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
PH ups investment in VN infrastructure firm
Business World Online is reporting that the Philippines’ Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation has invested an additional P193 million (about US$3.3 million) in Vietnam’s CII Bridges and Roads Investment, to maintain its 44.9 percent stake. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Share issuances to raise capital to dilute foreign ownership, possible?
Oil exploration rights open for bidding
Baird Maritime is reporting that Petrovietnam has opened bidding for offshore oil and gas exploration rights in Block 17 of Vietnam’s Cuu Long Basin.
Tender documents will be issued from August 3 to August 14, with bids due by September 16 through an open bidding process. View source→
Ed.’s notes: There is all this activity in the oil and gas sector because of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the question is will it end when the closure does?
VinFast Auto’s new chairman
The Business Times is reporting that Pham Nhat Quan Anh, the son of Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong, has been appointed chairman of VinFast Auto, replacing longtime executive Le Thi Thu Thuy.
VinFast said the leadership change supports its next development phase as the company pursues global expansion and restructuring efforts. View source→
New Vingroup company ownership structure
VnExpress is reporting that Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong has established a new company called VinEnergo Holding with a charter capital of VND 79.763 trillion (about US$3.03 billion).
Vuong holds more than 66 percent of VinEnergo Holding, while Vingroup owns 19 percent, and two of Vuong’s family members hold another 9.9 percent collectively.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, wife of Ho Hung Anh and chairwoman of One Mount Group, owns 4.5 percent of VinEnergo Holding, the article notes. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Speaks to personal relationships connecting Vingroup and Techombank — the latter one of Vingroup’s biggest creditors.
HoSE liquidity lowest in 6 weeks
VnExpress is reporting that liquidity on Vietnam’s stock market fell below VND 19 trillion (about US$721.1 million) on Monday, the lowest level in more than six weeks.
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index still rose 9 points to 1,886, though four Vingroup-linked stocks contributed a combined 9.5 points to the index. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Because there are limited ways to bet against the market (as in no short selling), people just stop trading — speaks to the impact of a lack of diversity of products in the market.
VN enters top 10 global steel producers
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam entered the world’s top 10 crude steel producers for the first time in April 2026 after output reached 2.1 million tonnes, according to the World Steel Association.
Vietnam produced 8.5 million tonnes of crude steel in the first four months of 2026, up 8.4 percent year-on-year, according to World Steel Association data. View source→
Ed.’s notes: This may not be great news in light of the USTR 301 investigation into production numbers outside of what the market can absorb.
Lending yields margin loans
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s margin lending balance rose to about VND 405 trillion (about US$15.4 billion) by the end of March despite the VN-Index falling 6.2 percent during the first quarter.
Vietnamese brokerage firms recorded average annualised margin lending yields of 11.38 percent in the first quarter, with higher borrowing costs and funding structures increasingly separating firms. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Bigger picture, this fits with the credit-powered growth narrative.
Oil and gas power to fill supply-demand gap
Thanh Nien is reporting that the National System and Market Operator (NSMO), which manages Vietnam’s power supply, is preparing more than 3,000MW of liquefied natural gas-fired generation and hundreds of megawatts of oil-fired generation to support the grid during expected peak demand periods over the summer. View source→
Ed.’s notes: This is a story about underinvestment in long-term solutions to power shortages, leading to more expensive short-term solutions = oil and gas.
Questions over string of scheduled IPOs
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Vietnam’s stock market is facing a potential US$40 billion initial public offering wave between 2026 and 2028, though analysts warn that shrinking liquidity and cautious investors may struggle to absorb these new listings.
FIDT Investment Research Director Bui Van Huy said these IPOs come amid tighter capital conditions, higher interest rates and weaker investor appetite compared with earlier periods of cheap money and abundant liquidity. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Development ambitions versus capital realities.
Analysis: North Carolina vs VinFast Lawsuit, What Happens Next?
It’s difficult to see what VinFast can possibly say with respect to mounting a legal defence. Though VinFast is still in business, despite mounting losses, so it might be too presumptive to count the company’s North Carolina ambitions out just yet. Read the full article →
VN-Index down 19.76 points, Monday
The VN-Index closed at 1,877.13, down 19.76 points or 1.04 percent, with a total trading value of VND 22,315.59 billion or US$846.89 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$120.42 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
Black market dong stronger, Monday
On May 25, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,380, and the sell rate was VND 26,420, a change of 100, and 100, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,400 (down 0.38 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Imports from China grow month-on-month in April
In April, Vietnam imported US$20,209.68 million worth of goods from China, up from US$18,205.54 million in March, a change of 11.01 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Exports to Germany fall in April v March
In April, Vietnam exported US$934 million worth of goods to Germany, down 2.61 percent over March, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Yesterday’s Vietnam news roundup
In yesteray’s Vietnam news: SBV interest rate inspections commercial banks, Gold demand easing, Amazon satellite internet plans, Coffee futures up on dry weather in VN, North Carolina is suing Vinfast, Vingroup head’s investment in VinFast analysis, Power supply concerns, Journalism to promote tourism, First fully-Vinfast fleet province, Higher fines for undeclared gold / foreign currency, New airport passenger terminal at 63 percent, Vinhomes gold-for-real-estate program, Satellite Internet Vietnam: Amazon Considering Entering Market, and more. Read the full article →