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.
Real estate credit not restricted
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Vietnam’s central bank has clarified that it does not plan to restrict real estate lending in 2026, but will require banks to closely control credit growth in higher-risk sectors (like real estate).
Ed.’s notes: The article doesn’t say this but presumably this stems from an announcement a few days ago that banks need to make sure that any increase in credit to the real estate sector does not exceed their overall credit growth limit.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Wage / price disparity concerns
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the head of the National Assembly Committee for Public Aspirations and Supervision, Duong Thanh Binh, has said rising prices and inflation mean wages and benefits are no longer meet basic living needs.
Binh told the National Assembly Standing Committee that salaries for public servants, retirees, and grassroots workers lag rising living costs and consumer prices.
He said voters are concerned about higher prices for essential goods, volatile gold prices, environmental pollution, and the economic impact of fuel-to-electric vehicle transition plans.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Japan’s Daiwa increases holding SSI
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Daiwa Securities Group has exercised rights to buy more than 63.4 million shares of joint stock company SSI Securities on January 8, according to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange.
The Japanese group raised its holding from 15.263 percent to 15.265 percent, remaining the largest shareholder of SSI.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Real estate lending risks
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that bad debts rose throughout 2025, especially since June, while banking system risk provisioning coverage fell to about 80 percent from above 100 percent, citing former Deputy Director of the Institute of Banking Strategy, Pham Xuan Hoe.
Hoe said a major source of potential bad debts is real estate, where firms are known to create subsidiaries to which they sell projects at different phases of development, inflating values as they go and then using those inflated values to take out bigger loans. So, one company buys the land and takes care of land clearance then increases the value and sells it to another company in the same ecosystem.
Ed.’s notes: Another reason so many companies have so many subsidiaries.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
PYN Elite performance
VN Economy is reporting that Finland’s PYN Elite Fund, which invests in Vietnam stocks, reported a 2.9 percent gain in December 2025, trailing the VN-Index, which rose 5.5 percent and ended the year at a record 1,784 points.
For full-year 2025, the VN-Index gained 40.9 percent, while PYN Elite recorded a return of 17.4 percent, according to the fund.
Ed.’s notes: Another example of a fund failing to outperform the market as a result of Vingroup’s rapid stock price growth this year.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Outbound investment
VIR is reporting that Vietnam’s outbound investment reached US$1.36 billion in 2025, up 88.7 percent on year, driven by 173 newly licensed overseas projects and higher additional capital, data showed.
Energy attracted the largest share at nearly US$507 million, followed by manufacturing and processing with over US$300 million, according to the National Statistics Office.
Vietnamese firms invested in 36 countries, led by Laos with nearly US$774 million, ahead of the Philippines, Germany, the United States and Indonesia.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Construction materials shortage APEC
Thanh Nien is reporting that construction material shortages are threatening progress on seven APEC 2027 projects in Phu Quoc.
Only 169,379 cubic metres of stone have been shipped to the island, or 6.3 percent of what’s needed, the publication says.
The project also requires 360,000 cubic metres of crushed stone a month, but has received just 60,000 cubic metres.
Contractors cited limited quarry output, port capacity constraints and pricing issues, with listed quarry prices at VND 380,000 per cubic metre (US$14.42) but suppliers able to receive higher rates on unofficial markets elsewhere.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for high-profile project now succumbing to construction materials shortages/regulated prices creating shortages.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
UOB on VN interest rates
Tuoi Tre is reporting that United Overseas Bank said the State Bank of Vietnam has limited room to ease monetary policy despite strong 2025 growth and a positive outlook for 2026.
UOB cited average inflation of 3.2 percent in 2025 and core inflation of 3.3 percent, with healthcare and education costs sustaining price pressures.
UOB expects the State Bank of Vietnam to keep the refinancing rate unchanged at 4.5 percent through 2026 and raised its 2026 growth forecast to 7.5 percent.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
VND-pegged stable coin proposal
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the Asian Financial Services Research Centre and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City has proposed a pilot issuance of VND-pegged stable coins, citing Vietnam’s annual remittance inflows of about US$20 billion, and the low cost of these transaction using stable coins.
The group also urged a ban on algorithmic stable coins and limits on non-compliant foreign stable coins to mitigate financial and monetary security risks.
Ed.’s notes: Presumably overseas workers are paid in the local currency where they work, likely developed countries with more stable currencies than the VND – not clear what the motive would be for workers to convert to VND.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Foreign inflows HoSE end-2025 / start-2026
Nha Dau Tu is reporting that foreign investors turned net buyers from late 2025 after three consecutive years of net selling, with December recording net purchases of nearly VND 1.7 trillion (US$64.5 million).
Selling eased from VND 81 trillion (US$3.07 billion) during August–October 2025 to VND 8.23 trillion (US$312.5 million) in November, before reversing in December and early January 2026.
