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.
McDonald’s 100 store expansion plan
Seeking Alpha is reporting that McDonald’s plans to add about 100 outlets in Vietnam over the next three years, more than tripling its current footprint.
The expansion is aimed at moving beyond major urban centres and shifting the brand from an aspirational, premium image toward more everyday, value-oriented consumption.
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Foreign loans in 2026
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the Ministry of Finance expects Vietnam to mobilise about VND 146,280 billion, around US$5.5 billion, in foreign loans for infrastructure in 2026.
In 2025, Vietnam signed about US$624 million in new official development assistance and concessional loan agreements, while foreign-funded public investment disbursement reached roughly 35 percent of plan, the article says.
The ministry said disbursement delays were caused by land clearance, bidding, administrative procedures, and external factors.
Ed.’s notes: Not clear how these issues have been dealt with/will be overcome.
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CPJ on pre-congress press crackdown
In a statement on its website the Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Vietnam to roll back what it described as an intensified crackdown on independent media and to release jailed journalists ahead of the Communist Party congress starting January 19.
The group cited the December 31 conviction in absentia of Le Trung Khoa, founder of Germany-based outlet Toibao.de, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison under Article 117 of the Penal Code, alongside two contributors given sentences of seven years and six-and-a-half years.
The organisation also pointed to recent amendments to Vietnam’s press law tightening information controls, and said at least 16 journalists are currently imprisoned in the country, according to its data.
Ed.’s notes: A reminder local press far from free – worth thinking about in the context of how censorship of political covereage, particularly self censorship, trickles over into business/economics news (especially in a transitioning command economy) – much rosier picture often presented than actual reality.
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New IFC HCMC launch deadline
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has chaired the first meeting of the steering committee for Vietnam’s International Financial Centre (IFC) on January 16, 2026 at which he set a February 9 launch deadline for the HCMC IFC.
Ed.’s notes: Last deadline was December. Not clear what the delay is – not actually clear what will be launched either. Past reporting seems to suggest a foreign investment support hub type arrangement, though other reporting suggests a more Hong Kong/Singapore style financial centre. #monitoring
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VN-owned semiconductor plant
VIR is reporting that Viettel began construction of Vietnam’s first semiconductor chip manufacturing plant on January 16 at the Hoa Lac High-tech Park.
According to the article, the project aims to support training goals of 50,000 chip design engineers by 2030 and more than 100,000 semiconductor workers by 2040.
Ed.’s notes: For contrast there was an article back in December in which a Former Minister of Science and Technology warned that there were a lot of obstacles to semiconductor production in Vietnam – inadequate energy reliability, a shortage of ultra-pure water, and limited skilled labour (although this announcement seems to address that last one).
He also pointed out that it was one thing to have the capacity to make semiconductors, but that they would need buyers too.
That last point is one to watch – it’s one thing to build a semiconductor plant, another thing to find buyers for the semiconductors it produces.
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Novaland bond payment delays
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Novaland has announced a delay in paying more than US$8 million in interest on a convertible bond due on January 16, 2026.
It states the bond was originally issued with a value of US$300 million, with about US$28 million converted into shares, leaving around US$272 million outstanding.
Ed.’s notes: Novaland bought 30 million shares in a seafood company on December 23 worth roughly VND 1,350 billion or US$51.3 million (based on closing price). Novaland problem may be one of prioritising.
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Petrol price deregulation
VnExpress is reporting that the government plans to issue a new decree, allowing petroleum wholesalers and retailers to declare and set their own fuel prices.
It states that ministries will shift to post inspection and oversight, require public price declarations, manage the price stabilisation fund, and penalise failures to publicly list prices, as opposed to setting prices which is currently the case.
Ed.’s notes: Significant if it actually happens (Big ‘if’ though) – price controls have created shortages in the past/also led to petrol distributors leaving the market en masse (330 to 250 in two years).
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3 year tax exemptions SMEs
VnExpress is reporting that Government Decree 20, effective January 15, grants newly registered small and medium enterprises a corporate income tax exemption for their first three years.
The article says innovative startups and startup support organisations not only receive a two year corporate income tax exemption, but also a 50 percent reduction for the next four years.
