Bank of America to open HCMC branch
Bank of America is completing procedures to open its second Vietnam branch in Ho Chi Minh City after the first in Hanoi 27 years ago.
The San Francisco-based bank debuted its Hanoi branch in February 1995, one month after New York-headquartered Citibank launched its Hanoi branch. Citibank opened its HCMC branch in 1998.
Meeting with HCMC Chairman Phan Van Mai in the U.S. Monday, Madhu Kannan, executive vice chair of Bank of America, said it would investment $50 million in the new branch.
Kannan said many world-leading companies were banking with Bank of America and the new branch would further assist them in doing business in Vietnam.

A Bank of America sign in the U.S. Photo courtesy of BofA.
The HCMC mayor said his administration would facilitate the smooth establishment of the branch. He asked Bank of America executives to visit HCMC to explore further business opportunities.
In another meeting with leading American private equity firm KKR during his working visit to the U.S., the mayor said HCMC invited the company to invest in three major traffic projects: the HCMC metro network, the railway system for Greater HCMC, and the HCMC-Can Tho City railway. Mai said these traffic infrastructure projects would play very a significant role in the development of southern Vietnam.
KKR executives said they would visit HCMC for further discussions on potential investments.
As part of the HCMC working mission, the municipal Department of Planning and Architecture signed a letter of intent with U.S. design firm Sasaki Associates Inc. to exchange design experiences, update new trends, methods and technologies in urban development and design, including the designing of public works.
- Read More
Vietnam’s pepper exports surpass $1 bln in 8 months
Vietnam’s pepper industry recorded export revenue of more than $1 billion in the first eight months of 2025, the highest level for the period in seven years, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 11:13 pm GMT+7
Indonesia, EU to sign CEPA after decade of negotiations
The Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) is set to be signed on September 23 after a decade of negotiations, according to Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
Southeast Asia - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 10:07 pm GMT+7
Vietnam lifts asset freeze on ex-FLC chairman Trinh Van Quyet
Authorities in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa are moving to lift restrictions on asset transactions and transfers linked to Trinh Van Quyet, former chairman of property developer FLC Group, the provincial Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 9:26 pm GMT+7
Abbott-backed medical firm Domesco to pay 25% cash dividend
Domesco Medical Import Export JSC (HoSE: DMC) will distribute a 25% cash dividend for 2024, equivalent to VND2,500 (9.5 U.S. cents) per share.
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 8:39 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s finance ministry proposes raising personal deduction to $588 per month
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed raising the personal income tax deduction to VND15.5 million ($588) per month and the dependent deduction to VND6.2 million ($235).
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 4:09 pm GMT+7
PM requests prompt finalization of feasibility study for Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday evening chaired a high-level meeting with key ministries and agencies to accelerate the implementation of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, during which he stressed the need for prompt completion of the project’s feasibility study.
Economy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 3:06 pm GMT+7
WB, ADB to provide over $12 bln to green projects in ASEAN
The World Bank has allocated $2.5 billion, while the Asian Development Bank has set aside $10 billion to support green projects in ASEAN, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Southeast Asia - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 3:01 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province seeks investors for $42 mln wind power project
Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri is seeking investors for the Hung Bac wind power project, with total investment estimated at VND1.1 trillion ($41.69 million), according to the provincial People’s Committee.
Energy - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 2:56 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading conglomerate Vingroup sues 68 entities, individuals for false information
Vingroup JSC (HoSE: VIC) on Monday reported to authorities, notified foreign embassies, and filed civil lawsuits against 68 organizations and individuals at home and abroad for spreading false information about the corporation online.
Companies - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 10:45 am GMT+7
Warburg Pincus unit, Masterise eye $739 mln expressway to Vietnam’s mega airport
A subsidiary of U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Vietnamese developer Masterise Group have separately proposed building an over VND19.52 trillion ($739 million) expressway connecting a major tourism area to the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport in the southern region.
Infrastructure - Tue, September 9, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Hoa Binh Construction wins $5 bln contract for mega urban project in southern Vietnam
Vietnam's leading contractor Hoa Binh Construction Group has secured a contract to build the first phase of a mega urban area project in Vietnam’s southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.
Real Estate - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 9:22 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's monetary policy remains accommodative: WB
Vietnam's monetary policy has remained accommodative, as State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) interventions contained foreign exchange pressures and increased credit growth, the World Bank Group said in its country economic update.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 7:46 pm GMT+7
Property, technology, energy among sectors recording highest M&A activity in Vietnam
Vietnam’s M&A landscape in July recorded 34 completed transactions with the total disclosed and estimated deal value of $786 million, according to Grant Thornton Vietnam.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 3:49 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's Van Thinh Phat-tied firm incurs $14 mln loss in H1 as legal woes persist
Bong Sen Corp, the hotel and property arm of troubled Van Thinh Phat Group, posted a net loss of nearly VND356 billion ($14 million) in the first half of 2025, its filing to the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) showed.
Companies - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 3:24 pm GMT+7
Airport-centric urbanization - Vietnam’s new growth engine
In the past, cities in Vietnam would build airports to meet growing transportation needs, but today, airports themselves are becoming the nucleus around which new urban areas emerge.
Real Estate - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 1:36 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s 8.3-8.5% growth target for 2025 ‘appropriate’: policy advisory council
The Vietnamese government’s GDP growth target of 8.3-8.5% for 2025 and double-digit expansion for 2026-2030 is "appropriate" in the context of favorable macroeconomic conditions and structural reforms, according to the Prime Minister’s Policy Advisory Council.
Economy - Mon, September 8, 2025 | 1:03 pm GMT+7
- Consulting
-
Vietnam’s breakthrough opportunity against world-wide US tariff wave
-
Trump trade mayhem to steepen yield curve and weaken US dollar
-
Navigating tariff shocks: Vietnam’s path forward through diversification
-
Southeast Asia IPO performance in Jan-June
-
Vietnam's fund management industry has chance to make breakthrough development: exec
-
Vietnam infrastructure spending surges 40%