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Green fuel transition gains momentum as E10 goes nationwide

Green fuel transition gains momentum as E10 goes nationwide

Starting June 1, E10 biofuel will officially be distributed nationwide under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s roadmap, marking a major step in Vietnam’s green energy transition strategy, greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts and commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Under the ministry's Circular No. 50/2025/TT-BCT, all unleaded petrol sold on the domestic market from June 1 must be blended with ethanol to produce E10 for petrol-powered vehicles nationwide. Meanwhile, E5RON92 petrol will continue to be available until the end of 2030.

Expectations mixed with concerns​

Nguyen Duc Thanh, a ride-hailing driver in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai ward, said he previously used E5 petrol and is not overly concerned about switching to E10. His main concerns are fuel prices and consumption efficiency.

​People need sufficient information to feel confident, Thanh said.​

Consumer hesitation largely stems from the earlier rollout of E5 as when many users questioned the quality of biofuels.​

However, according to MoIT, most vehicles currently operating in Vietnam are compatible with E10. Authorities cited technical studies and international experience showing that around 90% of petrol-powered vehicles can use E10 without requiring engine modifications.​

Nguyen Phu Cuong, a resident of Hanoi's Long Bien ward, said transparency and fuel quality control are the most important factors. People will accept the transition if they clearly see the benefits and receive guarantees from authorities. If fuel quality differs between stations, it will be difficult to build trust.

Many vehicle owners in Hanoi also expect E10 adoption to help improve air quality, which remains a major issue in the capital. Environmental experts say ethanol-blended fuel enables cleaner combustion and reduces carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions compared to conventional petrol.

According to authorities, the introduction of E10 will be accompanied by tax and fee adjustments to make it more competitively priced than traditional fossil fuel. The MoIT is proposing revisions to environmental protection and excise taxes to encourage consumers to switch to biofuel.

In Hanoi, many fuel distributors said they have completed upgrades to storage tanks and fuel pumps in preparation for E10 sales from the start of June.

The ministry noted that E10 is already widely used in more than 60 countries, including the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Brazil.

​Preventing speculation and fraud

Representatives from Hanoi’s market surveillance sub-department said market management teams will coordinate with the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, quality standards authorities and economic police to inspect E10 implementation at fuel retail outlets from June 1. Inspections will focus on fuel quality, price listing, supply stability and acts such as hoarding or selling fuel products that do not meet regulations.

Authorities will strictly handle cases involving fuel speculation, improper fuel sales or arbitrary suspension of sales that disrupt market supply.

Market surveillance officers stressed that the transition to E10 must be implemented in a synchronised manner to prevent profiteering during the policy transition period.

Energy experts described the rollout of E10 as an inevitable trend as Vietnam accelerates its emissions reduction and green transition agenda.

Dr. Ngo Tri Long, an economic expert, said E10 carries not only environmental significance but also positive implications for national energy security. By increasing the ethanol ratio in petrol, Vietnam can reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel while promoting domestic ethanol production.

Technical experts also noted that most modern engines can use E10 normally if the fuel meets quality standards. However, owners of older vehicles or cars with deteriorating fuel systems are advised to conduct regular maintenance checks to avoid corrosion of rubber components or the dissolution of residue inside fuel tanks.

According to specialists, E10 offers clear environmental benefits by helping reduce CO2 emissions, fine dust particles and other toxic pollutants from transport exhaust, a major source of urban pollution in cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

They added that if implemented methodically, E10 could serve as a stepping stone toward wider adoption of higher-ethanol biofuels such as E15 and E20 in the future.

However, analysts stressed that the biggest challenge remains building public confidence. International experience shows that reasonable pricing, stable quality and transparent market management are essential for biofuels to gain broad consumer acceptance.


Source: VNA

Photo: VNA

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New rules promote sustainable growth of corporate bond market

New rules promote sustainable growth of corporate bond market

According to the State Securities Commission, the new decree completes the legal framework, thoroughly address practical difficulties, and enhance transparency to protect the legitimate rights of investors, creating conditions for businesses to raise medium- and long-term capital to serve economic growth.

