Vietnam Defense and News forum

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the army has own manufactoring arm with 13,000 employees: VMC (Viettel Manufactoring Corp), established in 2022 specializing on electronics, precision mechanics and optoelectronics

 

[Viet]

Also, the army has a logistics arm. railway, ships, planes, trucks.

 

[Viet]

endless trucks, vans, cars

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Speed dating with Takaichi Sanae, Japan’s new prime minister in Kuala Lumpur
The gov chief asks Japan to provide assistance to Vietnam key infrastructure projects.

Thủ tướng đề nghị Nhật Bản hỗ trợ ODA để Việt Nam thực hiện các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng trọng điểm. Ảnh: Nhật Bắc

 

[Yellow is Okay]

Speed dating with Takaichi Sanae, Japan’s new prime minister in Kuala Lumpur
The gov chief asks Japan to provide assistance to Vietnam key infrastructure projects.

Thủ tướng đề nghị Nhật Bản hỗ trợ ODA để Việt Nam thực hiện các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng trọng điểm. Ảnh: Nhật Bắc

Exclusive: Japan warns Vietnam of job losses as Hanoi motorbike ban hits Honda​

People ride their motorbikes duing rush hour at Hanoi's Old Quarter, in Hanoi, Vietnam, August 30, 2025. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Cars and motorbikes ride in an avenue decorated to welcome the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 25, 2021. REUTERS/Thanh Hue

A logo of Honda is seen inside a car dealer in Nijmegen, Netherlands February 26, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw​

HANOI/TOKYO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The Japanese government and some of the nation's top manufacturers have warned Vietnam that a planned ban on petrol-powered motorbikes in Hanoi could spark job losses and disrupt a $4.6 billion market that is dominated by Honda, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and seven people familiar with the matter.

In July, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive prohibiting petrol motorbikes from entering the centre of the capital from the middle of 2026, as the country seeks to reduce high levels of air pollution. Broader restrictions are due in 2028 and bans are expected to spread to other parts of the country.

In response, the Japanese embassy in Hanoi sent a letter to Vietnamese authorities saying a sudden ban could "affect employment in supporting industries" such as motorcycle dealers and parts suppliers, according to a statement from the embassy summarising its letter. The embassy declined to share the full contents of the letter, which is being reported for the first time.

The embassy also urged Vietnamese authorities to consider an "appropriate roadmap" for electrification that would include a preparation period and staged implementation of regulations.

The embassy declined to say when the letter was sent, although one Japanese government official said it was relayed in September.

Vietnam's two-wheeler market is one of the world's largest - worth an estimated $4.6 billion this year, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence - with the number of registered motorbikes last year approaching 80% of the country's population of 100 million, one of the highest ownership rates globally.

MANUFACTURERS WARN OF POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCIES​

The main trade group for foreign motorcycle makers in Vietnam, which is led by Honda and includes Yamaha and Suzuki, sent its own letter to the government in July warning that the ban could result in "production interruptions and the risk of bankruptcy" for companies in the supply chain, according to a copy of the letter reviewed by Reuters.

The manufacturers said the ban could have "spillover effects" on hundreds of thousands of workers and cited potential disruptions for nearly 2,000 dealers and some 200 component suppliers.

They urged the implementation of a transitional period "with a minimum preparation time of two to three years" to allow time for them to adjust production lines while a network of charging stations and safety standards are expanded.

Vietnamese officials have thus far declined to act on the requests from the Japanese government and manufacturers, according to three people familiar with the discussions. These people, like others who spoke to Reuters, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Vietnam's government did not respond to a request for comment.

The government has said the ban is necessary to tackle high air pollution levels in Hanoi. Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest metropolis, have also signalled plans to restrict petrol-powered vehicles.

Addressing concerns about the switch to electric power, Prime Minister Chinh told Japanese executives in August that reducing emissions is a global issue requiring joint efforts "to choose the most optimal solution with a suitable roadmap," according to the government's online portal.

IN VIETNAM, HONDA IS SYNONYMOUS WITH MOTORBIKES​

Honda, which controls 80% of the two-wheeler market in Vietnam with 2.6 million vehicles sold last year, has led the charge to have authorities revise the directive, according to three of the people, all of whom attended or were briefed about meetings with the Vietnamese government and other officials in recent months.

In private, one Honda representative raised the possibility that the company could consider scaling back its production in Vietnam in response, according to one of the people.

Honda said it was closely monitoring the situation, but had no plan to close factories.
The Japanese manufacturer has four factories in Vietnam, where it is so dominant that its brand name has become a shorthand for "motorbike" in Vietnamese.

Almost all of the motorbikes it sells in Vietnam and elsewhere are powered by petrol. But it does also offer the CUV e: and ICON e: battery-powered models in the country.

Honda's sales in Vietnam tumbled by almost 22% in August from July, the month the ban was unveiled, before recovering slightly in September. The company recorded double-digit sales declines from a year earlier in August and September.

As Honda's automotive business has been squeezed by heightened competition due to a global shift to electric cars, it has become more reliant on its motorcycle business as a profit driver.

VINFAST SALES ARE RISING - FAST​

Meanwhile, sales of electric motorbikes and e-bikes made by Nasdaq-listed Vietnamese firm VinFast rose 55% to nearly 70,000 in the second quarter of 2025 from the first quarter.

