Shares continued to gain in Hanoi but faltered in HCM City on May 29.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose 0.6 percent to 64.46 points.

Market value and volume improved to 822.76 billion VND (39.17 million USD) and 96.76 million shares.

The HNX30, comprised of the bourse's 30 leading shares, increased 0.49 percent to finish at 125.20 points.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index finished 0.24 percent lower at 515.09 points. Profit-taking drove trading value on May 29 up to 1.67 trillion VND (79.5 million USD) with a surging volume of some 99.7 million shares.

Blue chips outperformed the market in general, helping boost the VN30 up 0.33 percent to 579.33 points.

Among the 30 stocks it tracks, around one third managed to rally, including property developer Vingroup (VIC) that hit its ceiling of 71,500 VND (3.4 USD).

Vingroup on May 29 announced private equity investment fund Warburg Pincus had agreed to buy a 20 percent stake worth 200 million USD in its subsidiary, Vincom Retail.

In addition, as part of the agreement, Warburg Pincus pledged to invest 25 million USD in Vingroup's first initial public offering (IPO) in the international market.

The agreement will also allow the investment fund to pour another value of 100 million USD into Vincom Retail depending on the growth potential of the Vietnamese retail market. If Warburg Pincus implements the 100 million VND deal, Vingroup will increase its capital in Vincom Retail to retain its ownership rate.

The partnership with Warburg Pincus is the latest achievement by Vingroup to attract foreign investment, following the issuance of 300 million USD international convertible bonds last year.

Citigroup is the sole financial advisor for Vingroup.

Foreign investors continued to be sellers in HCM City , unloading a net value of 27.5 billion VND (1.3 million USD), while they were buyers in Hanoi by a margin of 1 billion VND (47,600 USD).-VNA