HÀ NỘI — New regulations on private placement of corporate bonds will help strengthen investor confidence and promote the development of a sustainable market, according to the State Securities Commission (SSC).

Decree 200/2026/NĐ-CP has taken effect this month to replace Decree No. 153/2020/NĐ-CP, Decree No. 65/2022/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 08/2023/NĐ-CP.

According to the SSC, the new decree completes the legal framework, thoroughly addresses practical difficulties and enhances transparency to protect the legitimate rights of investors, creating conditions for businesses to raise medium- and long-term capital to serve economic growth.

One of the notable changes in the decree is the clear distinction between the conditions, documents and procedures for offering securities according to two different groups of businesses: the first group includes public companies, securities companies and securities investment management companies; and the second group includes businesses not falling under the aforementioned categories.

“This separation aims to both facilitate businesses in the implementation process and to make it easier for management authorities to categorise inspections, audits and violations according to the specific characteristics of each group,” the SSC explains.

To ensure the financial safety of the system, the decree added a crucial condition: the debt of enterprises, including the value of bonds expected to be issued, must not exceed five times their equity capital, as stipulated in the amended Enterprise Law of 2025. However, this regulation also includes reasonable exceptions for State-owned enterprises, credit institutions, insurance companies, or entities issuing bonds to implement specific real estate projects.

In parallel with controlling financial leverage, Decree 200 also redefines the purpose of issuance and the management and use of capital. Accordingly, funds raised from bond issuance must be used to implement investment projects in accordance with the forms stipulated in the Investment Law.

Notably, enterprises are obligated to separately monitor this capital, ensuring that the management and use of capital are in line with the issuance plan announced to investors. In cases where an enterprise issues bonds through a second party to use the capital for an investment project, the issuer must establish strict monitoring measures to ensure the second party fulfils its commitments.

To create flexibility while maintaining security, the decree allows businesses to deposit funds in commercial banks or purchase certificates of deposit when the raised capital has not yet reached the disbursement deadline.

Simultaneously, the mechanism for changing bond terms or issuance purposes has been standardised. Specifically, it must be approved by the competent authority and receive the consent of bondholders representing 65 per cent or more of the total outstanding bonds. For bondholders who do not agree, the enterprise is required to complete the early repurchase of the bonds before implementing these changes.

Aiming for a professional bond market and minimising risks for individual investors, the decree has significant adjustments regarding the eligible participants in transactions.

Accordingly, professional individual investors are only allowed to purchase and transfer privately placed corporate bonds under certain conditions. Specifically, for bonds other than convertible bonds issued by financial institutions or public companies, individuals can only participate if the bond has a credit rating and is secured by collateral, or if there is a payment guarantee from a credit institution. The decree also clarifies that the collateral must have sufficient value to pay the entire principal of the bond and absolutely cannot include shares, stocks, or capital contributions of the issuing company itself. This regulation aims to ensure that the collateral is substantial and highly liquid in the event of a crisis.

In terms of documentation and information transparency, the new decree abolishes the regulation allowing the use of audited semi-annual or quarterly financial statements as a basis for determining issuance eligibility. Instead, businesses are required to rely on audited annual financial statements to accurately determine the debt-to-equity ratio, in line with the spirit of the 2025 Enterprise Law. For parent-subsidiary company models, both audited consolidated financial statements and audited financial statements of the parent company are mandatory.

The responsibilities of service providers such as consulting firms, issuing agents, auditing organisations, and credit rating agencies have also been increased. Specifically, these organisations are directly responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of the reports and documents in the issuance dossier.

The decree also regulates the issuer's obligation to disclose information, which extends until the bonds are fully delinquent, including periodic reports on capital utilisation, to ensure maximum oversight for investors.

According to the SSC, the new decree is a significant step forward in perfecting the institutional framework for Việt Nam's capital market. By combining measures to tighten discipline with regulations to create transparency, the decree not only protects investors but also helps financially sound businesses find effective capital-raising channels.

