SMEs entitled to loans at preferential interest rate of 1.2% per year

Firms can borrow from the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Development Fund with a short-term interest rate of 1.2% per year and a long-term interest rate of 4.4% per year, effective from October 4, 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Investment announced.
SMEs entitled to loans at preferential interest rate of 1.2% per year ảnh 1A customer borrows money at an SHB transaction office in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Firms can borrow from the Small- andMedium-sized Enterprise (SME) Development Fund with a short-term interest rateof 1.2% per year and a long-term interest rate of 4.4% per year, effective fromOctober 4, 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Investment announced.

According to the fund’s representatives, the preferential interest rates areapplied in accordance with Resolution No 105/NQ-CP dated July 15, 2023, ofthe Government on tasks and solutions to remove difficulties for production andbusiness.

Besides the fund, many banks have also continued to provide loans for firmswith low interest rates.

For example, from now until May 30, 2024, corporate customers borrowing capitalfor production and business at SHB will enjoy preferential loan interest ratesfrom only 6.97% per year. Accordingly, SHB will set aside 5 trillion VND withinterest rates from 6.97% to support firms in supplementing short-term workingcapital. Enterprises that enjoy the SHB’s incentives include female-ownedenterprises and enterprises operating in priority fields such as agriculture,forestry, fisheries, exports, high technology, transport infrastructure,education, healthcare and green projects.

At the same time, SHB will also spend 1 trillion VND for corporate customerswho need loans for car purchases with loan terms of 36 months or more. Based onneeds and capital usage plans, customers can choose preferential interest ratesfrom 7.5% per year for the first six months or from 9% per year for 12 months.

According to the State Bank of Vietnam, deposit interest rates in the lastquarter of a year in previous years often increased to attract idle capital tobanks to serve the rising lending needs of people and firms for year-end, butthis year is different as deposit interest rates at most banks are anchored atlow levels and some even continue to decrease.

Specifically, deposit interest rates at some banks such as VPBank, ACB and BacA Bank have continued to decrease by 0.15 - 0.3 percentage points for manyterms since early this month.

The highest deposit interest rate at VPBank is only 5.5% per year for 12-monthand 13-month terms, instead of the previous rate of 5.8% per year. Tenors from6-9 months also decrease from 5.3% per year to 5.1% per year.

At ACB, the interest rate for deposits under 200 million VND, with a term of6-9 months, decreases from 5-2-5.3% per year to 5-5.1% per year. For depositsfrom 200 million VND to less than 1 billion VND, the rate is added 0.1% peryear while for deposits of 1 billion VND or more, the rate is added 0.05% peryear./.   
VNA

See more

Vietnam aims to export 7 million tonnes of rice in 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam to proactively reduce rice exports from 2026

Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), said that 2026 presents numerous difficulties and challenges, and the global supply glut significantly impacts all exporters, including Vietnam.

Vietjet to operate nearly 1,800 additional flights for Lunar New Year peak (Photo: Vietjet Air)

Vietjet adds nearly 1,800 flights for peak Lunar New Year travel

Passengers planning to travel during the Tet peak period are advised to book tickets early to secure suitable flight schedules. They are also encouraged to complete online check-in within 24 hours prior to departure via Vietjet’s website at www.vietjetair.com, the Vietjet mobile application or the VNeID platform, in order to save time at airport check-in counters.

VinFast will provide each university with two electric cars, along with practical equipment and training materials on electric vehicle repair techniques that meet official standards (Photo: VNA)

VinFast collaborates with 30 colleges to standardise training for EV engineers

VinFast will work with leading institutions offering automotive engineering programmes, including the University of Transport and Communications, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, the Hanoi University of Industry and the Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, to implement hands-on training aligned with industry needs.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

E-commerce at turning point as new law sets higher standards in 2026

To propel the digital economy forward, experts said 2026 should be the year of foundational reforms, including standardised identification for sellers and marketers, real-time transparency in product details, enhanced logistics and financial infrastructure, and robust safeguards for authentic value creation.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Billion-dollar capital seeks new opportunities in data centre real estate

Ho Chi Minh City is witnessing a strong investment wave in the data centre sector. The city has set up a dedicated task force to support investment procedures for a Hyperscale Data Centre serving AI development, with total investment estimated at around 2 billion USD. The investor consortium includes UAE-based technology company G42, Microsoft, FPT Corporation, VinaCapital, and Viet Thai Group.

Party General Secretary To Lam (C) and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (third from left) and other delegates break ground Vietnam’s first semiconductor chip manufacturing plant (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam launches first semiconductor chip manufacturing plant

The plant, developed by Viettel Group in line with the mission assigned by the Ministry of Defence and based on the government’s resolution, is located on a 27-hectare site within the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park and is expected to serve national industries such as aerospace, telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), automotive manufacturing, medical equipment, and automation.

Vietnam’s cashew exports in 2025 are estimated at 766,600 tonnes, generating more than 5.2 billion USD (Photo: VNA)

Cashew sector faces economic efficiency challenge despite high export revenue

Vietnam’s cashew industry has faced a pressing challenge despite an export revenue of over 5 billion USD for the first time in 2025, as this impressive figure has yet to translate into commensurate economic efficiency for exporting enterprises, especially when the industry seeks to ensure that its position as the world’s leading cashew exporter is matched by sustainable profitability.

Deputy Director General of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai (centre) chairs an online meeting on the organisation of ITE HCMC 2026. (Photo: TITC)

International Travel Expo HCM City 2026 set for August

The expo will feature key activities including on-site and online exhibition booths; a digital business-to-business (B2B) buyer–seller matching programme; Vietnam Night; the opening ceremony; programmes for international buyers and media representatives; forums and thematic seminars introducing key source markets and emerging tourism trends; and a tourism consumer festival.

An illustrative image showing a Crystal Bay Airlines plane. (Photo: dantri.com.vn)

New Vietnamese airline takes off with charter capital of 11.4 million USD

According to the company's registration documents, Crystal Bay Airlines Joint Stock Company was established on November 6, 2025, with a charter capital of 300 billion VND (11.4 million USD). The firm operates in 51 business sectors, with its main focus being air passenger transportation.