The Government issued Decree 126/2017/ND-CP (Decree 126) dated November 16, 2017 guiding the conversion of state owned enterprises ("SOEs") and one-member limited liability companies of which their charter capital is 100% invested by an SOE into joint stock companies.

The Ministry of Finance has issued Circular No.130/2017/TT-BTC on amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 215/2016/TT-BTC on amounts, collection, payment, management and use of fees for providing information about enterprises, charges for enterprise registration.

The Government issued Decree No.9/2018/NĐ-CP defining the conditions on the establishment of retail activities of foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) in Viet Nam. 

The State Securities Commission (SSC) has issued a draft regulation requiring the initial margin ratio contracted by securities companies for margin lending to be at least 60 per cent, which is expected to take effect in early February.

Many business people, who hold leadership positions at both banks and other firms, have decided to give up their positions in enterprises and keep the banking management positions to meet a new Government regulation.

Fierce public objections about its proposal to impose value-added tax (VAT) on the transfer of land-use rights have forced the Ministry of Finance to shelve the move.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decree to remove 675 out of the 1,216 business and investment conditions under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade as the ministry proposed to improve the legal system as well as the investment and business environment.

Eight investors have registered to become strategic shareholders of the Vietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil) as of January 10, PV Oil CEO Cao Hoai Duong confirmed on the sidelines of the corporation’s roadshow.

With a view to increasing Vietnam’s exports to ASEAN, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has taken a new step to help enterprises boost their shipments to regional markets.

Foreign investors will be permitted to establish their wholly foreign-owned companies providing logistics services, following Decree No.163/ND-CP, which will come into effect on February 20.

Foreign investors will be allowed to establish companies providing logistics services following Decree 163, which will take effect on February 20.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 16/2017/TT-BCT (Circular 16) dated September 12, 2017 regulating the development of grid connected solar power projects, rooftop solar power projects and standard contract for power purchase and sale from rooftop solar power projects in Viet Nam ("Circular 16").

The finance ministry has announced 10 draft decrees that will guide implementation of as many free trade agreements (FTAs), drawing a roadmap to zero per cent import tariffs for many goods.

The Government has issued two new decrees over the operation mechanism of the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

Merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in Viet Nam’s real estate sector are forecast to increase in 2018, driven by the market’s significant potential, experts said.

Out of 19 sectors invested in by foreign firms, processing and manufacturing made up the highest proportion, with $186.1 billion of registered capital, equivalent to 58.4 per cent of $318.72 billion of total investment capital accumulated until the end of 2017. Industrial production is evaluated as an attractive investment channel so far.

To attract investment in the renewable energy sector, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has confirmed that a mechanism to allow businesses to buy power at competitive prices from renewable energy generators will be piloted in 2018.

The southern province of Dong Nai attracted over US$1.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2017, $300 million higher than the set target.

The Vimo Technology Joint Stock Company (Vimo.vn) and Southern Airport Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) on Tuesday signed a co-operation agreement on launching electronic payment services for Asian tourists when travelling into Viet Nam.