Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui

HANOI - Vietnam's economic growth will slow slightly to 5.1 percent this year, a government report said, but the central bank will maintain a prudent and flexible policy on interest rates next year as inflation remains a concern.

The arrest of banking mogul Nguyen Duc Kien on August 20 indicated the difficulties of Vietnam’s economic situation to investors, one expert said.

A little over a decade ago, Vietnam had a booming economy. An economic crisis and mismanagement on all levels have driven the country to the brink of ruin. It's up to the government to save what's left.

A seminar entitled “Vietnam, trade and industrial partner in Southeast Asia” took place in the French city of Lyon on November 13.

DANANG — Flushed from beer and laughter, crowds spill out of a strip of white wedding palaces in Danang, a booming port in central Vietnam.

European companies that do business in Vietnam are becoming more pessimistic, with a new European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) survey showing confidence falling to a record low in the fourth quarter amid concerns over inflation and the impact of increased taxes, fines and official scrutiny.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has been straining every nerve to find out the solutions to stop the decrease of the foreign direct investment (FDI) flow.

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, will visit Vietnam from October 31 to November 2, which is seen as a display of the EU’s wishes to step up cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam's annual inflation rate accelerated for a second straight month in October, official data showed Wednesday, as resurgent prices add to the country's mounting economic woes.

Vietnam’s consumer prices rose in October at their quickest rate in four months, limiting authorities’ room to ease policy even as the economy continues to slow.

Vietnam's prime minister made a rare apology on Monday for problems gripping the economy and called for the ruling Communist Party to work with the country at large to implement reforms more quickly and ensure order in its finances.

How serious are the problems in Vietnam's banking sector? Problem is, no one really knows. Confidence in the banking sector has been shaky since August 20, when prominent banker Nguyen Duc Kien was arrested on corruption charges.

Almost exactly two years ago this week, Christine Gregoire, the governor of the U.S. state of Washington, was in Vietnam handing out french fries made from potatoes grown in her state at a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in Ho Chi Minh City. Gregoire, accompanied by representatives of more than 50 companies from home, was in Vietnam trying to drum up business with America’s former military adversary.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Vietnam's foreign- and local-currency government bond ratings by a notch to B2, citing stresses in the banking industry from a prolonged credit boom and a darkening economic backdrop.

HANOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has sought to banish fears over Vietnam's economy saying the communist country does not need a bailout, according to state media.