Vietnam: News & Insights

Foreign investors and local entrepreneurs could both flee Myanmar now that the military has put itself back in power.

DealStreetAsia

Capital meant for Myanmar may seek havens in Vietnam and Cambodia

Foreign businesses also retreat from partnerships with Tatmadaw military links

27 February 2021

Mitsubishi Corp.'s headquarters in Tokyo: The trading house faces growing international pressure to withdraw from coal-fired power plants.

Energy

Mitsubishi pulls out of Vietnam coal plant amid climate concerns

Vinh Tan 3 project hit by backlash against carbon-intensive fuel

26 February 2021

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin receives the country's first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Putrajaya on Feb. 24.

Coronavirus

Malaysia starts COVID vaccines in crucial week for Asian jabs

Thailand and Vietnam take deliveries while South Korea prepares first shots

24 February 2021

Jinghong Dam and hydropower station, seen here in 2013: China slashed the Mekong River's flow from this dam in January, leaving Southeast Asian communities downstream to cope with falling water levels during the dry season.

International relations

Mekong's falling water level riles China's downstream neighbors

Jinghong Dam cuts flow bound for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

23 February 2021

Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City served more than 40 million passengers in 2019, far more than its current capacity. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)

Transportation

Vietnam flies into airport projects despite COVID travel slowdown

Communist government lacks flexibility for reviewing questionable projects

21 February 2021

Hachix President Nguyen Cong Thanh intends to take his startup to Hanoi and Da Nang, and expand into medical services for older adults.

Startups

Three Vietnamese entrepreneurs push into Japan's AI industry

Nagoya startup finds niche selling low-cost services to small manufacturers

16 February 2021

Kirin intends to terminate two beer joint ventures with MEHL in Myanmar, becoming the first foreign company to cut its relationship with the company after the coup. (Photo courtesy of Kirin)

Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar coup tests companies on human rights action

Strong response demanded as US prepares tougher sanctions

13 February 2021

The LG Display's facilities will be the largest foreign-invested project in Hai Phong.

Electronics

LG Display to expand OLED production in Vietnam with $750m

Company's total investment reaches $3.25bn as country draws tech firms

12 February 2021

Mastercard's office in Ho Chi Minh City is perched on the 19th floor of a lotus-shaped tower. (Photo by Lien Hoang)

Interview

Mastercard aims to partner with Vietnam's e-wallets using fintech

Country chief says it offers global networks and personal flexibility

12 February 2021

Sales plunged 80% last April as authorities clamped down on the initial wave of the pandemic. (Photo by Yohei Muramatsu)

Automobiles

Southeast Asia auto sales plunge 29% in 2020 on virus impact

Pandemic-induced slump eases as market shows signs of normalizing

9 February 2021

Motorbike riders travel during COVID-19 outbreak in Hanoi in July 2020: Vietnam is expected to be among the first nations to achieve herd immunity.

Opinion

What Taiwan and Vietnam taught the world about governance in 2020

Quality governance the most important factor when it comes to running a country

8 February 2021

Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the opening ceremony of the 13th National Congress in Hanoi on Jan. 26: the country's development prospects are likely to be more of the same with Trong as party chief.

Opinion

Vietnam's gray old men are losing touch with the new generation

Party rulers increasingly irrelevant to many people unaware of their actual roles

7 February 2021

Retail

Vingroup taps Vietnam's mom-and-pop stores in retail comeback

One-stop wholesale service brings traditional sellers into digital age

6 February 2021

Vietjet's pivot from air travel to cargo transport helped the Vietnamese airline turn a profit of $3 million in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Vietjet)

Transportation

Vietjet's shift to cargo earns it a profit in 2020 despite COVID

Vietnam budget airline keeps out of red through partnerships with UPS and others

1 February 2021

Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a news conference after the closing ceremony of 13th National Congress of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party in Hanoi on Feb. 1. Trong was re-elected as party general secretary for an unprecedented third term.

Politics

Vietnam top communist Trong's 3rd term heralds next leader race

Party chief faces challenges in China and Biden's expected focus on human rights

1 February 2021

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg addresses guests at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2020.

Climate Change

Greta Thunberg joins Asian charge against Vietnam coal plant

Mitsubishi Corp. and megabanks explain that Vung Ang 2 will boost livelihoods

1 February 2021

Vietnam Communist party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong applauds during a party meeting in Hanoi, Jan. 31, 2021. He has been re-elected for another term as the country's de-facto top leader.

Politics

Vietnam general secretary Trong elected to unprecedented 3rd term

Communist party chief credited with stabilizing state affairs amid COVID pandemic

31 January 2021

A paper factory in Vietnam. Nine Dragons has stepped up investment in Vietnam and Malaysia to counter the impact of China's ban on wastepaper.

Materials

The paper queen's gambit: China's Nine Dragons bets on Southeast Asia

Leading manufacturer builds $4.6bn plant to overcome supply restrictions

31 January 2021

A Vietnamese soldier stands guard near an image of communist leader Ho Chi Minh at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, the venue for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Jan. 28, 2021. REUTERS/Kham

Coronavirus

Vietnam on high alert as COVID outbreak hits Hanoi amid congress

Clutch of 93 cases detected, 80 of which linked to person infected with UK variant

29 January 2021

A Samsung smartphone plant in Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. The South Korean company operates two huge smartphone factories in the Southeast Asian country. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)

Economy

Vietnam courts chip investment to power up digital economy

Communist Party aims to grow tech sector to 30% of GDP in a decade

29 January 2021

Technology

Intel increases Vietnam chip investment by nearly 50%

US semiconductor giant faces pressure to outsource amid tech delays

27 January 2021

Apple is tapping India and Vietnam to take over a greater portion of production from China. (Source phots by Reuters and Rie Ishii)

Trade war

Apple ramps up iPhone and iPad output shift to India and Vietnam

Move is part of wider shift from China that includes Macs, AirPods and more

27 January 2021

Nearly 1,600 delegates gather in the National Convention Center in Hanoi for the opening ceremony of the Communist Party of Vietnam's twice-a-decade National Congress on Jan. 26.

Politics

Vietnam congress to map out path to high-income status by 2045

PM Phuc says party must address shortcomings for nation to realize aspirations

26 January 2021

Vingroup's subsidiary VinFast plan to deliver the electric SUVs known as VF31, VF32 and VF33 to the U.S., Canada and Europe in June 2022. (Photo courtesy of Vingroup)

Automobiles

Vingroup to export electric SUVs to US and Europe from 2022

Vietnam-made models built on Nvidia chips for autonomous cars, funded by bonds

26 January 2021

People on two-wheeled vehicles drive past a poster for the upcoming 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Jan. 23 in Hanoi.

Politics

Vietnam's new leadership up for grabs as Communist congress opens

All eyes on Trong, who might defy tradition by remaining as general secretary

25 January 2021