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
VN renews antidumping tariffs on Thai sugar
Nguoi Lao Dong is reporting that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has extended anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on certain Thai cane sugar imports for five years from June 16.
The ministry said its sunset review found ending the measures would likely lead to continued or renewed dumping and subsidies that would harm domestic producers. View source→
Power supply challenges continue
Dan Tri is reporting that Industry and Trade Minister Le Manh Hung has said that power demand has reached 30.5 gigawatts near Vietnam’s maximum capacity of 31 gigawatts. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Noted for data points.
USTR tariffs forced labour
Vietnam Plus is reporting that the United States Trade Representative has proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, who it says have not adequately prevented goods produced with forced labour from entering supply chains.
The proposal would impose a 12.5 percent tariff on imports from China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Switzerland under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Note the article, produced by state media, doesn’t mention Vietnam, but it is on the list of countries slated for the higher tariffs. Here is the release from the USTR.
AMRO growth forecast downgrade
VIR is reporting that the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office has cut its Vietnam GDP growth forecast to 7.2 percent for 2026 from 7.4 percent and to 7 percent for 2027 from 7.1 percent.
The organisation also raised its Vietnam inflation forecast to 4.4 percent in 2026 from 3.8 percent and to 4 percent in 2027 from 3.4 percent. View source→
Foreign ownership limits oil firms
The Investor is reporting that the State Securities Commission has confirmed foreign ownership limits of 50 percent for PV Drilling and 49 percent for PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation.
Foreign investors currently own 8.49 percent of PV Drilling and 13.42 percent of PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation, leaving capacity for additional foreign purchases of 41.51 percent and 35.58 percent, respectively. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Article basically says nothing has changed in the foreign ownership limits of the two firms — noted because it’s an English-language article in a state news outlet; that is to say, it’s odd.
Furniture Today editorial diversification Vietnam USTR investigations
Furniture Today is carrying an editorial that argues Vietnam’s Section 301 intellectual property investigation is significant because it highlights how dependent many US furniture companies have become on Vietnam as a manufacturing base.
The article goes on to say firms should focus less on finding the next low-cost manufacturing country and more on building diversified supply chains that can withstand regulatory, political and trade disruptions. View source→
South Korean cosmetics firm fined labelling violations
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that the Drug Administration of Vietnam has fined Kotrans Co., Ltd. VND147.5 million (US$5,598) and ordered the recall of eight cosmetic products for labelling and documentation violations.
The company was fined VND22.5 million (US$854) for selling VT Reti-a Reedle Shot 700 with incomplete label information and VND70 million (US$2,657) for false labelling on three other products.
The regulator also fined the company VND55 million (US$2,087) for incomplete product information files covering four cosmetics and ordered all affected products to be recalled and destroyed. View source→
Government bond auction Wednesday
Vietnam’s latest government bond auction attracted limited investor demand, with only 7.9 percent of the VND 17 trillion (US$645 million) on offer successfully sold as yields continued to edge higher, according to the latest release from the Vietnam Bond Market Association. Read the full article →
Stock market Wednesday
The VN-Index closed at 1,819.01, down 7.46 points or 0.41 percent, with a total trading value of VND 20,562.37 billion or US$780.36 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$26.26 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 June 3, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,380, and the sell rate was VND 26,410, a change of 80 and 90, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,395 (up 0.32 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
May inflation data
Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.29 percent in May from the previous month, driven primarily by higher electricity, water, housing and fuel costs, although food prices helped moderate overall inflation, according to the latest release from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
May trade data
Vietnam’s total trade turnover reached US$445.12 billion during the January-May period, up 25.0 percent year-on-year. Read the full article →
May FDI data
Vietnam attracted US$24.81 billion in registered foreign investment during the first five months of 2026, up 34.9 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Industrial production data May
Vietnam’s industrial sector maintained strong momentum in May, with production continuing to accelerate across manufacturing, mining and utilities despite an increasingly uncertain global trade environment, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office (NSO). Read the full article →
Aviation in Vietnam: New HCMC Airport Trial Operations Start September
Expectations and commitments appear increasingly disconnected from on-the-ground progress, raising questions about whether the current timetable remains achievable. Read the full article →
Exports to Thailand April
In April, Vietnam exported US$1,086 million worth of goods to Thailand, up 2.72 percent over March, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
In yesterday’s Vietnam news: Fund outflows May, New HCMC airport trial operations to begin September, M&A HCMC 2026, Compensation for gas-to-electric bike switch Hanoi, Increase in high-net-worth individuals, IP violation crackdown outcomes, Xioami fined consumer protections, Mortgage interest rates rising, Grab electric charging network plans, HCMC apartment prices record high, Advertising regulations, Arrest over damaged charging stations, Stock market Tuesday, and more. Read the full article →