Customers make transactions at a branch of VietinBank in Hanoi.(Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Many banks have planned to set up more branches andtransaction offices in the early days of the new year to seize new businessopportunities.
After getting approval from the central bank in the second week of the NewYear, HDBank said it would open five branches in the northern and centralprovinces of Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc and Dak Nong.
The bank will also establish another 39 transaction offices in 26 cities andprovinces this year, raising its network to 282 branches and transactionoffices nationwide.
In the early days of 2018, MBBank has also been licensed to establish anadditional five branches and 12 transaction offices, bringing its network to 96branches and 188 transaction offices throughout the country.
Many other banks such as SCB, Bac A Bank and Ban Viet have also decided toenlarge their network of branches and transaction offices right at thebeginning of the year.
Experts said that banks want to enlarge their network as the banking sector isforecast to see a prosperous year in 2018.
According to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) survey released recently, businessperformance of commercial banks is forecast to continue its upward trend thisyear after making significant improvements last year.
According to the survey, many banks expect better results in Q1 2018, comparedwith Q4 2017. They also hope their business performance this entire year wouldfurther improve against last year.
Pre-tax profits of many banks are predicted to rise in 2018, compared with lastyear, helping the average growth rate of the entire banking system reach 19.33percent, much higher than the 13.4 percent forecast in a survey conducted atthe same time last year, according to the survey.
Many banks have so far also reportedly gained a high profit last year, helpedby strong credit growth and initial gains in the settlement of bad debts.
A recent report from the National Financial Supervisory Committee (NFSC) alsoestimated that pre-tax profits of the banking sector in 2017 rose by more than40 percent over the previous year, while after-tax profits surged by 44.5 percent.
Truong Van Phuoc, NFSC’s acting chairman, said this was thanks to the handlingof bad debts, hastened by the National Assembly’s Resolution 42/2014. Some 70trillion VND (3.08 billion USD) worth of non-performing loans were handled in2017, up 40 percent against 2016.-VNA
Local bank-card companies are promoting the connection of their automatic teller machines (ATM) and point of sale (POS) systems nationwide to create convenience for customers and contribute to the development of non-cash payment tools in Vietnam.
As many as 500 local bank executives and IT senior experts gathered in Hanoi on May 15 at a seminar to get updated with the latest technologies that can enable them to compete strongly in the current fierce, fluctuating business environment.
The Bank for the Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) commits to offering 2 billion USD to garment firms over the next five years, stated BDIV Chairman Tran Bac Ha on September 30.
Vietnamese shares rose slightly on November 12 on both local exchanges, ending a four-day losing streak, as local bank stocks inched up following a positive assessment from Fitch Ratings.
The new Government decree also simplifies loan procedures while expanding credit incentives to include organic and circular agriculture, allowing them to access preferential terms similar to those of high-tech and value-chain based agricultural production.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Customers make transactions at a branch of VietinBank in Hanoi.(Source: VNA) 