“This helps bring the corporate bond market back onto a sustainable development trajectory and makes a positive contribution to the development of the economy,” the SSC said.

HCMC to use prime land assets worth $889 mln to pay Masterise for two major bridge projects

HCMC to use prime land assets worth $889 mln to pay Masterise for two major bridge projects

Ho Chi Minh City will use prime land assets worth more than VND23.4 trillion ($889.4 million) and public funds to compensate Masterise for two major bridge projects under build-transfer (BT) contracts, according to a new decision by the city People's Council.

The council approved adjustments to the investment policies for the Can Gio bridge and Phu My 2 bridge projects, both of which are being developed by the local developer under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

For the Can Gio bridge project, authorities revised the payment structure after changes to the land bank earmarked for investor compensation. The city will now allocate two downtown land plots with a combined estimated value of more than VND7.5 trillion ($285.06 million) and use budget funds to cover the remainder of the payment obligation.

The sites include a property at 8-12 Le Duan boulevard, valued at VND3.42 trillion ($130 million), and another at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung street, valued at around VND4.11 trillion ($156.21 million).

The land assets account for roughly 69.7% of the BT contract value for the bridge construction, estimated at VND10.82 trillion ($411.25 million). The remaining VND3.74 trillion ($142.15 million) will be paid from the local budget after the land transfer is completed.

The Can Gio bridge project has a revised total investment of about VND13.35 trillion ($507.41 million), including interest expenses during construction, up by VND148 billion ($5.63 million) from the previously approved plan.

The bridge will span across the Soai Rap river, linking Can Gio with Nha Be communes and replacing the Binh Khanh ferry crossing. The project includes a bridge section of about three kilometers and connecting roads, bringing the total length to roughly seven kilometers.

Separately, the city approved adjustments to the Phu My 2 bridge project, for which land assets valued at approximately VND15.91 trillion ($604.72 million) are expected to be used as payment to the investor.

The bridge will connect Nguyen Huu Tho road in HCMC with Lien Cang road in the neighboring industrial city of Dong Nai. The route will stretch about 6.64 km, including 4.6 km within HCMC and 2.04 km in Dong Nai.

Designed with eight traffic lanes and supporting infrastructure, the project carries a total investment of about VND21.83 trillion ($829.73 million), including financing costs during construction. Completion is targeted for 2029.

Authorities view Phu My 2 as a strategic transport link that will strengthen connections between southern HCMC, Dong Nai's Nhon Trach commune, and Long Thanh International Airport.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to ease congestion on the existing Phu My bridge, National Highways 1 and 51, and the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh expressway, while improving logistics efficiency and supporting economic activity across the southern key economic region.

US leads imports of Vietnam’s computers and electronics in five months

US leads imports of Vietnam’s computers and electronics in five months

VOV.VN - The US imported US$22.54 billion worth of computers, electronic products and components from Vietnam during the five-month period of 2026, making it Vietnam’s largest export market for the sector, ahead of China, the European Union and Hong Kong.

According to the Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronic products and components totaled nearly US$56.2 billion in January-May, up 46.2% year-on-year.

The US remained the sector’s main growth driver, with exports to the market rising nearly 55% and accounting for more than 40% of total export value.

China ranked second with imports worth US$8.82 billion. The EU and Hong Kong also ranked among Vietnam’s leading export markets, with Hong Kong serving as a major transshipment hub for Vietnamese electronics.

Exports to the EU posted a strong recovery, while the ASEAN became another fast-growing market, with export value reaching US$3.02 billion, up nearly 77% year-on-year.

Other Asian markets, including the Republic of Korea (RoK), Taiwan (China), Japan and India, also continued to grow, indicating Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to diversify its export markets.

Several non-traditional markets such as Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada also recorded strong growth.

In 2025, Vietnam’s exports of computers, electronic products and components surpassed US$100 billion for the first time. With strong momentum in early 2026, export value for the sector is expected to significantly exceed last year’s level.


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