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
Power shortages Hanoi
Dan Tri is reporting that Electricity Corporation Hanoi (ECH) has said a spike in electricity demand has seen localized power outages across parts of the capital.
ECH said peak electricity demand reached a record 6,203 megawatts on May 25, exceeding the city’s 2025 peak as air-conditioner use surged. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Not good for business. Not unique. Speaks to underinvestment in electricity generation.
Another PDP8 revision tabled
Dan Tri is reporting that Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has said that power projects unlikely to be completed by 2030 should be removed from Vietnam’s revised Power Development Plan VIII.
Tuc said delayed energy projects were threatening electricity supply and national energy security as Vietnam pursues double-digit economic growth targets. View source→
Ed.’s notes: This will be the second time the PDP8 has been revised — so far removed from what was initially decided, it begs the question, what was the point of developing the plan in the first place?
Ukraine investigating steel dumping
Indexbox is reporting that Ukraine has launched an anti-dumping investigation into coated carbon steel imports from Turkey, Vietnam, South Korea, and India.
The investigation covers coated flat-rolled carbon steel products under multiple Ukrainian Classification codes, excluding tin-coated products, with interested parties given up to 60 days to submit information. View source→
Ed.’s notes: Feeds oversupply narrative. Connects to yesterday’s announcement Vietnam has cracked the top ten of the world’s biggest steel producers.
Copper tube anti-dumping
Cambios Legales is reporting that the European Commission has introduced mandatory registration of copper tube imports from Vietnam, China, Mexico, and Uzbekistan ahead of a possible retroactive anti-dumping tariff decision.
The regulation allows the European Union to impose retroactive duties on copper tube imports registered during the investigation period if dumping is confirmed. View source→
HSBC clean energy credit facility
VIR is reporting that HSBC has launched a US$4 billion clean energy credit facility to support mainland Chinese low-carbon companies expanding internationally, including into Vietnam.
The facility will finance sectors including clean power, electric vehicles, data centres, and artificial intelligence, with HSBC citing growing China-ASEAN green economy cooperation. View source→
CNN in Vietnam
VOV World is reporting that Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang has met with Phil Nelson, Executive Vice President of CNN International Commercial.
CNN said it was exploring cooperation with Vietnamese agencies and localities on tourism, culture, innovation, economic growth, and possible media partnerships linked to APEC 2027 preparations. View source→
Ed.’s notes: CNN and Vietnamese news outlets are worlds apart in what they do, in terms of editorial quality, direction, and core objectives. What cooperation between CNN and Vietnam news outlets looks like will be interesting to see.
Vinhomes bond issuance
The Investor is reporting that Vinhomes raised VND2 trillion (US$75.9 million) through a domestic bond issuance completed between May 11 and May 22.
The latest three-year bond sale followed two May 11 issuances that raised another VND3 trillion (US$113.9 million), with those bonds carrying annual coupon rates of 12.5 percent. View source→
Ed.’s notes: 12.5 percent is a lot and well above most bank interest rates. If Vinhomes is struggling to raise funds, it might speak to the motive behind its gold-for-real-estate program announced earlier this week.
Real estate sector debt
Vietstock is reporting that Vietnam’s listed real estate firms increased their total outstanding debt to more than VND427.3 trillion (US$16.2 billion) in the first quarter, up 6 percent from the beginning of 2026.
Vinhomes remained the sector’s most indebted company with more than VND162 trillion (US$6.1 billion) in outstanding loans, including nearly VND99 trillion (US$3.8 billion) in bank debt.
It also notes that real estate firms accounted for more than VND24 trillion (US$910.8 million) of Vietnam’s VND40 trillion (US$1.5 billion) corporate bond issuance market in the first quarter. View source→
Extorting traffic police
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that a father and son have been sentenced to 15 years and 12.5 years, respectively, in prison for extorting traffic police.
Together, they extorted more than VND1.5 billion (US$56,900) from 30 traffic police officers between 2023 and 2025, the article says, by filming traffic police officers during their patrols, recording alleged procedural mistakes, and then pressuring police unit leaders into making payments to avoid further exposure.
Investigators said the group also deliberately committed traffic violations to provoke police stops. View source→
Ed.’s notes: What were the traffic police filmed doing that they were willing to pay to not have made public?
More petrol distributors fined
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade fined three petroleum distributors a combined VND 450 million (US$17,100) in May for failing to maintain mandatory minimum fuel reserves and related violations.
The ministry said inspections were being intensified nationwide under a government directive aimed at strengthening petroleum supply management and fuel reserve oversight. View source→
Ed.’s notes: There is a way to look at this that requiring private firms to maintain minimum fuel reserves is like outsourcing Vietnam’s fuel security.
Analysis: Vinhomes’ Gold-for-Real Estate Scheme Regulatory Red Flags
This scheme should raise some red flags with Vietnam’s regulators and macro policy hawks, and it will be interesting to see if it is allowed to go ahead, and if so, if anyone actually takes up the offer. Read the full article →
Analysis: Bidding Opens for Block 17 Exploration
There is a lot of activity in Vietnam’s oil and gas sector on the back of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this newfound motivation, however, it is only one piece of a much more complicated puzzle. Read the full article →
VN-Index falls 1.85 points Tuesday
The VN-Index closed at 1,884.18, down 1.85 points or 0.10 percent, with a total trading value of VND 19,739.31 billion or US$749.12 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$34.08 million worth of equities, Tuesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. Read the full article →
SBV weakens central exchange rate Tuesday
On May 26, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 26,380, and the sell rate was VND 26,420, a change of 0 and 0, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 26,400 (down 0.00 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD. Read the full article →
Imports from India up double digits in April
In April, Vietnam imported US$815.70 million worth of goods from India, up from US$722.12 million in March, a change of 12.96 percent, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. Read the full article →
Imports from USA climb 6.41 percent in April
In April, Vietnam imported US$1,886.06 million worth of goods from the USA, up from US$1,772.51 million in March, a change of 6.41 percent, 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: PH ups investment in VN infrastructure firm, Oil exploration rights open for bidding, VinFast Auto’s new chairman, New Vingroup company ownership structure, HoSE liquidity lowest in 6 weeks, VN enters top 10 global steel producers, Lending yields margin loans, Oil and gas power to fill supply-demand gap, Questions over string of scheduled IPOs, VN-Index down 19.76 points, Monday, Black market dong stronger, Monday, Imports from China grow month-on-month in April, Analysis: North Carolina vs VinFast Lawsuit, What Happens Next?, and more. Read the full article →