Analysts cited expectations of market reclassification by FTSE Russell and easing exchange-rate pressure as key drivers supporting a sustained foreign capital return.
Ed.’s notes: Re: easing exchange rate pressure – foreign currency reserves still below IMF recommendations, SBV will need to buy up around US$30 – 40 billion in US dollars to get back into safe territory, this will put pressure on the local currency.
Also note timeframe covers Western (READ: Major capital markets) holiday season – easier to move money in and out of Vietnam through a foreign company – good chance at least some of the inflow is local firms using foreign accounts.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Coal power revenue Lam Dong
Thanh Nien is reporting that Lam Dong province has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to maximise electricity output at the Vinh Tan Power Centre to support budget revenue and target GRDP growth above 10 percent.
Provincial government revenue from the power plant fell to VND 38.97 trillion (US$1.48 billion), down VND 2.669 trillion (US$101 million) from 2024, according to the provincial government.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for less talked about challenge to closing down coal power plants – source of provincial government budget revenue.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
New stadium for HCMC
Thanh Nien is reporting that Ho Chi Minh City has approved a plan for the Rach Chiec national sports complex, including a stadium with capacity of 65,000 to 75,000 seats.
Total investment is estimated at VND 145.629 trillion (US$5.53 billion).
Ed.’s notes: Hanoi was talking about building a sports complex with a 135,000 seat stadium a few weeks ago. Business case? National sports league has limited following and ticket prices versus investment likely well beyond means most Vietnamese.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Taxi company sued unpaid wages / social insurance
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that a court in Khanh Hoa has accepted a labour lawsuit filed by 21 workers against Mai Linh Group over unpaid social insurance and wages, the provincial labour federation said.
The plaintiffs allege the company owes nearly VND 1.13 billion (US$42,900) in social insurance and more than VND 433 million (US$16,400) in wages, deposits and related payments.
Ed.’s notes: Mai Linh core business = taxis – might speak to saturated market – Grab very popular but also homegrown EV maker VinFast-linked Xanh SM taxi company has expanded rapidly.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Counterfeit airpods
Dan Tri is reporting that customs authorities seized more than 1,000 counterfeit AirPods transiting Vietnam from China to Cambodia at the Hoa Lu international border gate.
The shipment was carried by a Hanoi-based firm without authorisation from Apple, and the fake goods were valued at VND 545.9 million (US$20,700), versus VND 5.35 billion (US$203,100) if genuine.
Add your thoughts: Send a letter to the editor→
Stock market Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,877.33, up 9.43 points or 0.50 percent, with a total trading value of VND 41,644.62 billion or US$1,580.44 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$40.61 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange → view source.
Exchange rates Tuesday
the-shiv is reporting that on January 12, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,800 and the sell rate was VND 26,850, a change of 40 and 30, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,825 (up 0.13 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,129, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,268.
Wood / wood products exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported wood and wooden products to the tune of US$1,656 million in December, up from US$1,483 million in November, a change of 11.64 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$17,205 million worth of wood and wooden products by the end of December.
Imports from Japan
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam imported US$2,252.17 million worth of goods from Japan, up from US$1,962.83 million in November, a change of 14.74 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$24,677 million worth of goods from Japan.
Exports to Taiwan
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam exported US$609 million worth of goods to Taiwan, up 7.87 percent over November, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$6,658 million worth of goods to Taiwan.
Tourist arrivals Americas
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Other accounted for 10,553 tourist arrivals, a decrease of 0.33 percent from November, according to the latest data from Vietnam’s General Department of Tourism.
Canada accounted for 17,612 tourist arrivals in December, up 55.90 percent compared to November, while tourist numbers from Americas totalled 111,189 in December, showing a rise of 35.70 percent versus November.
Powdered milk production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 14.24 thousand tons of powdered milk in December, down 0.81 percent from 14.36 thousand tons in November, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Year to date output reached 153.98 thousand tons by the end of December.
Iron and steel product imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported iron and steel products to the tune of US$871 million in December, up from US$752 million in November, a change of 15.87 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$8,307 million worth of iron and steel products by the end of December.
Yesterday’s Vietnam news
In yesterday’s headlines: Korea nuclear power Vietnam, Beer consumption, Bank gold holding limits increased, Textile firm shifts to real estate, Credit growth 19.1 percent 2025, Hoi An casino expansion, Credit growth 15 percent 2026, Gas and oil production, More payouts Truong My Lan, GAS shares Resolution 79, Foreign exchange fine increase impacts, New oil well, Green capital under Resolution 79, ASF ‘food safety scandal’, UOB growth forecast, Fines renting bank accounts, Hyosung carpet plant Danang, and more. Read more→