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.
New resolution public sector development
Vietnam News is reporting that Party General Secretary To Lam has signed Politburo Resolution 79 on January 6, setting targets to expand the state sector’s role in Vietnam’s economy.
It calls for restructuring state-owned enterprises to improve efficiency and governance, aiming to place 50 state-owned enterprises among Southeast Asia’s 500 largest firms and one to three in the global top 500 by 2030.
By 2045, the resolution targets about 60 state-owned enterprises in Southeast Asia’s top 500 and five in the world’s 500 largest companies, alongside globally competitive state-owned banks.
Ed.’s notes: Full text here. No mention of Resolution 68 from last year re: private sector leading economic development. Will be interesting to see how these two policies are expected to fit together. #monitoring
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Life insurance revenue decline halted
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam life insurance revenue stopped declining in 2025 after two years of contracting, with total premiums forecast to be flat year on year, citing Kafi Research.
New life insurance policies increased in 2025, led by investment linked and long term savings products, while policy cancellations fell compared with 2022 to 2023, the article notes.
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Fuel retailer market exit
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has revoked the fuel distribution licence of Dai Long Petroleum Trading Joint Stock Company at the firm’s request, effective January 2026.
The Hanoi based company was granted its fuel distributor licence in July 2023, valid to July 2028.
The article notes Vietnam now has just over 250 fuel distributors, down from more than 330 two years ago.
Ed.’s notes: Petrol price controls / challenges accessing price stabilisation has seen retailers at times forced to sell fuel below cost. This was a significant issue in 2023. This latest news might suggest these issues are ongoing.
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Margin lending concerns
Tuoi Tre is carrying an opinion piece from Bui Van Huy, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Investment Research Division, at FIDT JSC in which he addresses the rapid growth of margin lending in Vietnam’s securities market and the resulting systemic risks.
Huy points out that margin debt is the equivalent to about 5 percent of Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange capitalisation (compared to US about 1.7-1.8 percent).
Huy notes the expanding role of securities firms in margin lending, business cooperation contracts, and corporate bond investment, characterising these activities as forms of shadow banking, noting they operate under looser supervision than banks.
He also says Circular 102, a regulatory tightening measure, has several gaps compared with international standards, particularly in consolidated supervision and intra group risk controls.
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Robot dog manufacturing HCMC
Dan Tri is reporting that United States robotics company AMC Robotics, listed on the Nasdaq under ticker AMCI, has established a subsidiary in Ho Chi Minh City to manufacture its Kyro robotic dog.
AMC Robotics said the production base was chosen due to Viet Nam’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem, cost conditions, and tariff stability.
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Buying new bank notes legal
Thanh Nien is reporting that trading new for old banknotes for a fee ahead of the Lunar New Year has become widespread on online marketplaces, with exchange fees ranging from about 3 percent to 20 percent depending on denomination.
The publication notes unlicensed vendors face fines between VND 20 to 40 million, equivalent to US$759 to US$1,519.
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to economic decisions being influenced by tradition/superstition rather than financial logic (Giving new bank notes as lucky money for the Lunar New Year common custom). Prevalent in business too – the first shipment of VinFast vehicles to the USA contained 999 vehicles with 999 seen as a lucky number.
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VCCI report business expectations
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) reported that in 2025, 59.3 percent of businesses expected profits, but only 11.2 percent met planned profit targets.
The survey (that article doesn’t say what survey or when it was conducted) showed 48.1 percent of firms earned only small profits, while 18.3 percent reported losses and 22.4 percent broke even.
The report cited weak market demand and limited access to credit as the most common constraints, affecting 57.3 percent and 51.2 percent of businesses respectively, the article says.
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Digital music revenue
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s digital music revenue reached about US$51.95 million, or roughly VND 1.37 trillion (US$52.0 million), in 2025, according to RMIT University Vietnam using Statista data.
The report said streaming dominated revenue, while Vietnam ranked sixth among Southeast Asian digital music markets after Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
Vietnam had nearly 12.6 million digital music users, with average annual spending of about US$5.44 per person and daily listening time of one to nearly two hours.
Music copyright revenue reached about 14 million euros, or roughly VND 369 billion (US$14.0 million), in 2024, with digital sources accounting for more than 86 percent.
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Vingroup share fall / risk
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that shares of VinHomes and Vincom Retail closed at their floor prices (increases/decreases in a day on HoSE capped at 7 percent) Thursday with large sell orders, while Vingroup reversed from a six percent gain to finish the day below its open.
The article goes on to cite a letter to investors from Petri Deryng of PYN Elite Fund as saying rising leverage, complex intra-group balances and ongoing losses in electric vehicles complicate valuation of Vingroup companies.
PYN Elite Fund said it held no Vingroup shares in 2025, noting foreign ownership of VIC fell from ten percent to three percent, despite VIC rising 736 percent that year, the article says.
Average monthly income increase
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam’s average monthly income rose sharply in late 2025, driven by stronger year-end economic activity and broad-based gains across sectors, according to the latest labour survey data from Vietnam’s National Statistics Office (NSO).
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the average monthly income of workers in Vietnam reached VND 8.7 million (about US$330), up 3.9 percent from the previous quarter and 6.2 percent year on year.
Stock market Thursday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,855.56, down 6.02 points or 0.32 percent, with a total trading value of VND 40,106.58 billion or US$1,522.07 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$17.65 million worth of equities, Thursday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Thursday
the-shiv is reporting that on January 8, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,840 and the sell rate was VND 26,880, a change of 564 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,860 (up 1.06 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,273, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,269.
Exports to USA
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam exported US$14,397 million worth of goods to the USA, up 15.64 percent over November, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$153,179 million worth of goods to the USA.
Footwear exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported footwear to the tune of US$2,199 million in December, up from US$2,076 million in November, a change of 5.90 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$24,204 million worth of footwear by the end of December.
Imports from India
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam imported US$697.56 million worth of goods from India, up from US$543.30 million in November, a change of 28.39 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$6,113 million worth of goods from India.
Motor vehicle imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported motor vehicles to the tune of US$406 million in December, down from US$456 million in November, a change of -10.79 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$4,737 million worth of motor vehicles by the end of December.
Vietnam News Yesterday, January 08 2026, Business & Economy
In yesterday’s news headlines: DPPA power use requirement too high: Deep C, First LNG supply contract Shell, Nuclear power Russia not Japan, Chemical maker delisting impact, Food safety, UK Vietnam rebar safeguard exemption gone, New rules rooftop solar, Mobile money transaction limit, Dietary supplements corruption, Lift cap State Treasury bank deposits, Danang port bidders down to two, Construction materials shortage 2026?, Textiles & garments exports, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, Tourist arrivals from Asia, and more. Read more→