In the first four months of the year, the trade deficit was at quite high at around US$2.8 billion.

VietNamNet Bridge - Bankers have been cautious when asked if their plans to increase charter capital can be fulfilled this year.

Many commercial banks, which have reported profits for Q1 2017, have begun following higher standards in debt classification and provisioning against risks, while Moody’s has upgraded the credit ratings for eight Vietnamese banks.

VietNamNet Bridge - The gold and dollar markets worth tens of billions of dollars have remained stable despite fluctuations in the world market.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many bankers dream of providing wealth management services, especially in an attractive market like Vietnam.  

While the State Bank (SBV) has legalized the use of state money to support the restructuring of weak banks, it has not specified where the government will get the money to pump into the banks.

VietNamNet Bridge - The race of candidates for ‘hot seats’ at commercial banks is heating up as the shareholders’ meeting season has begun.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese banks have reported high growth rates in retail banking in recent years. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Foreign investors will get big benefits if buying "zero dong" banks as the banks have customers and large networks nationwide.

Bank deposit interest rates are on the rise. The VN Index has surpassed the 700 point threshold. The real estate market is warming up. Meanwhile, gold and dollar prices are unpredictable.

VietNamNet Bridge - 2016 was expected to be tough year for the banking sector, but commercial banks all reported considerable increases in profit. Will this occur in 2017?

VietNamNet Bridge - Banks’ finance reports in 2016 show good news and bad news. Most of them had profits higher than the year before, but the number of non-performing loans increased.

The State Bank, while admitting that it is difficult to eliminate cross-ownership in commercial banks, said in many cases, institutions and individuals borrow money from credit institutions to buy bank stakes or contribute capital to banks.

VietNamNet Bridge - Profits from lending still make up a large proportion of banks’ total profits, but bad debt remains a problem.

Kieu hoi (overseas remittances) to Vietnam unexpectedly decreased in 2016, raising concerns among real estate developers as kieu hoi are an important source of capital for the property market.

The central bank has targeted keeping interest rate stable in 2017, however, the market’s developments in the first half of January 2017 show that lending rates are suffering from many pressures.

The heavy gold price fluctuations in 2016 allowed gold investors to make a profit of 17 percent just within three months, while investments in V-30 securities brought profit of 26 percent.

VietNamNet Bridge - Le Minh Hung, the youngest governor in the history of the banking sector, took office in April 2016.

VietNamNet Bridge - Dong and foreign-currency liquidity was plentiful throughout the year. The interest rate was stable at a five-year low while the dong/dollar exchange rate was also stable with the dong depreciating by 1.2 percent.

VietNamNet Bridge - The dong/dollar exchange rate remained stable for most of 2016 thanks to important government and State Bank policies, and resources of the national economy.