This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam’s state-approved media and some others.
It compiles coverage from official outlets like Dan Tri, Tuoi Tre, and VN Express, highlighting the narratives currently shaping the country’s economic, financial, and business news landscape.
See yesterday’s news headlines →
Local casino access extended
Tuoi Tre is reporting that the government has issued a resolution allowing eligible Vietnamese citizens to enter and gamble at the Phu Quoc casino.
It also allows a five year pilot for eligible Vietnamese to play at the Ho Tram casino from 26 November 2025 and for a five year pilot at the Van Don casino when it opens.
After each pilot ends, Ho Tram and Van Don must stop admitting Vietnamese players until a decision is made on whether or not they can continue to admit local bettors.
Siemens courting HSR role
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Siemens Mobility has said it wants to partner with Vietnam on high speed rail and urban metro development.
It quotes regional CEO Michel Obadia as saying Siemens has prepared technical proposals for the high speed rail project, including Velaro Novo trains, signalling, monitoring, station design and depot planning, with complete solutions for metro systems in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Ed.’s notes: Article = charm offensive.
Debt trading
VN Economy is reporting that the Ministry of Finance has proposed a draft decree expanding the functions of the Debt and Asset Trading Corporation (DATC) to include receiving and handling government debts such as unpaid official development assistance (ODA) loans, concessional loans and government guaranteed loans.
The draft would also permit the DATC to conduct online auctions of debts and assets.
Humanoid robots China-Vietnam border
SCMP is reporting that UBTech Robotics has secured a 264 million yuan (US$37 million) contract to deploy humanoid robots at border crossings between China and Vietnam.
The robots will guide travellers, manage personnel flows, conduct patrols, support logistics and provide commercial services, and will also perform inspections at steel, copper and aluminium facilities, the publication says.
Ed.’s notes: Cool.
Government bond sales
The Vietnam Bond Market Association is reporting that the State Treasury offered VND 14,000 billion (US$531.2 million) of government bonds on November 26, 2025 across 5, 10, 15, and 30 year tenors, but that the 10 year bonds were the only tenor sold worth VND 6,050 billion (US$229.5 million).
The winning yield for the 10 year tenor increased by 1 basis point to 3.86 percent.
HCMC land auctions
Thanh Nien is reporting that Ho Chi Minh City plans to restart land auctions in early 2026 with seven lots in Thu Thiem, with three plots previously auctioned in 2021 being offered again after the winning bidders four years ago failed to meet their financial obligations.
Experts have welcomed the move saying prolonged delays have reduced budget revenue and left prime sites idle, the publication has said.
Industry groups agriculture VAT
Thanh Nien is reporting that Vietnam agricultural industry groups have weighed in on the realities of a 5 percent value added tax on lightly processed products, which they say creates severe financial pressure on exporters.
The article carries comments from the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, the Vietnam Food Association, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), with the latter proposing removing the VAT on basic processed farm products.
Ed.’s notes: Ongoing issue. Pressure mounting for change. Monitoring.
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Binance HCMC MOU
Thanh Nien is reporting that Binance Group and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance have signed an MOU on cooperation with respect to the Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Under the MOU, both sides will coordinate investor introductions, share experience on digital asset legal frameworks and develop sandbox mechanisms for blockchain projects when permitted by law.
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Thaco-Del Monte Agreement
Thanh Nien is reporting that Vietnam’s Thaco has signed a long term strategic cooperation agreement to supply bananas and pineapples to US firm Del Monte.
Del Monte will purchase at least 71,500 tonnes of bananas from Thaco in 2026, equal to 12 containers per day, with potential expansion to 240,000 tonnes per year.
The contract runs for up to 10 years and includes annual increases in purchase volumes.
Ed.’s notes: Del Monte initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in July of this year.
Hanoi new land price list
Thanh Nien is reporting that Hanoi has approved a new land price table to take effect on 1 January 2026.
