Vietnam’s economy was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, along with natural disasters and the impact of trade conflicts.

Vietnamese banks will only be allowed to issue chip cards from March 31, 2021, according to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) draft circular.

As many as 706 enterprises, 85 percent of 832 listed companies on the Vietnamese stock market, generated profits during the third quarter of this year.

The Government’s foreign debts have been declining sharply and under the Government’s control, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said while chairing a meeting with leaders of some ministries, sectors and the National Financial Supervisory Commission.

Foreign financial institutions were eyeing up poorly-performing Vietnamese banks after being given the green light to acquire stakes in local institutions in a move to speed up the restructuring of the country’s banking industry, according to banking expert Nguyen

Vietnam had 12,327 people with USD3 million to below USD30 million in net assets by the end of 2018, up 23% over the past five years and the figure is projected to reach 15,776 people by 2023.