Vietnam’s stock market has posted its strongest gain of the year, rebounding sharply after a period of volatility triggered by news of U.S. tariffs in early April. Amid ongoing uncertainties—including geopolitical tensions and restrictive U.S. trade policies—what factors are propelling this sudden market upswing? The ups and downs of the market in H1 As of June 20, the VN-Index had climbed 6.5% since the beginning of the year, hovering around 1,340 points—its highest level since May 2022. Market liquidity has also improved markedly, with the average trading value reaching VND19.2 trillion per session. Notably, the second-quarter average is 35% higher than in the first quarter. Although foreign investors remain net sellers, with a cumulative outflow exceeding VND40 trillion year-to-date, this pressure appears to be easing. Net foreign selling totaled approximately VND26 trillion in Q1, but dropped to under VND15 trillion in Q2—falling to below VND2 trillion last month— largely due to the gradual completion of portfolio restructuring. The most significant turmoil occurred in the first half of April, when the United States announced a maximum reciprocal tariff of 46% on Vietnam. In response, the VN-Index plunged over 18% within the first five trading sessions, with widespread floor-hitting declines and severely […]