Ed.’s notes: Noted as clear, specific private sector support policy.
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LNG plant US$1.12 billion loan
Dan Tri is reporting that Vietnam Electricity has signed a syndicated loan worth VND 29.57 trillion, about US$1.13 billion, with four domestic banks to fund a liquefied natural gas power project.
The lenders are Vietcombank, VietinBank, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, and Agribank, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: State-owned banks lending to a state-owned enterprise – conflict of interest risk?
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VND 100 million betting limited rejected
Thanh Nien is reporting that the Ministry of Finance has rejected a proposal to raise a daily betting cap to VND 100 million, about US$3,795 per person, in a draft decree on international football, horse racing, and dog racing betting.
Instead it will maintain a maximum daily betting limit of VND 10 million per person, about US$379, at one licensed operator.
The ministry said the cap was set based on average income of about US$5,000 per year .
Ed.’s notes: Illegal betting rife, low-limit means illegal betting continues / VND 10 million higher than average monthly wage – VND 100 million almost a years salary.
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SBV Governor: limited headroom credit growth
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Nguyen Thi Hong, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, has acknowledged limited credit growth headroom with Vietnam’s credit-to-GDP ratio relatively high compared with similar economies.
She goes on to say that the State Bank has limited room to expand lending and must manage credit more cautiously to support growth without risking macroeconomic or financial instability, the article says.
Ed.’s notes: Noted for perspective of Governor tasked with executing monetary policy as opposed to government which sets it.
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SBV rebuffs calls remove credit limits
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the State Bank of Vietnam has rebuffed calls to immediately remove credit growth limits, citing high credit to gross domestic product levels and systemwide financial risks.
The article notes that while policy advisers urged a roadmap to phase out credit caps, the State Bank said the mechanism remains necessary to maintain macroeconomic stability.
Ed.’s notes: Same event as above, different angle.
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M&A China/VN pharmaceuticals
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that LIAN SGP Holding, a subsidiary of Livzon Pharmaceutical Group of China, is looking to acquire Vietnam’s Imexpharm Joint Stock Company.
The article values the deal at VND 6,891 billion, about US$261.6 million, with an enterprise valuation of roughly VND 8,800 billion or US$334 million.
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Stock market Friday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,879.13, up 14.33 points or 0.77 percent, with a total trading value of VND 35,636.04 billion or US$1,352.41 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$42.88 million worth of equities, Friday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rates Friday
the-shiv is reporting that on January 16, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,250 and the sell rate was VND 26,300, a change of 350 and 350, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,275 (down 1.31 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,131, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,275.
LPG production
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam produced 72.52 thousand tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in December, down 12.56 percent from 82.94 thousand tons in November, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office.
Year to date output reached 830.71 thousand tons by the end of December.
Imports from Malaysia
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam imported US$1,002.60 million worth of goods from Malaysia, up from US$805.98 million in November, a change of 24.40 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$11,004 million worth of goods from Malaysia.
Exports to India
the-shiv is reporting that in December, Vietnam exported US$994 million worth of goods to India, up 26.06 percent over November, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$10,351 million worth of goods to India.
Plastics imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported plastics to the tune of US$1,122 million in December, up from US$1,003 million in November, a change of 11.87 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$12,532 million worth of plastics by the end of December.
Phone exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported telephones, mobile phones and parts thereof to the tune of US$4,054 million in December, up from US$3,990 million in November, a change of 1.62 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$56,710 million worth of telephones, mobile phones and parts thereof by the end of December.
Vietnam news yesterday
In yesterday’s Vietnam news headlines: 40 hour work week proposal, Gross merch value e-commerce, Vinacapital scam warning, Nuclear plant resettlement costs, QR payments growth, FLC golf course investment, Quarantine certificate bribes, Fake milk case outcome, More bond issuance fines, Health supplements bribery case outcome, EDM festival HCMC, Viettel e-commerce platform, Counterfeit gas ring dismantled, Rice exports to decrease, EU dairy processing expansion, Semiconductor ASML PM meeting, Imports from South Korea, and more. Read more→