Prices in central wards will increase by about 2 percent with outer suburban communes seeing larger increases of up to 26 percent.
The highest residential land price exceeds VND 700 million (US$26,600) per square metre in prime areas of Hoan Kiem.
The new price table will be used for compensation, resettlement pricing, land related taxes and fees, and as a minimum reference for property transactions.
Vietravel Airlines backgrounder
Vietnamnet is carrying a rundown of Vietravel Airlines’ short history, which has been marked by steep losses and continuous cash burn.
In short:
- The airline was founded in 2020 with VND 700 billion (US$26.6 million) in capital and launched commercial flights in early 2021, just as pandemic restrictions shut down operations;
- It lost VND 860 billion (US$32.6 million) in 2021 and another VND 559 billion (US$21.2 million) in 2022, bringing cumulative losses to about VND 1,000 billion (US$38 million); and
- By the end of 2023, losses were closed to VND 1,500 billion (US$56.9 million), equity was wiped out and debts exceeded VND 1,186 billion (US$45 million).
Ed.’s notes: Useful re: reports earlier this week that AirAsia may take a significant stake in the airline.
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Ag. firm restructure
VnExpress is carrying an article it which it looks at agriculture firm Hoang Anh Gia Lai and the decade it spent restructuring its business and rebuilding around a cash-flow-driven agricultural model
It describes the company’s collapse in the mid-2010s, when total debt exceeded VND 36 trillion (about US$1.37 billion) and long-term investments failed to generate cash.
It outlines founder Doan Nguyen Duc’s decisions to sell assets, cut costs and overhaul operations.
Ed.’s notes: Portrays Duc as a leader that saved his company from near collapse – triumph against adversity vibes.
Note, reported yesterday he didn’t pay his staff for up to five years and that his creditors had to write off significant debts.
This article could use an interview or two with a couple of those former employees/creditors.
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Refinery US crude import increase
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that BSR (Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical) is increasing imports of US crude oil and will receive 1 million barrels of WTI in early January 2026, its second shipment in three months.
It notes that Vietnam is buying more US goods, including crude oil, LNG (liquefied natural gas), agricultural products and aircraft, to narrow its trade surplus with the US.
Ed.’s notes: Latest data from customs shows crude oil imports of US$6.65 billion to end-October, mostly from Kuwait (about 80 percent).
Bank margin pressure credit growth
Dau Tu Kien Thuc is reporting that FiinGroup has found that system wide bank net interest margin has fallen to about 3 percent in Q3 2025, the lowest since late 2018.
NIM has been squeezed due to funding costs rising faster than yields on interest earning assets, the publication says.
Ed.’s notes: Credit growth policy pressures coming to bear.
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Stock market performance Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that the VN-Index closed at 1,680.36, up 20.00 points or 1.20 percent, with a total trading value of VND 24,853.77 billion or US$943.22 million, and foreign traders net-buying US$23.83 million worth of equities, Wednesday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Exchange rate Wednesday
the-shiv is reporting that on November 26, in Vietnam, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 27,740 and the sell rate was VND 27,820, a change of 10 and 30, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 27,780 (down 0.07 percent), according to Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,146, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 26,378.
Iron and steel products exports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam exported iron and steel products to the tune of US$456 million in October, 11.65 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had exported US$4,590 million worth of iron and steel products by the end of October.
Coal imports
the-shiv is reporting that Vietnam imported coal to the tune of US$498 million in October, up 8.83 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
Year to date, Vietnam had imported US$5,663 million worth of coal by the end of October.
Exports to Singapore
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam exported US$518 million worth of goods to Singapore, up 2.78 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has exported US$4,853 million worth of goods to Singapore.
Imports from Italy
the-shiv is reporting that in October, Vietnam imported US$176 million worth of goods from Italy, up 18.36 percent over September, according to preliminary data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs.
So far this year, Vietnam has imported US$1,645 million worth of goods from Italy.