They are expected to surge following the ban, according to a consumer survey conducted in September by market research firm Asia Plus.

The proposed environmental measures have also had an impact on Vietnam's petrol car sales, which fell 18% in September from a year earlier for members of VAMA, the country's largest auto industry association, which includes several Japanese brands.

Last month, VAMA said it did not expect a direct impact from the motorbike ban but acknowledged that "some customers are hesitant to buy new cars" following the government's announcements.

Japanese carmaker Toyota is the market leader with more than a quarter of total car sales in September, according to data from VAMA.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainabil...es-hanoi-motorbike-ban-hits-honda-2025-10-21/

ODA isn't the same as FDI. Countries that offer ODA do it to create jobs for their own people and to build influence over the receiving countries. Trying to ban gasoline motorbikes and who knows, maybe even cars, while asking for more ODA doesn't really go hand in hand. Anyway, interesting times ahead. Let's see who has stronger conviction.

 

[Viet]

ODA isn't the same as FDI. Countries that offer ODA do it to create jobs for their own people and to build influence over the receiving countries. Trying to ban gasoline motorbikes and who knows, maybe even cars, while asking for more ODA doesn't really go hand in hand. Anyway, interesting times ahead. Let's see who has stronger conviction.

In her first speech she mentions the US, China, Korea, Australia and Philippines. I think she will focus on those countries. The rest is not much important. I would not put big hope on the Japanese.

 

[Yellow is Okay]

In her first speech she mentions the US, China, Korea, Australia and Philippines. I think she will focus on those countries. The rest is not much important. I would not put big hope on the Japanese.

Not that I completely disagree with the plan to ban gasoline motorbikes (for obvious reasons) in certain ring roads in Hanoi and Saigon, but people should expect there will be consequences. Fair or not, it's still within Japan's rights.

 

[Viet]

Not that I completely disagree with the plan to ban gasoline motorbikes (for obvious reasons) in certain ring roads in Hanoi and Saigon, but people should expect there will be consequences. Fair or not, it's still within Japan's rights.

Banning gasoline bikes out of inner city is the right direction. Although I think people need time to adapt plus there is a need of government support. We should ban rickshaw, as well. Too dangerous, too bad imagine in the public.

 

[Viet]

Robot cars on display during Vietnam International Digital Week VIDW 2025

Trong khuôn khổ VIDW

 

[Viet]

Interesting but nothing has arrived yet.

A leak in documents reveals Vietnam buys weapons in sea and air domains from Russia in secret deals. One of the key purchases is the acquisition of electronic combat system for Su35 fighter jets.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/world/asia/3-takeaways-from-vietnams-drift-toward-russia-and-away-from-america.html

 

[Yellow is Okay]

Interesting but nothing has arrived yet.

A leak in documents reveals Vietnam buys weapons in sea and air domains from Russia in secret deals. One of the key purchases is the acquisition of electronic combat system for Su35 fighter jets.
View attachment 156402

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/world/asia/3-takeaways-from-vietnams-drift-toward-russia-and-away-from-america.html

https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-...nited-states-a71a83e7d60672a63565cc9fe28945d7
https://nguoidothi.net.vn/nguyen-pho-ban-noi-chinh-trung-uong-nguyen-van-yen-bi-bat-44189.html

Probably still requires additional time, given that the individual who disclosed a covert procurement channel from Russia designed to circumvent Western sanctions was arrested around a year ago.

 

[Viet]

https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-...nited-states-a71a83e7d60672a63565cc9fe28945d7
https://nguoidothi.net.vn/nguyen-pho-ban-noi-chinh-trung-uong-nguyen-van-yen-bi-bat-44189.html

Probably still requires additional time, given that the individual who disclosed a covert procurement channel from Russia designed to circumvent Western sanctions was arrested around a year ago.

Seems the army is in hurry buying more aircraft, submarines and air missiles. That’s because of US aggressive foreign policy under Trump. In total $18 billion in the next 3 years Vietnam wants to buy. Putin has given his Ok. Parts of the purchases will be financed by loans in Rubles, the rest will come from profits sharing in Russia.

Now with the revelation this deal will likely be torpedoed by the US.

Russia ratifies protocol to agreement with Vietnam on military product loan

As Russian Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev explained earlier, the protocol provides for a temporary mechanism for making payments in Russian rubles to repay overdue debt on the loan during 2024-2026

tass.com

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Correction: $18 billion in Russian money is for several “friendly” countries including Vietnam.

 

[Viet]

Vietnam/China trades rising by 23%, expectedly will reach a new record this year 2025.
The numbers reported by Vietnam customs $252 billion ($205 billion in 2024), interestingly China’s customs reports $55 billion higher, the numbers would be $319 billion ($260 billion in 2024).
The minus: Vietnam will run another huge deficit with the Chinese.

Việt Nam, China trade poised for new record in 2025

Trade between Việt Nam and China is posed to set a record height this year with strong momentum from deepened cooperation through large-scale trade promotion events and the upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Protocol.

vietnamnews.vn

 

[Viet]

Fun fact
Viet Nam rises one position to 38th in the global peace index 2025. We now rank higher than Taiwan.
Would take years and hard work to come close to Singapore and Japan.

Mapped: The 2025 Global Peace Index

With conflict deaths at a 25-year high, the Global Peace Index ranks 163 countries and territories by their level of peace.

www.visualcapitalist.com