Vietnam Economic News: 14.9 – 21.9.2025
Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 14.9 - 21.9.2025
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Summary of Vietnam Economic News: 14.9 - 21.9.2025 ---
VIETNAM WINS RUSSIAN-HOSTED INTERVISION SONG CONTEST AFTER US SINGER DROPS OUT AT LAST MINUTE
Reuters News – 20 September 2025
Vietnam was crowned the winner of the Russian-hosted Intervision song contest in the early hours of Sunday morning after the Australian-born U.S. participant dropped out at the last minute after what the Russian organisers said was political pressure. Banished from Eurovision because of the war in Ukraine, Russia revived the Sovietera song contest featuring acts meant to promote "traditional family values" which saw singers hailing from 23 countries accounting for more than half the world's population, including China, India and Brazil, compete for a cash prize of 30 million roubles ($360,000). A professional jury made up of representatives from each participating country decided that Vietnam was the strongest act. "Vassy", an Australian-born-singer representing the United States, had dropped out at the last minute after coming under "unprecedented political pressure from the government of Australia," the organisers said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Australia.
VIETNAM'S TECHCOM SECURITIES RAISES $410 MILLION IN IPO
Reuters News – 19 September 2025
Vietnam's Techcom Securities has raised 10.82 trillion dong ($410 million) in an initial public offering, the firm said on Friday, one of the country's largest IPOs this year. The company, a unit of lender Techcombank, sold all of the 231.15 million shares offered, at a price of 46,800 dong apiece, it said in a statement. The IPO comes as Vietnam is pushing to have its stock market status upgraded to emerging market, with the finance minister on Tuesday expressing confidence that a long-coveted upgrade by global index provider FTSE Russell would be confirmed next month. Techcom Securities sold 52.44% of the shares to domestic investors and 47.56% to foreign investors and foreign corporate entities largely owned by foreign investors. It did not say when the shares would be listed on the stock market.
INVESTORS IN VIETNAM TO FACE STRICT POLICE SCREENING UNDER PLANNED REFORM
Reuters News – 18 September 2025
Investors in Vietnam in energy, telecommunications, construction and other sectors, will need police approval for projects, under a major reform meant to boost security and ensure the "absolute leadership" of the Communist Party, a draft decree says. The proposed text from the public security ministry, which is still subject to changes, could increase compliance costs for business in the nation while significantly expanding the powers of the security apparatus. Export-reliant Vietnam is highly dependent on foreign investors and currently conducts limited security checks on most development projects, giving the police largely a consulting role. It is unclear how extensively the new rules would be applied, if approved, and whether they would concern only future projects. In a separate explanatory document, the ministry said the new provisions were necessary to deal with a more complex international situation dominated by strategic competition meant "to increase the sphere of influence of strong countries," without specifying which nations. In Vietnam, police already play a crucial role beyond security, encompassing a major influence on legislation and growing interests in the economy. The party leader and Vietnam's most powerful man, To Lam, headed the security ministry before moving to the top job. Separately, the army oversees a wide array of businesses, including banks and the largest telecom operator Viettel. The planned reform would give the security ministry the power to vet development projects on security grounds for a broad variety of critical infrastructures like nuclear power plants, telecommunication and satellite services with foreign involvement, ports and oilfields. U.S. companies SpaceX and Amazon are planning to launch their satellite communication services in Vietnam. Seemingly less critical operations would also need the ministry's approval, including industrial parks and golf courses, according to the draft document.
VINGROUP INCLUDED IN TIME'S ‘WORLD'S BEST COMPANIES 2025’ LIST
Dow Jones Newswires – 18 September 2025
Vingroup, Vietnam's leading private conglomerate, has been honored as one of the "World's Best Companies" by TIME magazine. Vingroup is the first and only Vietnamese company to be included in this elite global list, solidifying its reputation and standing on the international stage. The "World's Best Companies 2025" ranking, compiled by TIME in collaboration with global data firm Statista, evaluates businesses on three key criteria: Revenue Growth, Employee Satisfaction, and indepth analysis of Sustainability (ESG). Vingroup, as the first Vietnamese enterprise to meet the rigorous selection standards, demonstrated a strong performance across all three metrics. With a total score of 77.06, the conglomerate secured the 817th position among the top 1,000 companies worldwide.
IMF SAYS VIETNAM'S 2025 GDP GROWTH TO SLOW TO 6.5% ON US TARIFF EFFECTS
Reuters News – 16 September 2025
Vietnam's economic growth is projected to slow to 6.5% this year due to the effects of the U.S. tariff, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, after growth of 7.09% last year. "Downside risks are high," the IMF said in a statement, adding that growth will decelerate further next year on unwinding of some one-off government stimulus measures. "A further escalation in global trade tensions or a tightening of global financial conditions could weaken further exports and investment," it said.