of rare earth minerals that do not meet deep processing standards.
Exploration, mining and transfer of rights require written approval from the Prime Minister, and international cooperation is limited to partners approved by the Prime Minister.
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EU fishing regs compliance review
Thanh Nien is reporting that a European Commission delegation will visit Vietnam on March 10 for a fifth inspection related to the yellow card warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing imposed since 2017.
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Belgian ambassador meets with PM
Vietnam Plus is reporting that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met Belgian Ambassador Karl Van Den Bossche to discuss bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment and support for war legacy remediation.
The Prime Minister urged Belgium to ratify the European Union-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement and support the removal of the European Commission yellow card on Vietnam seafood exports.
Ed.’s notes: Belgium-Vietnam two-way trade US$276.36 million in January.
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Trade remedies ceramics Philippines
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry launched a safeguard investigation into imported ceramic tiles.
Vietnam’s Trade Remedies Authority said ceramic tiles were previously investigated by the Philippines in 2018 and 2021, with no duties imposed.
Ed.’s notes: Vietnam ceramics exports to the Philippines down 15.45% in 2025 vs 2024.
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Germany’s KURZ expansion
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that KURZ Vietnam, a subsidiary of Germany-based LEONHARD KURZ, broke ground on Phase 2 of its factory project with additional investment of VND 830 billion, about US$31.52 million, at Becamex VSIP Binh Dinh Industrial Park.
The expansion will add 25 million square meters of annual production capacity and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
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Bad debts rising
Dan Tri is reporting that Sacombank’s category five loans, classified as debts with potential loss of capital, rose sharply to nearly VND29,906 billion, about US$1.14 billion, at the end of 2025, up 3.4 times from a year earlier.
Across 27 listed banks, total group five loans reached VND166,707 billion, about US$6.33 billion, up 26 percent year-on-year.
BIDV and VietinBank also recorded large increases, while VPBank reported higher bad debts alongside strong growth in real estate lending.
Vietcombank was among the few major banks to report a decline in group five loans compared with the previous year.
Ed.’s notes: Adds to quantity over quality argument re: last year’s credit growth targets.
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Stock market Thursday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,879.64, up 18.73 points or 1.01 percent, with a total trading value of VND 31,686.97 billion or US$1202.54 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$116.43 million worth of equities, Thursday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Exchange rates Thursday
the-shiv is reporting that On February 26, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,700, and the sell rate was VND 26,750, a change of 0 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,725 (down 0.00 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Plastic product imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported plastic products to the tune of US$1,032 million in January, down from US$1,067 million in December, a change of -3.25 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Toy / sporting goods exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported toys and sporting goods to the tune of US$723 million in January, down from US$942 million in December, a change of -23.29 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
LPG production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 74.69 thousand tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in January, down 15.75 percent from 88.66 thousand tons in December, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Updated: Vietnam’s Pharmaceuticals Law 2026
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s Pharmaceuticals Law regulates the production, distribution, and use of pharmaceutical products to ensure their safety, efficacy, and quality.
It establishes strict standards for drug registration, licensing, and compliance, and mandates oversight by the Ministry of Health to protect public health and promote the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Read the full article →
Updated: Vietnam Pharmaceuticals Industry 2026
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s pharmaceuticals industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing health awareness, rising demand for medications, and supportive government policies.
With a focus on both traditional and modern healthcare solutions, the market is seeing a shift towards locally produced pharmaceuticals, which are often favoured for their affordability and relevance to local health needs. Read the full article →
Updated: Vietnam Stock Market Indexes 2026
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam stock market indices are many and varied.
Each gives a unique glimpse into how Vietnam’s stock markets are performing both in isolation and in the context of the wider world.
This overview of each of these key Vietnam stock market indexes should provide a broad understanding of those key indexes and how they are compiled.
Changes to the index can also be followed via the Vietnam Stock Market Tracker. Read the full article →
Updated: Vietnam Electronics Manufacturing 2026
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam has emerged as a major electronics manufacturing hub, attracting significant investments from global companies like Samsung, LG, and Intel.
The northern region, particularly Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces, is the primary centre for production, responsible for nearly half of Samsung’s global smartphone output.
The southern region, centred around Ho Chi Minh City, is home to Intel’s largest chip assembly plant, contributing to Vietnam’s growing role in the global semiconductor industry. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
the-shiv is reporting that In today’s Vietnam news: Taiwan packaging firm factory lease, Government bond issue outcome, Food prices lower, FLC unpaid employee insurances, Deposit insurance increase proposal, Causes of land ownership cert. delays, SpaceX legal VN legal structure, Domestic satellite internet requirements, Bank interest rate norms divergence, GS on SOE / culture development, Is Vietnam’s New Steel Strategy Solving the Right Problem?, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, Imports from Malaysia, Exports to India, Update: Vietnam’s Supplements Market 2026, Update: Liquor Licences in Vietnam 2026, and more. Read the full article →