Vietnam

Nghị quyết mới thi hành Luật Đất đai: Mở lối cho dự án và quyền lợi người dân

Bao Dien Tu | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedLegal Exposure

On December 11, the National Assembly passed a Resolution aimed at removing obstacles in the implementation of the Land Law, with 428 out of 437 delegates voting in favor. The Resolution, effective from January 1, 2026, includes 3 Chapters and 13 Articles and establishes mechanisms and policies to facilitate land-related projects and protect citizens' rights.

Key provisions include allowing provincial People’s Councils to recover remaining land areas when project agreements cover over 75% of land users and area. Compensation for recovered land must match or exceed previously agreed land prices, with additional support for shortfalls. The Resolution also clarifies the timing for land price determination in BT contracts, setting it at the point the State decides to allocate or lease land. If delays occur, investors are entitled to interest payments based on state-owned bank rates from project completion until land allocation.

Further refinements address land recovery before compensation plans are approved, enable land recovery prior to resettlement completion, and require lump-sum payments for land leased through auctions covering the entire lease term. The Resolution also improves the document’s technical and linguistic quality to ensure clarity and consistency. Provisions for handling difficulties in BT contracts signed before the Resolution’s effective date will be addressed separately.

Nhiều ngân hàng nâng lãi suất kỳ hạn ngắn lên kịch trần

VN Express | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | UndeterminedFinancial System Problems

In early December 2025, multiple banks raised their short-term savings interest rates to the maximum ceiling of 4.75% per year, as set by the State Bank, to attract deposits. Phuong Dong Bank (OCB) adjusted rates by 0.4% to 0.9%, offering 4.75% for deposits between 2 to 5 months with amounts of 500 million dong or more, and higher rates for longer terms. Sacombank increased rates by 0.3% to 0.5%, with 3 to under 6-month deposits reaching the 4.75% ceiling and 12-month deposits at 5.8%. Other banks such as Viet Capital Bank, National Citizen Bank (NCB), VIB, NamABank, MBV, and CIMB also implemented similar rate hikes for short-term deposits.

Year-end promotional campaigns offering additional interest, cash bonuses, and gifts have intensified competition among banks to attract deposits amid a peak lending season and rapid credit growth. According to Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank), credit expansion is outpacing deposit growth, creating pressure on liquidity and interest rates. By November 2025, credit growth exceeded the 16% target, with nearly 70% directed to the services sector. VIS Rating identified heightened liquidity risk for smaller banks reliant on short-term market funds, as the sector’s loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) reached a five-year high of 111%, indicating ongoing liquidity pressures.

As saving interest rates rise, lending rates have also gradually increased by 0.5% to 1% compared to the previous month. Large banks have ceased subsidized low-cost housing loans, and some private banks are experiencing upward movement in floating loan interest rates. This reflects the broader tightening of credit conditions in response to the accelerated credit growth and liquidity challenges in the banking sector.

Vì sao Hà Nội phải gánh chịu tác động ô nhiễm không khí nặng nề?

Dantri | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Pollution

Hanoi faces severe air pollution due to both internal and external sources. Internally, high traffic density, construction activities, and widespread burning of garbage and crop residues contribute significantly, with garbage burning posing a particular control challenge. The city functions like a basin, exacerbating pollution accumulation. A 2022 World Bank study found that 50–70% of pollution stems from traffic, highlighting the importance of addressing transportation emissions to improve air quality.

Externally, pollution from neighboring provinces affects Hanoi, especially during certain seasons. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is forming a steering committee with Hanoi and nearby provinces to identify pollution sources and develop regional solutions. The city plans a phased ban on gasoline motorcycles, focusing on low-emission zones and supporting those most affected, such as delivery workers and ride-hailing drivers, to ensure a gradual transition without sudden disruptions.

Hanoi aims to balance environmental protection with social welfare, avoiding sacrificing one for the other. Support policies under consideration include financial incentives for switching from gasoline to electric motorcycles, with support levels varying based on income, from 20% of vehicle value for general owners up to 100% for poor households. Passenger and freight transport companies may receive subsidized loans and interest support.

Currently, Hanoi has 6.9 million motorcycles plus 1.5 million from other provinces, with 70% being old vehicles that are major pollution contributors. Motorcycles are responsible for the majority of traffic-related emissions, including 94% of hydrocarbons, 87% of carbon monoxide, 57% of nitrogen oxides, and 33% of fine particulate matter PM10, underscoring the need for targeted intervention in this sector.