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
Vingroup launches surgical robots company
Vietstock is reporting that Vingroup has approved plans to establish VinSurgical, a surgical robotics and smart medical device company with charter capital of VND300 billion (US$11.39 million).
The new company will be 51 percent owned by Vingroup and focus on surgical robotics, smart medical devices and advanced healthcare technology solutions. View source→
Vingroup establishes mining company
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vingroup has established Vinmetal Ha Tinh, an iron ore mining company with charter capital of VND 5 trillion (US$189.8 million), 95 percent owned by its subsidiary Vinmetal.
Vinmetal Ha Tinh’s business activities include iron ore mining, steel production, metal processing and trading. View source→
Fake Rolex Gucci Louis Vuitton seizure
Thanh Nien is reporting that Vietnam Customs has said that authorised representatives of Rolex, Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton confirmed more than 5,000 seized transit goods were counterfeit products.
The shipment, inspected on April 25 at Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh province, included 3,980 counterfeit Rolex watches and other fake fashion accessories. View source→
Fuel prices lowered
Vietnamnet is reporting that fuel prices have been reduced, with RON95 gasoline falling by VND276 to VND24,078 per litre (US$0.91) and diesel declining by VND268 to VND27,226 (US$1.03).
E5 gasoline prices were reduced by VND656 to VND23,134 per litre (US$0.88), while fuel oil prices fell by VND587 to VND20,585 per kilogram (US$0.78).
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Finance said no allocations or disbursements were made from the Fuel Price Stabilisation Fund during the adjustment. View source→
Draft policy EV subsidies Hanoi
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Hanoi is proposing cash support of up to VND5 million (US$190) for residents switching from petrol motorcycles to electric motorbikes under a draft policy released on May 13.
Residents with permanent registration or at least two years of temporary residency in Hanoi would qualify if purchasing electric motorbikes valued above VND10 million (US$380). View source→
EVN cuts losses by US$1.5b in 2025
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam Electricity said its accumulated losses fell to around VND5.611 trillion (US$212.9 million) by the end of 2025, according to a document sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
EVN’s cumulative losses declined by more than VND39 trillion (US$1.48 billion) during 2025 as business operations improved, the article says. View source→
Ed.’s notes: This is a little confusing. Earlier this week, the MoIT was pushing for outstanding EVN debts to be built into future electricity price increases based on the US$1.48 billion figure. It seems like it may not have had incorrect information earlier, though it’s not clear that this was the case from this article.
Secondary metals processing hub doubts
Fast Markets is reporting that industry participants at the China Metal Recycling Spring Conference in Hanoi said Vietnam’s push to become a secondary metals processing hub faces investor skepticism despite new incentives.
Vietnam introduced tax incentives and subsidies for recyclers, and revised recycling requirements, but market participants reportedly said weak domestic scrap collection, restrictive import rules, high infrastructure costs and uncertain downstream demand remain major barriers to investment. View source→
French aircargo firm begins Hanoi-Paris route
Air Cargo News is reporting that French shipping and logistics company, CMA CGM Air Cargo, launched a new freighter service between Paris and Hanoi.
The route operates with a Boeing 777 freighter carrying around 100 tonnes per flight and includes a return stop in Uzbekistan. View source→
SK cable supplier VN data cetre
The Elec is reporting that South Korea’s LS Eco Energy said on May 14 its Vietnamese subsidiary LS-VINA will supply power cables for a 60-megawatt artificial intelligence data centre project led by Viettel Group near Hanoi.
The project aims to support the rising demand for generative artificial intelligence and cloud services. View source→
SK fund sells VN construction firm
The Investor is reporting that South Korea’s KIM Vietnam Fund Management is no longer a major shareholder in construction firm Coteccons after affiliated funds sold 950,000 shares on May 8.
The sale reduced KIM Vietnam’s ownership stake in the Vietnamese contractor to 4.13 percent, below the 5 percent threshold required for major shareholder status. View source→
VN reiterates IP improvement efforts
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press conference, has again defended the country’s intellectual property enforcement efforts after Vietnam was identified in the United States 2026 Section 301 Special Report as a top intellectual property concern.
The ministry pointed out that authorities handled 3,306 intellectual property infringement cases in traditional markets and 599 cases involving e-commerce and social media during 2025, adding that more than 1,200 websites suspected of copyright infringement have been blocked. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Two issues in USTR: lack of enforcement and lack of prosecution, or at least insufficient penalties. Conference addressed the former, but not the latter.
Bank deposits data changes
Thanh Nien is reporting that Vietnam’s household deposits at credit institutions increased by VND 46 trillion (US$1.75 billion) in January, marking a fifth consecutive monthly rise.
Conversely, corporate deposits declined by around VND 100 trillion (US$3.8 billion) to VND 6.08 quadrillion (US$231 billion).
The article notes that deposit interest rates continued rising in January, while domestic gold prices climbed by VND19 million (US$721) per tael to VND192.9 million (US$7,321). View source→
Vietjet ranks 27 biggest airlines by market cap
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietjet Air ranked 27th among the world’s largest listed airlines by market capitalisation.
Vietjet shares have risen around 88 percent over the past year, lifting the company’s market capitalisation to more than VND102.4 trillion (US$3.89 billion). View source→
Stock market Thursday
The VN-Index closed at 1,925.46, up 27.09 points or 1.43 percent, with a total trading value of VND 22,155.90 billion or US$840.83 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$9.68 million worth of equities, Thursday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Exchange rates Thursday
On May 14, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,370, and the sell rate was VND 26,400, a change of 40 and 40, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,385 (up 0.15 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Vietnam Fuel Prices Tracker: May 14, Update
This article tracks developments in Vietnam’s energy sector in the context of the emerging conflict in Iran and its impact on energy resources moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Read the full article →
Crue oil imports April
Vietnam imported crude oil to the tune of US$716 million in April, up from US$550 million in March, a change of 30.24 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Motorbike production April
Vietnam produced 361.34 thousand motorbikes in April, down 1.31 percent from 366.13 thousand in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Electricity production April
Vietnam produced 28.83 billion kWh of electricity in April, up 8.51 percent from 26.57 billion kWh in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Cement production April
Vietnam produced 17.39 million tonnes of cement in April, up 4.47 percent from 16.65 million tonnes in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Mobile phone production April
Vietnam produced 11.96 million mobile phones in April, down 9.37 percent from 13.20 million in March 2026, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Office. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
In yesterday’s Vietnam news: National cloud platform plan approved, Aviation foreign ownership increase proposal, Biofuel nationwide rollout prices, VinFast restructuring, Vingroup debt after VinFast factory sale, Visa violations foreign workers Khanh Hoa, MPS takeover tech-telco firm, Adding EVN debt to power prices, Hanoi sidewalk rent plan, Calls for long term IP strategy, Government bond auction results, Stock market Wednesday, Exchange rates Wednesday, and more. Read the full article →