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The economy, companies and prices shaping life in Vietnam.
482 stories · Policy, jobs, trade and the wider economy.
The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark rate from 1% to 1.25% on September 18, the highest level in 31 years. Two policymakers opposed the move; one said the economy was too weak for a hike as August core inflation stood at 1.7%.
Thailand’s Central Group plans to invest another $1.5 billion in Vietnam over the next decade, focusing on retail, commercial centers and hotels. Central Retail operates 330 stores and malls in 26 provinces and cities and is developing two hotels in Van Don.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed that the government transfer Electricity of Vietnam back under the ministry as owner representative to help implement Power Development Plan VIII. The proposal is part of a 2026–30 power-supply report that cites delayed generation projects.
BIDV is offering a VND200 trillion preferential credit package through December 2026, with rates from 6.8% a year and overdrafts of up to VND10 billion for eligible individual customers. The bank is also allocating VND10 trillion to green-credit sectors.
Vietnam’s State Treasury raised VND27.7565 trillion through 20 government-bond auctions in August, bringing eight-month issuance to VND228.9213 trillion, or 46% of the annual plan. Five-year and 10-year bonds accounted for 51.2% and 46.7% of the month’s issuance, respectively.
Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Nguyễn Đức Chi met Austria’s FMA leader Mariana Kühnel in Vienna on Sept. 15 to discuss financial-market supervision and crypto-asset regulation. Vietnam says it has a pilot legal framework and plans to license its first crypto-asset service providers in 2026.
MB, VPBank and Techcombank are pursuing plans to take charter capital above VND100 trillion, while VietinBank is targeting more than VND105 trillion. The plans aim to strengthen financial buffers and create room for lending, subject to completion of the proposed capital increases.
Vietnam’s VN-Index rose 22.92 points to 1,811.15 on Sept. 15, led by banking and oil shares. Foreign investors recorded more than VND730 billion in net buying for a second straight session.
EVN estimates VND12.215 trillion in profit on revenue above VND482 trillion for the first eight months, after clearing accumulated losses by June. The group forecasts full-year profit above VND13.5 trillion.
