Vietnam Economic News: 18 - 24.4.2026
Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 18 - 24.4.2026
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Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 18 - 24.4.2026 ---
CHINA OFFERS VIETNAM RAILWAY LOANS, TECHNOLOGY
Reuters News – 24 April 2026
Vietnam's budget airline Vietjet Air will take the first delivery of an A330neo order made last year as it looks to expand into European markets, board member Philipp Rosler said on Friday. Vietjet ordered 20 A330neo aircraft last year during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Vietnam. The airline is looking to launch direct flights to Europe, with the Czech Republic, Germany, Britain and France as potential destinations, according to Rosler. The launch will depend on the delivery of widebody aircraft capable of long-haul flights, Rosler added, noting that delivery timelines are determined by Airbus. Vietjet also wants to help develop Ho Chi Minh City into an Asia-Pacific aviation finance hub, aiming to bring aircraft financing, leasing, insurance and capital markets activities closer to fast-growing aviation markets, rather than relying on European centres such as Ireland, Rosler said. Last month Vietjet said it had adjusted its flight schedule due to potential fuel shortages, but Rosler said the carrier's operations remained normal. Two COMAC aircraft previously leased by Vietjet for flights to tourist island Con Dao are no longer operating on its network, he said, adding that it would continue to deploy the Chinese-made aircraft, particularly on routes to China. Vietjet in April signed a financial lease agreement for 10 COMAC C909 narrow body aircraft with China's SPDB Financial Leasing. Vietjet currently operates a fleet of about 135 aircraft, mostly from Airbus, and has orders for around 600 planes from Airbus and Boeing, to be delivered over several years.
VIETNAM'S MASAN EYES $10 BILLION IPO FOR WINCOMMERCE GROCERY CHAIN
Reuters News – 24 April 2026
Vietnamese conglomerate Masan is looking to launch a potential initial public offering for its grocery retailer, WinCommerce, at a valuation of at least $10 billion, its chief executive Danny Le told shareholders on Friday. Le said the potential listing would take place in 2028 or 2029 with Vietnam set to be the location. "With the growth of WinCommerce and market practices, if we were to IPO, it would probably be a 2028, 2029 one," Le said. "Vietnam has the highest liquidity in all of Southeast Asia, with its upgrade to an emerging market, (so) probably the natural home for WinCommerce will be in Vietnam," Le said. WinCommerce has turned around losses of 3.7 trillion dong ($140.60 million) in 2019 to a targeted profit of 1 trillion dong ($38.00 million) in 2026. WinCommerce was acquired by Masan Group from Vietnam's biggest conglomerate Vingroup in 2019 and was then renamed. WinCommerce aims to reach 6,100 stores in Vietnam by the end of 2026, with a primary focus on the rural market. Masan is also looking to list its tungsten supplier, Masan High-Tech, on the country's main bourse next year. Masan is targeting net profits of $275 million to $300 million in 2026. ($1 = 26,315 dong)
VIETNAM'S HDBANK PLANS TO SELL 700 MILLION SHARES TO INVESTORS
Reuters News – 24 April 2026
Vietnamese lender HDBank, the financial backer of budget airline Vietjet Air, announced on Friday that it planned to sell up to 700 million shares via private placement to professional investors. The offer amounted to 14% of the bank's outstanding shares. Prices will be negotiated with buyers. The placement is expected to happen in 2026-2027. HDBank will also raise ownership in securities firm HDS from its current 29.99% to between 51% and 90%, making HDS its subsidiary. HDS has flagged an initial offering plan slated for later this year. HDBank targets a pre-tax profit of 30.1 trillion dong ($1.14 billion), 41% higher than in 2025.
HANOI REVIEWS PETROL MOTORBIKE BAN OPPOSED BY HONDA AHEAD OF JAPAN PM VISIT
Reuters News – 23 April 2026
Hanoi is reconsidering its planned ban on petrol motorbikes in the city centre. Originally introduced to tackle severe air pollution, the policy is now being softened: instead of a full ban, authorities propose a six-month pilot starting in July that would apply only to a smaller central area and only on weekends. The change follows pressure from Japan and companies like Honda, which argued the original plan was too strict and could hurt the market. Vietnam’s motorbike sector is huge—serving most of the population—and Honda dominates petrol bike sales, though electric vehicle maker VinFast has been gaining ground. The policy rethink comes just before a planned visit to Hanoi by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, at a sensitive time in relations. While Japan remains a key investor in Vietnam, investment has recently dropped, and Japanese firms have raised concerns about regulatory and project challenges in the country.
VIETNAM FINANCE MINISTRY SAYS 2026 INFLATION COULD BE AS HIGH AS 5.5%
Reuters News – 23 April 2026
Vietnam's finance ministry said on Thursday that the country's inflation could reach as high as 5.5% this year, driven mostly by the impact of the Iran war, state media reported. The figure would be higher than the government's target to keep inflation at 4.5% for the year. The ministry said prices will continue to face upward pressure over the rest of the year due to the conflict, particularly the prices of imported materials and equipment, as reported by the ministry’s newspaper. The ministry forecasts shipping costs will continue to rise, in tandem with rising fuel costs, according to the report. The government's moves to cut or suspend fuel taxes, together with ample domestic food supplies, will help ease inflationary pressure, the ministry said. Consumer prices rose 4.65% in March on the year, driven by a 10.81% surge in transport costs, according to government data.