Vietnam

Vietnam News | English | News | Jan. 14, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for a comprehensive review and update of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Cambodia that address unresolved land and maritime border disputes. He emphasized that the existing MoUs, signed in 2000 and 2001, are outdated due to advances in technology and international standards. Anutin proposed a new framework incorporating modern surveying methods and clearer legal principles but noted that his caretaker government cannot enforce changes before elections.

The border situation currently remains calm, though authorities stay vigilant following recent clashes. Border tensions have become a focal point in Thailand’s election campaigns, with opposition parties criticizing the use of Cambodia’s preferred maps and the reliance on LiDAR technology, which they claim led to territorial losses for Thailand. Some parties call for scrapping the existing MoUs, arguing they favor Cambodia.

The United States has responded to the conflict by pledging a US$45 million aid package to support the fragile ceasefire and regional stability. This includes funding to address drug trafficking, cybercrime, border stabilization, assistance for displaced civilians, and de-mining operations. The aid is linked to the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords signed in October, aiming to uphold peace after renewed fighting in July and December 2025. The recent conflict resulted in over 100 deaths and displaced more than half a million people, rooted in colonial-era border claims and contested temple sites along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

Đổi chủ đầu tư dự án đường sắt tốc độ cao Bắc - Nam

Dantri | Local Language | News | Jan. 14, 2026 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

The Ministry of Construction has appointed the Thăng Long Project Management Board (Thăng Long PMB) as the new investor for the North–South high-speed railway project, replacing the Railway Project Management Board. Thăng Long PMB will be responsible for preparing the feasibility study report and overseeing the project's quality, schedule, and costs. The Board will collaborate with relevant agencies to incorporate existing research into the report.

The Railway Project Management Board will complete procedures and finalize the contract with the contractor for package VT-01, related to project management consultancy during the preparation phase. Upon completion, all materials will transfer to Thăng Long PMB for further implementation. The Ministry of Construction has emphasized the need for a seamless handover to avoid project disruptions.

The North–South high-speed railway will span 1,541 km, from Ngọc Hồi Station in Hanoi to Thủ Thiêm Station in Ho Chi Minh City, with 23 stations in total, including five freight stations. The preliminary investment is estimated at about 1.7 million billion dong (approximately 67 billion USD). Construction of two priority sections, Hanoi–Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City–Nha Trang, is planned to begin in 2026, with the remaining sections starting in 2028. The project aims for completion by 2035.

The Ministry of Construction continues preparing key investment procedures, including selecting the investment form and hiring consultants for the feasibility study report, which will support policy decisions and project implementation planning.

Nghị quyết 79 "cởi trói" cho Vietcombank, BIDV, VietinBank...

Dantri | Local Language | News | Jan. 14, 2026 | Regulation

On January 12, the VN-Index increased by over 9 points, driven by banking and securities stocks showing their highest liquidity in nearly four months. State-owned banks Vietcombank (VCB) and BIDV (BID) reached daily price limits, with VCB experiencing its fifth consecutive gain and VietinBank's CTG also rising strongly amid high liquidity. Foreign investors have been net-buying these state bank stocks.

This growth followed the issuance of Politburo Resolution No. 79-NQ/TW, aimed at revitalizing the state economic sector by 2030. The resolution targets having 50 state-owned enterprises among Southeast Asia's 500 largest companies, with 1–3 in the global top 500, and specific goals for state-owned banks to rank among Asia’s top 100 by assets, with four becoming technological leaders.

Resolution 79 is expected to unlock credit growth and support more diversified asset allocation, emphasizing funding for new industries such as technology, manufacturing, and consumer sectors rather than focusing solely on real estate and industry. It also addresses the conflict between banks' need to retain earnings to meet Basel II/III capital requirements and the pressure to pay cash dividends to the state.

The resolution permits the use of proceeds from equitization and capital divestment to increase charter capital instead of remitting them to the state budget, allowing enterprises to retain earnings or reinvest capital flows from the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). This change fosters long-term valuation improvement and capital accumulation.

Vietcombank is seen as the likely first state bank to reach Asia’s top 100, while BIDV and VietinBank, with large assets but thinner capital adequacy ratios, will benefit from the ability to retain earnings, significantly expanding lending capacity. The resolution also tackles Tier 1 capital shortfalls by allowing the use of equitization proceeds for charter capital increases.

Previously, state capital management focused on preservation and risk avoidance, which created inertia and missed strategic investment opportunities. Resolution 79 represents a fundamental shift, positioning the state economy as a strategic tool to guide and regulate economic development.