The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has repeatedly urged commercial banks to take action to reduce the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio to below 3 percent by September 30. But it has proven to be an impossible mission.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though Vietnamese banks are undergoing a compulsory restructuring process, foreign investors are showing interest in purchasing stakes in banks.

When commercial banks complained at a meeting held in HCM City two weeks ago that they had no more debts to sell as requested, the State Bank replied that it was sure the bad debt ratio was not lower than VND300 trillion.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam's economy is starting the year ‘all guns blazing’ and may outperform last year’s growth, showing that the government's efforts to tame inflation and regain macroeconomic stability are sound and timely.

HCM City banks urged to slash bad debt; New FDI approvals surge 67% in January; Vietnam companies dragged down by old technology; Banks speed up lending ahead of Tet; ANZ: Vietnam consumer confidence drops slightly

Commercial banks said that 2015's Tet (Lunar New Year) festival has been the most easy so far, in terms of liquidity, and even though it is around the corner, according to Dau Tu Chung Khoan

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nation should stop sacrificing its growth rate for stabilising the economy, Tran Hoang Ngan with the National Advisory Council on Monetary and Financial Policies, tells Viet Nam Economic Times.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bankers said 2015 will remain a challenging year though some banks have reported higher earnings and there have been more positive signs in the local economy.

While the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) says that settling bad debts through the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) is the optimal solution, economists doubt that it is actually helping the situation.

 The Government will keep close control on public debt and strive to bring bad debt ratio to around three percent, according to a resolution adopted following the Cabinet regular meeting in October.

 Consumer confidence slightly softer in October; Brokerage firms fare well in Q3; Automakers report surging demand; India woos Vietnamese investors; No State money for bad debt; Equitization of 432 SOEs to finish next year

 VietNamNet Bridge – Banks are continuing to struggle with fast rising potentially unrecoverable bad debts.

 Techcombank before tax earnings up 45%; VN could become world's top animal food exporter; Vietnam’s first hybrid rice R&D station opens; Australian initiative aims for fair trade competition in Vietnam; Exports to US continue to trend upwards

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although Moody’s upgraded Vietnam’s credit rating last month, ANZ Vietnam Bank said in its latest report that the nation still needs to do much more to unlock its full potential given challenges ahead.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 94 per cent of Vietnamese bankers expect an improved financial performance, but bad debt levels remain a concern, says a study on the banking sector.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The regulation that banks cannot sell mortgaged assets below face value is the biggest barrier hindering debt settlement.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s recently amended bankruptcy and real estate business laws are acting at cross-purposes with the country's need to sell off its massive bad debts.

 Vietnam, Russia sign oil, gas exploration deal; PM instructs composition of 2015 socio-economic plan; Mekong Delta fetches nearly US$1 bil from rice exports;

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) has bought tens of trillions of dong worth of bad debts from commercial banks, but it has not made any considerable progress in selling the debts.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Credit institutions have registered to sell more than VND30 trillion in bad debt to Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), according to the State Bank of Vietnam.