This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and about Vietnam in the international press.
It endeavours to highlight the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
Ed’s note: I’m always looking for new sources with unique insights. If you’re operating a business or working in Vietnam and want to talk about it, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Arrest over book about Ho Chi Minh
BBC is reporting that Hanoi police have announced the arrest of two men over a book about Ho Chi Minh that was withdrawn from sale after criticism of its portrayal of the late Vietnamese leader. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Critical thinking goes hand in hand with innovation — Can you have critical thinking in science and technology but not in history and culture?
HSR project disbursement
Dan Tri is reporting that the north-south high-speed railway project had disbursed just VND1.07 trillion (US$40.6 million) by the end of June — 2 percent of its 2026 capital allocation.
The Ministry of Finance cited land clearance difficulties, construction material shortages, volatile fuel and transport costs, and weaknesses among some investors, project managers and contractors as contributing to disbursement delays. View source→
More coal power under consideration
Bloomberg is reporting that Vietnam is considering adding more coal-fired power capacity as the US-Iran war constrains liquefied natural gas supplies and raises prices. View source→
MPS minister meets Japanese delivery firm
The Investor is reporting that Vietnam’s Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang has urged Japan’s Yamato Holdings to study investment in warehousing and cargo transport systems at Gia Binh International Airport.
He has also welcomed Yamato’s planned cooperation with FPT to establish an artificial intelligence laboratory focused on supply chains, transport coordination and logistics for high-tech industries. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Interesting that they met with the Public Security Minister about an international airport.
Taiwanese electronic investment increase
The Investor is reporting that Taiwanese technology firm Wistron has increased planned construction and equipment investment in Ninh Binh province by US$24.5 million to US$178.27 million.
The revised plan raises the construction budget for factories, warehouses and supporting infrastructure at Kim Bang Industrial Park to US$138.77 million. View source→
Government bond auction results
Vietnam’s State Treasury sold VND2.75 trillion (US$104.4 million) of government bonds from VND14 trillion (US$531.3 million) offered on July 8, according to a release from the Vietnam Bond Market Association.
The auction sold three-year bonds at 3.55 percent, five-year bonds at 4.18 percent and 10-year bonds at 4.35 percent.
Thirty-year bonds sold at 4.58 percent, while the VND1 trillion (US$38 million) offering of 15-year bonds received no successful bids.
Year-to-date government bond issuance reached VND185.4 trillion (US$7.04 billion), completing 37.1 percent of the State Treasury’s 2026 plan. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Less than 20 percent sold — yields headed higher?
Gym chain fine consumer protections
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s National Competition Commission has fined gym chain 25FIT VND 580 million (US$22,012) for consumer protection violations.
Among the charges, 25FIT failed to properly disclose standard-form contracts, included prohibited clauses and failed to meet minimum font-size requirements for written contracts. View source→
H1 gov’t revenue
Vietnam Plus is reporting that Vietnam’s state budget revenue reached VND1.57 quadrillion (US$59.5 billion) in the first half of 2026, equivalent to 62 percent of its annual target.
Revenue increased 17.4 percent year-on-year, driven by domestic collections, crude oil revenue and income from import-export activities, the article says. View source→
Stock market Wednesday
The VN-Index closed at 1,853.70, up 5.45 points or 0.29 percent, with a total trading value of VND 17,187.56 billion or US$652.28 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$20.83 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Exchange rates Wednesday
On July 8, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,400, and the sell rate was VND 26,420, a change of 50 and 60, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,410 (down 0.21 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s news roundup
In today’s Vietnam news: New trading accounts, Consumer prices confusion, Political risk upgrade, LG expansion, Ease-of-doing business survey, VinFast price cut, Secondary apartment prices fall, Deputy PM on IP protection progress, Cafes turn off music over copyright confusion, Stock market Tuesday, Exchange rates Tuesday, Yesterday’s news roundup, , and more. Read the full article →