Top 10 landmarks on the stock market in 2019

The Securities Journalists Club has selected the top 10 events on the Vietnamese stock market in 2019 as followed.
SK Group and Vingroup leaders at the signing of deal in May 2019 to allow the former to purchase 6.15 per cent in the latter for 1 billion USD. (Photo courtesy of Vingroup)

SK Group and Vingroup leaders at the signing of deal in May 2019 to allow the former to purchase 6.15 per cent in the latter for 1 billion USD. (Photo courtesy of Vingroup)

The following are the top 10 events on the Vietnamese stock market in 2019 as selected by the Securities Journalists Club.

1. New Law on Securities approved

The 14th National Assembly on November 26 approved the amended Law on Securities during its eighth meeting. The new law will take effect from 2021.

The new law aims to improve the quality of companies trading shares on the stock market and better protect investors.

In addition, the law paves the way for the establishment of the Vietnam Stock Exchange and the Vietnam Securities Depository and Settlement Corporation, in which the State holds more than 50 percent of charter capital or total voting shares.

2. Overhaul plan for stock market passed

The Prime Minister on February 28 issued Decision 242 on restructuring the securities and insurance sectors until 2025.

The Government wants the value of the stock market to reach 100 percent of Vietnam’s total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 and 120 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, the value of the bond market is expected to reach 47 percent of total GDP in 2020 and 55 percent in 2025.

 

3. Booming bond market

The corporate bond market flourished in 2019 with a total of 237 trillion VND worth of bonds issued in January-November period, up 6 percent on-year, with 30 percent of the total coming from real estate companies. The value of the corporate bond market is now equal to 10.26 percent of the country’s total GDP. Property developers have the highest bond yield rates of 15 percent per annum, which has worried investors about potential risks.

4. Rise of domestic exchange-traded funds

The stock market has seen strong development in local exchange-traded funds E1VFMVN30, which raised nearly 2.2 trillion VND from investors in 2019. Foreign investors bought a net value of 2.4 trillion VND in E1VFMVN30 fund certificates, making it the second largest ETF in terms of value behind the US fund VanEck Vectors Vietnam.

5. Influx of foreign capital

 

Foreign investors rocked the market by buying into local large-cap firms. Firms of the Republic of Korea took the spotlight as SK Group purchased 6.15 percent in Vingroup capital for 1 billion USD, and KEB Hana Bank bought a 15 percent stake in the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) for 882 million USD. Other big deals include the 173 million USD buy-in of Japanese insurer Sumitomo Life for Bao Viet Group. 

6. FTM fraud

Shares of the HoSE-listed firm Duc Quan Investment and Development JSC (FTM) lost nearly 91 percent in four and a half months since August 13 to end December 26 at 2,190 VND per share. The sharp decline raised concerns among investors about its directors who had taken advantage to manipulate the share price.

A dozen securities firms had accepted FTM shares as mortgages from investors for margin lending, and they had to force-sell the stock to cut losses.

 

7. Fine for real estate firm for not registering

On November 19, the State Securities Commission issued a 400 million VND fine to real estate company FLCHomes for having not registered its public share issuance with the market regulator, and the company was asked to revoke all eligible shares and refund all investors.

FLCHomes had an instant reply, claiming it had completed all requests from the SSC and the company declared no investors had asked for the refund. 

8. Covered warrant market debuts after seven-year preparation

 

On June 28, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange launched a new product called covered warrants. This was the second derivative product on the Vietnamese stock market after the VN30 futures.

By December, average trading volume of covered warrants reached 2.81 million contracts each day, worth 7.44 billion VND.

 

9. Lower-than-expected liquidity in 2019

 

Stock market liquidity had been widely expected to increase sharply in 2019 thanks to the influx of foreign capital. However, trading liquidity fell 29 percent year-on-year to 4.64 trillion VND in each session though the benchmark VN-Index had gained 6.8 percent year-to-date by December 19.

