Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has approved a list of 406 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) marked for divestment from now until 2020.
The divestment list, proposed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, aims to raise funds for the nation’s public investment plan for the 2016-20 period, and advance the SOE restructuring process.
Under the new schedule, the State will divest from 135 businesses this year, 181 in 2018, 62 in 2019 and 28 in 2020. The total face value divestment from 2017 to 2020 are estimated at VND64.46 trillion (US$2.82 billion).
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, representing the State, will divest 52.47% of its stake from the Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM) this year, and other 36% by 2020.
![]() |
VEAM, established in 1990, mainly manufactures agricultural machinery. The company has 20 subsidiaries nationwide, including Song Cong Diesel Limited Company, Southern Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Company Ltd and An Giang Mechanical JSC.
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) will divest from two of its major corporations: the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV); and the Vietnam Airlines Corporation (VNA).
From 2018-2020, the MoT will divest 30.4% of its stake from ACV. The State, which currently owns 95.4%, will maintain a 65% ownership after divestment.
The ministry will also sell 35.16% of its 86.16% stake in national carrier Vietnam Airlines by 2019. In February this year, 107.66 million shares in the airline, or 8.77%, was sold to its strategic partner – Japan’s ANA Holdings. With this sale, the carrier completed 38% of its plan to sell shares to strategic partners.
Deputy PM Hue has asked ministers, heads of Government agencies and chairpersons of major cities and provinces to participate as needed in the divestment process.
They should strictly exercise their representation rights of State-owned capital with the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) per regulations. After receiving the representation rights from concerned agencies, the SCIC will be responsible for divestment, according to the new decision.
The decision says that before the 25th of the last month of every quarter and before December 25 every year, the ministries and localities will have to send reports on their divestment activities to the Steering Committee for Business Renovation and Development, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Beyond this list, separate decisions will be issued for divestment from certain special businesses in the agriculture and forestry sectors, subsidiaries of economic groups and large State corporations that have not been equitised, some businesses managed by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, major cities and the SCIC.
This will also apply to companies like the Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Habeco), Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverages Joint Stock Corporation (Sabeco), Transport Hospital, Cable TV provider Vietnam Satellite Television (VSTV) and Vietnam Broadcasting Tower Investment Joint Stock Company, the decision says.
Dang Quyet Tien, Deputy Director of the Finance Ministry’s Corporate Finance Department, said the announcement of the list was an important step, allowing prospective investors to know about the State’s divestment plan in detail.
It would help expedite the divestment process by making clear the investment options in equitising SOEs, he added.
More than a year after the Politburo's Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development came into effect, expectations now extend beyond increasing the number of enterprises. The goal is to build a stronger business community with greater resilience, larger ambitions and the capacity to compete in global supply chains.
Vietnam is expected to remain one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies in 2026, supported by resilient exports, strong investment inflows and an ambitious reform agenda, despite mounting global uncertainties, according to the World Bank’s latest Vietnam Economic Update released on May 15.
Under a new circular, the exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits is conducted on the domestic carbon credit exchange through the carbon trading system, which is interconnected with the national registration system.
As many agricultural businesses continue to face challenges in finding stable outlets, modern retail systems are increasingly becoming key distribution channels helping Vietnamese products access the market more professionally.
For biofuels, particularly E10, to develop successfully, stronger and more coordinated policies are needed, especially pricing mechanisms capable of creating a sufficiently attractive gap between E10 and mineral-based petrol, an expert has said.
A recent PM directive set a May 10 deadline for ministries, agencies and localities to complete detailed allocations of the 2026 public investment capital plan.
A Party official has urged the Vietnamese business community to improve corporate governance, technological capacity, production standards, workforce quality and international connectivity to strengthen ties with the FDI sector.
The White Book provides a comprehensive overview of Vietnam’s current tax system in line with international practices, including direct taxes, indirect taxes and sector-specific levies.
The 12th Africa Forum for Investment & Commerce (AFIC 12) opened in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on May 9, drawing around 2,000 participants, including officials, economists, businesses, financial and development organizagtions from 43 African countries and international partners, including Vietnam.
According to Dr. Bui Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Office of the Private Economic Development Research Board under the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, Resolution 68 has helped foster a stronger entrepreneurial spirit through a series of concrete policy measures.
Consolidated first-quarter 2025 statements from Vietcombank, VietinBank and BIDV showed that the Treasury’s total deposit balance at the three lenders rose by nearly 39% compared with the end of 2025.
Vietnam targets 1 million one-person businesses, 5 million business entities, 10,000 tech startups, 45 startup support networks, a position among the world’s top 40 innovation ecosystems, and 1.5 billion USD in venture capital by 2030.
The exhibition, which runs until May 9 at the Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition, showcases advanced products and technologies across a range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, drug manufacturing machinery and equipment, medical devices, hospital and clinic services and dental equipment.
The province is tightening maritime governance, with a focus on May–June 2026 to finalise a more robust legal framework and close loopholes for illegal fishing.
Leading the charge in this massive building spree is the new central city square in the core of the Thu Thiem new urban area. Spanning more than 20 ha, it’s the crown jewel of the Central Square and new administrative center complex.
The country’s stable political and economic environment provides a critical foundation for long-term sourcing strategies. At the same time, Vietnam has demonstrated a strong ability to scale up manufacturing, supported by a continuously expanding industrial base capable of meeting both high-volume demand and increasingly complex technical and quality requirements.
The update by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to its Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) on April 10, officially setting out import conditions for Vietnamese pomelos, is regarded as a major milestone in market access efforts.
Structured in two steps and three phases, the roadmap envisions a gradual shift from partial to full relocation of international flights, aligned with infrastructure readiness and the long-term ambition of building a regional aviation hub.
The circular economy is no longer just a policy choice. It has become an inevitable trend for delivering sustainable and green growth, sharpening competitiveness at home and abroad, and meeting Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. It is now a prerequisite to sustain long-term economic expansion, particularly in industrial production and supporting industries.
Vietnamese fresh produce and processed foods are increasingly recognised for their quality, with items such as cashew nuts, coffee and spices gaining popularity among Middle East consumers. In 2025, Vietnam’s farm produce exports to the UAE exceeded 445 million USD, up nearly 24% year-on-year.