: Super User; Vietnam; 02 October 2012; Hits: 1566

Vietnam's Banks Are Clearly in Trouble

HOW serious are the problems in Vietnam’s banking sector? Problem is, no one really knows. Confidence in the banking sector has been shaky since Aug 20, when prominent banker Nguyen Duc Kien was arrested on corruption charges.

: Super User; Vietnam; 17 April 2012; Hits: 1517

Vietnam Must Press on with Reform of State Enterprises

JUST how serious is Vietnam about restructuring its state enterprise sector? In the wake of the stiff sentences handed out to executives of troubled state-owned shipping giant Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) last month, the answer might seem obvious. Unfortunately, things are not quite so clear cut.

: Super User; Vietnam; 06 December 2011; Hits: 1508

Why Vietnam won't See a Flood of Investments

WILL Thailand’s floods be Vietnam’s gain? That certainly appears to be the view of Ho Chi Minh City’s Gon Tiep Thi newspaper, which recently published a report saying that many Japanese firms are considering moving their Thai operations to Vietnam.

: Super User; Vietnam; 05 October 2011; Hits: 1502

Vietnam's Acute Dilemma over Inflation and Growth

WHICH do you deal with first, inflation or economic growth? That question faces policymakers all over Asia these days. Soaring food costs continue to push up consumer prices at a time when governments are increasingly looking for ways to stimulate growth in response to another global recession.
In Vietnam, however, the dilemma is particularly acute.

: Super User; Vietnam; 27 April 2011; Hits: 1629

Getting Vietnam's Economy Back on Track

ARE Vietnam’s economic planners finally getting the economy, particularly inflation, under control? Figures recently released by Hanoi’s General Statistics Office show that economic growth slowed significantly in the first quarter of this year as the central bank raised key interest rates in a long-delayed attempt to tackle rising prices.

Key Political Risks

Vietnam has a relatively stable government, but there are growing concerns about the health of the nation's banking sector. The main external risk relates to territorial disputes with China over islands in the South China Sea.

WATCH OUT FOR:

Signs of instability in the banking system. According to the central bank, bad debts now total 8.6 per cent of outstanding loans, double figures published in March 2012.
The extent to which senior officials are willing to promote greater accountability and transparency in ailing government enterprises, and the degree to which the local media is permitted to report corruption cases.
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea that lead to a revival of anti-Chinese sentiment, including major demonstrations.
Efforts to improve relations with the United States in the hope that this would help counterbalance Chinese influence.
Social unrest arising out of land disputes and the corruption of local officials.