This is a brief rundown of what is being reported today in Vietnam 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 have anything to share, reach out: mark.barnes@the-shiv.com
Grab on stop-work
Tuoi Tre is reporting that Grab said it would not penalise or suspend drivers simply for switching off the app during the planned stop-work action on 12–13 September.
The company said drivers are free to choose when and where they work, with suspensions limited to legal or code-of-conduct violations.
Grab warned, however, that accounts deliberately making fake ride or food orders to disrupt other drivers could be temporarily suspended.
Tuoi Tre reported Grab services were operating normally on 12 September, although passengers in some areas faced longer waits. View source→
*Interesting because you don’t hear much about strike-busting as a concept in Vietnam on account of the unions being connected to the government.
Proptech Nasdaq listing
Renaissance Capital is reporting that Vietnamese property technology company Meey Global has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to US$35 million through an initial public offering.
Founded in 2019, the company recorded US$3 million in revenue in the 12 months to March 31, 2026. View source→
*I had not heard of this company until I read the linked article and I am fairly familiar with most Vietnamese firms that are in a position that they might be able to list on the Nasdaq.
Culture Day public holiday
VnExpress is reporting that the Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed a workday swap to create a four-day weekend for the country’s first Vietnamese Culture Day public holiday.
Under the proposal, public employees would be off from November 21–24, working Saturday, November 28, instead of Monday, November 23. View source→
Semiconductor gov’t procurement plans
Vietnamnet is reporting that the Ministry of Science and Technology is preparing a list of about 20 specialised chip categories that would be prioritised for state orders.
The idea is to use government procurement and public investment projects as the first customers for Vietnamese-designed chips, addressing a major barrier to commercialisation, according to this article. View source→
*Pax Silica is a US initiative to build advanced tech supply chains in friendly nations. Vietnam is not part of Pax Silica. Just some food for thought.
Vietravel Airbus deal
Aerotime is reporting that Vietravel Airlines has agreed to buy 50 Airbus aircraft, comprising 20 A220s and 30 A321s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.
The order forms part of Vietravel’s expansion under T&T Group, which took control of the airline in late 2024. View source→
Construction needs Hanoi Olympic Sports Urban Area
Kenh14 is reporting that Hanoi estimates the Vingroup-linked Olympic Sports Urban Area will require nearly 280 million cubic metres of sand, stone and fill during construction.
The 9,171-hectare project alone would account for 61.6 percent of sand and 50.7 percent of stone demand from Hanoi’s non-public-investment projects through 2030. View source→
*Construction material prices have been rising a lot over the last year or so. You’d imagine projects like this would keep pressure on those prices.
Vietnam Airline Airbus MoU
Reuters is reporting that Vietnam Airlines has signed a provisional agreement with Airbus to buy five A350-900 widebody aircraft for delivery in 2033 and 2034.
The deal forms part of the flag carrier’s plan to acquire 30 additional widebody aircraft after 2030. View source→
NCC review Grab pricing
Bloomberg is reporting that Vietnam’s National Competition Commission is reviewing Grab’s pricing, fees and driver commissions following calls for a weekend work stoppage by drivers.
The regulator has ordered Grab to provide information on how it sets fares, commissions, fees, and driver deductions, while seeking similar information from other ride-hailing platforms. View source→
VinFast to fight NC lawsuit
WRAL is reporting that VinFast is fighting North Carolina’s attempt to reclaim the site of its delayed US$2 billion-plus electric vehicle factory.
The state sued VinFast in May, arguing it missed a contractual construction deadline and triggering its right to buy back the Chatham County property.
VinFast says it satisfied the requirement through foundation work and argues the state’s actions have themselves disrupted financing, increased costs and contributed to further delays.
The company says it has invested about US$229 million at the site but acknowledges major construction is now not expected to begin until 2028. View source→
*The decision to fight this is an interesting one.
VinFast wasn’t well received in the US market; its sales have been slow at best, and independent reviews of its vehicles have generally not been great — the business case for continuing this project seems thin.
Moreover, if it goes to court, you’d imagine there’d be a lot of scrutiny of its operations and probably a lot more media coverage than there might otherwise be. The upside is, of course, that it might hold on to the land, though if it still doesn’t move ahead with a factory, you’d imagine it would end up back in the same position it is in now, again just a few years down the track.
Exchange rates
As of 7.30am this morning, the black market US dollar buy rate was VND 25,750 and the sell rate was VND 25,780, a change of 30, and 20, respectively, for a mid-market rate of VND 25,765 (up 0.10 percent), according to prices quoted by Ty Gia USD.
Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam’s central exchange rate was set at VND 25,596, while the Google Finance mid-market rate stood at VND 25,923.
Stock market Friday
The VN-Index closed at 1,795.21, down 34.02 points or 1.86 percent, with a total trading value of VND 16,961.87 billion or US$643.71 million, and foreign traders net-selling US$33.09 million worth of equities, Monday, according to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.
Friday’s news roundup
In today’s news: Grab response proposed industrial action, Vingroup founder + wife LP Bank ownership, Mortgage rates under pressure, New chemical plant HCMC, Russia looking to VN for aircraft, Masan on tungsten export ban, Proposed low-value import duty changes, Russia VN intelligence sharing, Central Retail Vietnam revenue falls, Fuel price update, Stock market Thursday, Exchange rates, Yesterday’s news, and more. View source→