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.
DPPA power use requirement too high: Deep C
The Investor is reporting that Belgium invested Deep C Industrial Zones has asked Vietnam to ease electricity consumption requirements under the direct power purchase agreement mechanism, citing limits on small and medium enterprises.
Under Decree 57/2025, buyers must be classified as large electricity consumers, defined as using at least 200,000 kilowatt hours per month, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Deep C said many small and medium enterprises need renewable energy to meet international standards but cannot meet the threshold, especially for rooftop solar in industrial zones.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said a revised draft decree lowers the threshold to 100,000 kilowatt hours per month for private grids, while keeping 200,000 kilowatt hours for the national grid.
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First LNG supply contract Shell
Reuters is reporting that Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corp has awarded its first ever liquefied natural gas term supply contract to Shell plc, covering deliveries from 2027 to 2031.
Under the five year deal, Shell will supply about 400,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year to Vietnam, Petrovietnam Gas said on January 7.
Ed.’s notes: Buying LNG from the US was floated last year as a mean to close the trade gap between the two countries. Interesting that PetroVietnam has gone with UK-Dutch Shell.
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Nuclear power Russia not Japan
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on January 7 that Vietnam will stop negotiations with Japan on cooperation to invest in the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant.
The prime minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to formally notify Japan, the article says.
Pham directed Vietnam Electricity to complete negotiations with Russia on investment in the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant within January 2026.
Ed.’s notes: Interesting framing in that it was reported in early December that Japan was pulling out because the timeline was too-tight.
Side note, nuclear power feels like something that shouldn’t be rushed.
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Chemical maker delisting impact
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Duc Giang Chemicals is at risk of being removed from the VN30 index due to a sharp decline in market capitalisation.
Analysts expect exchange traded funds tracking the VN30 to sell more than 1.7 million DGC shares if the exclusion occurs, potentially creating short term technical pressure, the article says.
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Food safety
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that police in Hai Phong have prosecuted nine suspects after discovering 120 tonnes of pork infected with African swine fever stored at Ha Long Canned Food Joint Stock Company.
Investigators said the group bought diseased pork at low prices, transported it to the company’s warehouse, and intended to use it as raw material for canned food production.
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UK Vietnam rebar safeguard exemption gone
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnamese rebar exports lost safeguard exemption status in the United Kingdom after a review found shipments reached 21,184 tonnes, or 5.53 percent of total UK rebar imports.
The United Kingdom Trade Remedies Authority concluded the share exceeded the three percent de minimis threshold for developing economies, ending Vietnam’s exemption effective January 1, 2026.
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New rules rooftop solar
Vietnamnet is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has submitted a third draft decree proposing new rules for rooftop solar systems for self production and self consumption, including sales of surplus electricity.
Under the proposal, households and eligible installations may sell surplus power, but volumes would be capped at no more than 50 percent of total generated output.
Surplus electricity would be purchased at the previous year’s average market electricity price, subject to a ceiling equal to the maximum price for ground mounted solar power.
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Mobile money transaction limit
Vietnamnet is reporting that Vietnam has capped mobile money transactions at VND 100 million per month, or about US$3,800, under a new government decree regulating the service.
Mobile Money users must also complete biometric verification when opening accounts and limits each customer to one account per provider, currently Viettel, MobiFone or VNPT.
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Dietary supplements corruption
Thanh Nien is reporting that authorities have been accused of turning a blind eye to fake dietary supplement producers that cultivate close ties with local governments, according to Vietnam Functional Food Association Secretary General Cao Hung Thai.
Speaking on January 7, Thai said some companies establish good relationships with local authorities in order to see violations ignored or pushed onto other agencies when detected.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for the frankness – interesting that criticism seems to focus on the actions of the supplement producers as opposed to the authorities.
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Lift cap State Treasury bank deposits
VnExpress is reporting that Vietnam’s Finance Ministry has proposed allowing the State Treasury to raise the cap on placing idle state funds at commercial banks from 50 percent to 60 percent until February 28.
The proposal aims to ease banking system liquidity pressures during the Lunar New Year period, when credit demand typically rises sharply, the State Treasury said on January 7.
Central bank data show system credit had grown 17.87 percent by December 24, while deposit mobilisation rose about 14 percent.
Ed.’s notes: Another short-term fix to a long-term problem. Not clear what happens if banks lend those funds and then cannot return them to the State Treasury when needed. #monitoring
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Danang port bidders down to two
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Da Nang authorities have received just two bids for the Lien Chieu container port project, after an Adani–T&T consortium did not file a bid by the December 24 deadline.
The two bidders are Hateco–APM Terminals of the Netherlands and Vietnam Maritime Corporation with Terminal Investment Limited of Luxembourg, according to a city report to the prime minister.
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Construction materials shortage 2026?
Vietstock is reporting that Chairman Le Viet Hai of Hoa Binh Construction Group has warned that Vietnam’s construction sector faces the risk of material shortages as a number of major infrastructure projects begin simultaneously.
He says that limited domestic supply could see imports necessary, increasing costs and creating financial risks for contractors during the 2026–2030 public investment cycle.
Industry growth is being driven by social housing targets, large rail and expressway projects, and strong foreign direct investment in manufacturing facilities, the article notes.
Ed.’s notes: Construction materials shortages were already a common problem in 2025 with prices rising 6.08 percent in 2025 over 2024.
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Textiles & garments exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported textiles and garments to the tune of US$3,655 million in December, up from US$2,973 million in November, a change of 22.94 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$39,642 million worth of textiles and garments by the end of December.
Stock market Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,861.58, up 45.31 points or 2.49 percent, with a total trading value of VND 32,889.62 billion or US$1248.18 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$19.81 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that on January 7, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,276 and the sell rate was VND 26,880, a change of 674 and 120, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,578 (down 1.47 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,122, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,276.
Tourists arrivals from Asia
the-shiv is reporting that tourist numbers from Asia totalled 1,533,979 in December, showing a rise of 7.40 percent versus November, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Vietnam news yesterday, January 7 2026, business & economy
In yesterday’s headlines: Metro line 2 HCMC, Tax debt increase on land taxes / fees, Income tax exemptions night / overtime work, Shopee / TikTok market share, Concerns bank transfer tax deduction requirement, GDP growth outpacing power supply, Domestic consumption, FDI real estate concerns, Public company status mining / minerals sector, Food Safety Authority corruption, Seafood exports MMPA USA, Land auction deposits, Coal production, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, Tourist arrivals December / 2025, Yesterday’s Vietnam news update, and more. Read more→