POLICY BOOST URGED AS FINANCIAL LEASING HITS VNĐ40.7 TRILLION IN Q1
Financial leasing reached nearly VNĐ40.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) at the end of the first quarter of this year, representing an increase of 8.4 per cent year-on-year, Vietnam Financial Leasing Association (VFLE) said, urging solutions to promote the role of financial leasing in the economy. The increase came amid a complicated global landscape, with geopolitical pressures and spiralling trade tensions, but with a robust domestic market with a solid GDP growth of 6.93 per cent in the quarter, supported by strong public investment and a trade surplus of $5 billion.
BANKING SECTOR STEPS UP ACTION PLAN TO BOOST GREEN CREDIT
At the workshop, on promoting the implementation of the plan organised by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the GIZ Vietnam and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Hà Nội, the SBV’s Deputy Governor Đào Minh Tú said: “Green growth is no longer an option, but has become an urgent necessity, especially for developing countries like Việt Nam.
VIETNAM SETS UP COMMITTEE TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
The Vietnamese government has reiterated its strong commitment to developing an international financial centre by announcing the establishment of the Steering Committee for Regional and International Financial Centre in Vietnam, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. PM Chinh signed a decision dated May 20 approving the list of members for the committee.
VIỆT NAM’S FINANCIAL FIRMS HEAT UP WITH NEW WAVE OF M&A ACTIVITY
A new wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is unfolding in Việt Nam’s financial sector, as commercial banks and securities firms accelerate their push into investment banking and asset management. The movement has intensified during the 2025 annual general meeting season. Among the most high-profile developments is Sacombank’s move to invest up to VNĐ1.5 trillion (US$57.8 million) in acquiring a controlling stake of over 50 per cent in a securities company.
OPEN-END FUNDS KEEP ATTRACTING CAPITAL INFLOWS
Though capital flows into open-end funds have shown signs of weakening, amid investors' caution over the US tariff change, such fund is the only group that has continuously maintained net inflows since the fourth quarter of 2023. According to Đỗ Hồng Vân, Head of the financial data provider FiinGroup’s Data Analysis Division, equity funds suffered the strongest capital withdrawal pressure.
GOVERNMENT PROPOSES 2% VAT REDUCTION ON SELECT GOODS AND SERVICES UNTIL 2026
The Government has proposed a 2 per cent reduction in the value-added tax (VAT) for goods and services currently taxed at 10 per cent, lowering the rate to 8 per cent. The proposal, which recommends maintaining this VAT reduction until December 31, 2026, was presented by Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng during the ongoing National Assembly (NA) session.
VN-INDEX BREAKS THROUGH 1,300 POINTS
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index rose for a third straight session on May 14, closing above the 1,300-point mark for the first time in a month, led by strong gains in banking and brokerage shares. The index ended up 1.16%, or 16.3 points, to 1,309.73 points, with 189 stocks advancing and 122 others declining. Trading volume and value improved 12.6% and 14.4% over the previous session, respectively, with 1.07 billion shares worth VND27.3 trillion changing hands.
STOCK MARKET STARTS OFF MAY ON A POSITIVE NOTE AS KEY STOCKS GAIN POST-HOLIDAY
Việt Nam’s stock market opened May on a positive footing, with the VN-Index reclaiming the 1,240-point threshold despite low liquidity and cautious sentiment. The recovery was driven largely by gains in key large-cap stocks, particularly those under the Vingroup ecosystem. The session on May 5 also marked the first trading day operating under the new KRX system, aimed at modernising Việt Nam’s market infrastructure.
