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
Petrol distributors fined mandatory reserves short
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade fined two fuel wholesalers for failing to maintain mandatory petroleum reserves.
Hong Duc Petroleum was fined VND 190 million (US$7,200), and Hung Hau Petroleum was fined VND 130 million (US$4,900). View source→
Milk prices to rise
The Investor is reporting that Vietnamese dairy producer Vinamilk is planning a cautious 2-3 percent price increase as rising raw material and logistics costs pressure margins.
Vinamilk said the increases would be gradual to avoid hurting demand as Vietnam’s fast-moving consumer goods sector remains sensitive to household spending trends. View source→
EU anti-dumping on some VN plastics abandoned
Dan Tri is reporting that the European Commission has ended its anti-dumping investigation into polyethylene terephthalate imports from Vietnam after nearly a year of review under European Union trade defence rules.
The European Commission issued its termination notice on May 8, with interested parties given 10 days to comment on the decision. View source→
Techcombank Securities crypto partner US$280m bond raise plan
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that TokenBay, which is partnering with Techcombank Securities on a digital asset exchange, plans to raise VND7.4 trillion (US$280.8 million) through bonds for the project.
The company said about 90 percent of future revenue is expected to come from the exchange once it receives an operating licence, targeted for 2026. View source→
Ed.’s notes: BitGet estimates to set up a US crypto exchange, it costs between US$2 million and US$5 million all-in. Interesting to know where the other US$275 million is going.
Customs smuggling seizures
Vietnamnet is reporting that Vietnam’s customs authority has said diesel smuggling cases surged between March 15 and April 14, with fuel concealed in beer containers, reinforced metal tanks and vegetable boats crossing Vietnam’s borders with Laos and Cambodia.
Authorities said smugglers hid 400 litres of diesel inside reinforced metal containers on a truck bound for Laos, while another case involved 1,400 litres disguised in cylindrical beer containers. View source→
Refinery name change
VN Economy is reporting that Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company will change its name to PetroVietnam Refining and Petrochemical Corporation following approval from the company’s board. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Doesn’t say why.
Land clearance reimbursement power project delay
Tuoi Tre is reporting that a dispute over nearly VND 20 billion (US$759,000) in land clearance payments remains unresolved more than a year after the 500kV Duc Hoa substation and connecting transmission lines began operations in April 2025.
Dai Loc Long An, the company involved, has said local authorities approved reimbursement of more than VND19.9 billion (US$755,000) that the company advanced for land clearance payments, but this has not been happened.
The delay stems from legal concerns because local authorities approved a “support reimbursement” plan rather than a standard compensation plan, the article notes. View source→
Hanoi new retail space
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Hanoi added more than 51,000 square metres of new retail space in the first quarter of 2026, pushing total supply to about 1.43 million square metres, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
Average ground-floor rents in Hanoi reached about US$51.4 per square metre per month in the first quarter, while the city is expected to add another 314,000 square metres of retail space by 2028. View source→
Vietnam Airlines seeking capital raising
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam Airlines will ask shareholders to approve a new capital increase plan at its annual general meeting scheduled for June 28, just a year after a major capital raising was completed in 2025.
Vietnam Airlines raised charter capital from nearly VND22.14 trillion to VND31.12 trillion (US$1.18 billion) in 2025, though details of the new proposed issuance have not yet been disclosed. View source→
FedEx Vietnam overloaded
Thanh Nien is reporting that FedEx is facing severe shipment backlogs in Vietnam after operational system changes disrupted cargo processing following the April 30-May 1 holiday period.
Businesses said delays at airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have disrupted production, threatened export orders and left temperature-sensitive goods at risk of spoilage. View source→
Ed.’s notes: FedEx and Viettel Post announced a new partnership at the end of April – not clear if that connects with this.
Petrol and diesel imports
Vietnam imported petrol and diesel to the tune of US$1,257 million in April, down from US$1,455 million in March, a change of -13.60 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Powdered milk production
Vietnam produced 14.54 thousand tonnes of powdered milk in April, up 8.98 percent from 13.34 thousand tonnes in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Stock market Monday
The VN-Index closed at 1,895.50, down 19.87 points or 1.04 percent, with a total trading value of VND 28,064.63 billion or US$1,065.07 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$38.82 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Exchange rates Monday
On May 11, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,420, and the sell rate was VND 26,470, a change of 30 and 30, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,445 (down 0.11 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
In Monday’s Vietnam news: Hanoi apartment resales down 60%, Food safety issues causing port congestion, Counterfeit Burberry / Gucci seizure, SK fried chicken chain to enter VN, HCMC apartment size rule distorting market, Communist Party influencer propaganda plans, Growth target analysis from SCMP, US energy company hat in ring nuclear power, Motorshow cancelled two years in a row, Vinfast on clock North Carolina factory, MoC on construction materials price hikes, Vietnam Inflation Well Above Target In April: What Happens Next?, Car production April, and more. Read the full article →