Vietnam preparing post-haste for 2025 stock market upgrade: SSC
Preparations for the anticipated upgrade of Vietnam's stock market from “frontier” to “emerging” status by FTSE Russell in 2025 are taking place urgently, said Bui Hoang Hai, vice chairman of the State Securities Commission (SSC).

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index went up 0.54% to 1,238 points on July 24,2024. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.
Speaking at a Tuesday seminar in Hanoi, he said the SSC and other stakeholders including Saigon Securities Inc (SSI), Techcombank and depository banks were actively devising solutions and preparing resources – including human, financial and technological resources – for the expected upgrade.
There were two major bottlenecks in the process still, namely pre-funding requirements and foreign ownership limit, Hai stressed.
Addressing the pre-funding issue, the SSC has proposed a draft circular amending and supplementing some articles of four previous circulars covering securities transactions on the stock trading system, clearing and settlement of securities transactions, activities of securities companies, and information disclosure in the stock market on many websites.
The draft was finalized after the SSC consulted market members and relevant entities, including the World Bank and foreign investors. However, the commission is open to further amendments if there are further relevant inputs before promulgation, Hai said.
He noted that the draft circular has regulations and a roadmap for foreign ownership ratio and equal access to information for foreign investors.
Accordingly, listed companies will have to publish information in both English and Vietnamese; and websites will carry all relevant information bilingually.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the State Bank of Vietnam are also actively implementing measures like streamlining administrative procedures to create favorable conditions for opening indirect capital investment accounts and reviewing the disclosure of all foreign ownership ratios.
SSI strategy director Le Thi Le Hang said that in addition to the two bottlenecks mentioned earlier, the Vietnamese stock market has not yet developed new products to attract investors. No new businesses have featured in the VN30 basket, she noted.
She said foreign investors interested in the Vietnamese market were waiting for new products and “extended room” for greater liquidity.
“The stock market status upgrade will be a huge opportunity for listed businesses. The upgrade by FTSE Russell will be the premise for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) upgrade in the future. At that time, more money will flow into Vietnam,” she said.
“If everything goes well, Vietnam’s stock market will be upgraded in September 2025 and be included in the new basket from March 2026 at the earliest. The market will be vibrant in the second half of 2025," she added.
According to the SSC, in 24 years since its establishment, the Vietnamese stock market has grown from two to more than 1,800 tickers. Market capitalization has increased rapidly, reaching around $240 billion in 2023, equivalent to 56.4% GDP. The trading value in 2024 is estimated at nearly $1 billion per trading session.
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index went up 0.54% to 1,238 points Wednesday, after a 1.82% decline in the previous session.
- Read More
Malaysia expected to remain magnet for FDI
Malaysia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to remain robust in the long term, but there could be repercussions in the short term as investors hold back on their investment decisions amid heightened global uncertainties.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 9:01 pm GMT+7
Laos to build $1.9 bln wind power plant to export electricity to Vietnam
The Lao Government and Chitchareune Construction - a Lao builder will jointly build the 1,200 MW Nong wind power plant, with an investment of $1.9 billion, to export electricity to Vietnam.
Energy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 8:46 pm GMT+7
Malaysia needs more funding for semiconductor sector
Malaysia needs more funding for the implementation of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) to enhance its competitiveness with neighboring countries, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:31 pm GMT+7
Thailand considers easing rules on income from overseas
Thailand’s government is considering easing personal income tax rules for individuals’ overseas income to encourage the remittance of those funds back into the country, said a senior official.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:29 pm GMT+7
Nissan to close factory in Thailand
Japanese automaker Nissan has announced plans to close one of its two automobile factories in Thailand this year, following the collapse of merger talks with Honda.
Southeast Asia - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:10 pm GMT+7
Vietcombank leads Vietnamese banks in 2024 pre-tax profit
Vietcombank reported a pre-tax profit of VND42.2 trillion ($1.66 billion) last year, ranking as the most profitable Vietnamese lender, according to the Vietnam Banking Association (VNBA).
Banking - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 4:04 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's leading trade firm Hapro appoints new general director
Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), a leading producer and exporter of agricultural produces in Vietnam, has appointed deputy general director Duong Thi Lam as general director, effective from March 1, 2025.
Companies - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 2:18 pm GMT+7
Private Vietnamese lender DongA Bank renamed Vikki Bank
DongA Bank, a private lender in Vietnam, has changed its name to Vikki Bank, with approval from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
Banking - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 10:59 am GMT+7
Korea's SK Group seeks partnerships in LNG-fired power projects in Vietnam
South Korean chaebol SK Group seeks to jointly build LNG-fired power plants in Vietnam and then develop facilities utilizing electricity generated by those power plants.
Energy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 9:26 am GMT+7
World’s largest shipping line MSC docks at southern Vietnam port
Phuoc An Port, the largest seaport in Dong Nai province, on Thursday welcomed the first ship from MSC, the world’s largest shipping line, opening up significant opportunities for boosting international trade in Vietnam’s southern region.
Economy - Sat, February 15, 2025 | 8:17 am GMT+7
Vietnamese chemical-pharmaceutical industry eyes yearly growth of 8-11% by 2045
Vietnam's chemical-pharmaceutical industry is expected to achieve an annual growth rate of 8-11% by 2045, according to a newly-approved program on the industry’s development until 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Southeast Asia - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 11:28 pm GMT+7
Vietnam PM urges world's food industry leader JBS S.A to invest in livestock farming, meat processing
Brazil’s JBS S.A, the world’s largest meat processing enterprise, should consider investing in livestock farming, meat processing, industrial crops, and coffee processing in Vietnam, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Industries - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 11:08 pm GMT+7
China proposes new initiatives of cooperation with ASEAN
China has unveiled new proposals to boost cooperation with ASEAN in key areas such as maritime cooperation, artificial intelligence, transportation, blue economy, women’s and children’s health, and the environment, towards strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.
Southeast Asia - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 8:17 pm GMT+7
Honda Vietnam’s motorcycle, car sales decline in Jan
Honda Vietnam's motorcycle sales reached 198,911 units, marking a 12.6% decline from January 2024, while it sold 1,826 cars, a 9.7% decrease year-on-year.
Southeast Asia - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 8:15 pm GMT+7
Vietnam auto sales fall 2% to 18,893 in Jan amid EV trend
Members of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), not including VinFast and Hyundai, sold 18,893 units in January 2025, down 2% year-on-year and 40% from December 2024.
Companies - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 4:50 pm GMT+7
China-based Red Board Electronics to invest $110 mln in northern Vietnam
China-invested Red Board Electronics Limited will invest $110 million in Vietnam’s northern province of Ha Nam to manufacture printed circuit board (PCB).
Industries - Fri, February 14, 2025 | 3:25 pm GMT+7
- Consulting
-
Rethinking resilience: How typhoon Yagi redefines supply chain strategies in northern Vietnam
-
Remove roadblocks to lure foreign investment into Vietnam: HSBC exec
-
AI can be a game changer for Vietnam tourism
-
In trade and investment, ASEAN and China are better together
-
Investment opportunities in LNG-to-power projects in Vietnam
-
Pepper prices 2024: will the dream of 'black gold' repeat?