Vietnam recorded its first trade deficit in nearly a decade during the first five months of the year, but the impact on the country’s foreign exchange balance and currency has so far remained limited, according to Can Van Luc, chief economist at state-controlled bank BIDV. Vietnam posted a merchandise trade deficit of nearly $14 billion during January-May, marking a sharp reversal from years of…
Vietnam has made it mandatory for foreign workers in the country with 12 months labour contract to be covered under the country’s social insurance (SI) scheme. According to Vietnam Social Security, the policy will apply to foreign citizens employed by Vietnamese employers under definite-term labour contracts lasting 12 months or longer. The move comes as foreign direct investment continues to…
The Vietnamese government has ordered the development of a digital system to manage tour bookings and hotel reservations, enabling authorities to trace visitors’ itineraries as concerns grow over tourism-related crime and visa abuse. A directive it issued on May 28 calls for stronger measures to safeguard security and public order with respect to tourism activities, emphasizing they are key…
Foreigners who marry Vietnamese citizens and reside in Vietnam are exempt from the country’s work permit requirement under Vietnam’s labor law. The exemption however does not grant foreign spouses the same unrestricted right to work as Vietnamese citizens. Reader Mai Phuong sent VnExpress some questions regarding work permit regulations for foreigners in Vietnam. « I am a Vietnamese citizen who…
The government has issued a decree requiring inbound, outbound and transit travelers to submit health declarations in accordance with regulations. Decree No. 165, effective from July 1, details the implementation of a number of provisions of the Law on Disease Prevention, including regulations on health quarantine for people entering, leaving and transiting through Vietnam. The Minister of Health…
A fatal road accident involving a foreign motorbike renter has raised legal questions over whether vehicle owners can be held responsible under Vietnam’s traffic and penal laws. Reader Duy Dong: My friend operates a motorbike rental service for self-guided tours. Recently, a foreign customer rented a motorbike and was involved in a fatal accident. Authorities later determined that the customer…
Vietnam’s Immigration Department has introduced a mandatory pre-arrival information declaration for certain travelers entering via Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, effective Wednesday. According to a notice published on the Facebook page of the Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office, citing dispatch No. 1474/CACK TSN, foreign nationals entering Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese…
Foreign investors may take legal action if Vietnam does not fully pay electricity tariffs agreed with multiple wind and solar projects, according to a document signed by five chambers of commerce seen by Reuters. The dispute began last year when Vietnam cut previously agreed subsidised prices for electricity from some solar and wind farms, citing irregularities. The move comes as Vietnam’s…
Vietnam’s equity market is enjoying its strongest rally in eight years, with the benchmark VN-Index climbing 41% in 2025 as the economy expanded by 8%. The country is on the verge of being upgraded from frontier to secondary emerging market status by FTSE Russell, a move that could take effect as early as September pending confirmation in its upcoming review. Another potential catalyst could come…