 

10. Floor brokerage fee removed

 

Circular 128 dated December 27, 2018 sets the maximum rate of brokerage fee at 0.5 percent of the value of a transaction but mentions nothing about the lowest rate. After the circular took effect on February 15, 2019, many securities firms zeroed their brokerage fees to attract investors. There are now 70 securities firms and the top 10 hold 65-70 percent of the brokerage market share.

VNA

Other News

Data-driven land valuation to curb speculation: Experts

Data-driven land valuation to curb speculation: Experts

From a property-market perspective, Do Thi Thu Giang, National Director of Valuation and Advisory at Savills Vietnam, said the orientations under Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW could make the market more transparent and efficient, with property values increasingly tied to actual development and use potential.

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW sets new growth drivers for Vietnam

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW sets new growth drivers for Vietnam

Science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and AI must be translated into higher productivity rather than pursued as ends in themselves. At the same time, people should be placed at the centre of development, not merely viewed as a resource but as the ultimate objective of development policies.

Expo to open door for Vietnamese suppliers to enter US market

Expo to open door for Vietnamese suppliers to enter US market

US retail giant Target is seeking Vietnamese suppliers of household goods, home textiles, children’s products, personal care and beauty products, with a focus on companies capable of manufacturing and developing products that meet requirements on quality, design and supply chain management.

2026 Banking Sector Digital Transformation to open in Hanoi

2026 Banking Sector Digital Transformation to open in Hanoi

The annual event, which will be held on August 18-19, 2026, at the ICE International Exhibition Centre, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi, is expected to attract around 324 delegates and feature 21 booths representing credit institutions, payment intermediary service providers, and technology companies.

Vietnam – one of most attractive destinations for leading US semiconductor companies: expert

Vietnam – one of most attractive destinations for leading US semiconductor companies: expert

Vietnam has built a solid semiconductor and electronics industry before joining ITSI, attracting major US semiconductor companies. Intel Products Vietnam is one of Intel's largest assembly and testing facilities worldwide, while chip design companies such as Synopsys, Cadence, Marvell and Qualcomm have established engineering and research centres in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam targets higher-quality FDI under Resolution 10

Vietnam targets higher-quality FDI under Resolution 10

During the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam attracted more than 38 billion USD in registered FDI, up nearly 58% year-on-year. More importantly, the increase was driven by large-scale, high-tech projects rather than a surge in the number of new investments, signalling a significant improvement in the quality of capital inflows.

Manufacturing, engineering drive hiring growth in H1: report

Manufacturing, engineering drive hiring growth in H1: report

Manufacturing and engineering posted the strongest recruitment growth, with hiring demand surging 70% year-on-year, driven by production expansion, supply chain restructuring and sustained investment inflows in high-tech manufacturing.

Government proposes special mechanisms to unblock APEC 2027 projects in Phu Quoc

Government proposes special mechanisms to unblock APEC 2027 projects in Phu Quoc

The projects in Phu Quoc have been implemented under tight deadlines. Since May 2025, the Prime Minister has directed preparations for APEC 2027, including accelerated infrastructure development on the special zone. An Giang province and investors have subsequently launched a number of major projects involving complex technical requirements and demanding construction schedules.

Financial market reform plan targets high, sustained growth through 2045

Financial market reform plan targets high, sustained growth through 2045

The plan seeks to develop a balanced and modern financial market that is closely integrated with regional and global markets, strengthens the mobilisation and allocation of domestic and foreign capital, and enhances the market’s role as a key provider of medium- and long-term capital for the economy and as a major driver of sustained high economic growth.

An Giang aims to become leading maritime economic hub

An Giang aims to become leading maritime economic hub

Under the province's master plan for 2021–2030 with a vision to 2050, An Giang will prioritise investment in five strategic sectors: strategic infrastructure; processing industries and clean energy; trade, services, logistics and border-gate economy; high-quality tourism; and high-tech agriculture, ecological development and the circular economy.