Many people are actively searching for investment channels to preserve their assets and accumulate for the future. What is the right path in a context where the economy faces numerous challenges, the world is volatile, and finding profitable opportunities is difficult?
Desperately searching for investment channels.
After a month of delay, the family of Mr. Dinh Dong in Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi, is on tenterhooks with 2 billion VND in hand as gold prices continue to surge, exceeding 100 million VND per tael and showing no signs of cooling down; meanwhile, real estate prices are experiencing a boom in some localities following news of provincial mergers. Not to mention the worry of escalating commodity prices.
"Just hearing about it makes it sound difficult! Land prices are rising too fast, gold is so expensive. Salaries aren't increasing fast enough to keep up with the soaring prices," Dong worried.
His family recently missed an opportunity to buy land in the outskirts of Hanoi, an investment intended to preserve assets and save for the future. He is now considering taking out a loan to invest further, given the low interest rates and the risk of currency devaluation due to global uncertainties.
Many people living in large cities are in a situation similar to Dong's family.
The middle class in Vietnam, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is worried that their incomes are not keeping pace with the rising prices of major assets such as real estate and gold.
With incomes ranging from 30-75 million VND per month, people in this group were once considered stable and capable of accumulating assets worth several billion VND. If they previously invested in gold, real estate, or other assets, their pockets are now quite full.
However, not everyone can seize such opportunities. Some are hesitant to borrow for investment when their income is still uncertain. The soaring prices of real estate and gold are putting immense pressure on this group, making it more difficult than ever to maintain middle-class status.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung in Hanoi has a fairly stable income of 45 million VND per month and savings of nearly 3 billion VND. He plans to buy an apartment in the Long Bien area to rent out.
But he was worried that investing such a large sum of money, plus taking out additional loans, while rental prices hadn't kept pace, was unreasonable. However, renting at a high price would make it difficult to find tenants. If he put it in the bank, the interest would be low and it might eventually run out.
Moreover, the average price of an apartment in Hanoi has risen to around 4 billion VND, and even higher in prime locations.
Similarly, Ms. Tran Thi Mai (42 years old, residing in Bac Giang) is also struggling to find an investment direction. She shared: “I have accumulated over 2 billion VND after many years, and now gold prices have increased by hundreds of millions of VND per ounce. I'm afraid that if I buy now, the price won't increase much, and gold doesn't generate profit. Real estate is out of reach, and depositing money in the bank doesn't yield much interest. I'm very worried that if I don't find a way to generate profit, the family will face even greater difficulties when my children grow up.”
The middle class is worried.
The root cause of this concern likely lies in the ever-widening gap between income and the cost of living. Real estate prices have skyrocketed, averaging several tens of percent per year, potentially doubling in a few years, far exceeding the income growth rate of the middle class, which is only around 5-10% per year. Gold prices have also risen sharply, bank interest rates are low, and inflation is high.
Furthermore, concerns also stem from the rapidly changing global trends, particularly from artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which is altering employment and investment trends. AI and automation are gradually replacing traditional jobs... This forces the middle class to adjust their savings and investment strategies to adapt.
Gold and real estate remain investment options that many people are interested in, but they are no longer as attractive as they once were.
First of all, while the real estate market is still expected to grow in the long term, it may no longer be the optimal choice for short-term investment. With property prices already too high, liquidity decreasing, and increased risks from tax policies, speculative trading for profit may be risky.
However, some argue that real estate in suburban areas or smaller provinces, where prices are still relatively low and infrastructure is developing, could be an opportunity for those with a 5-10 year outlook.
As for gold, it's a traditional investment channel but its appeal is gradually declining due to the rapid price increase in 2024 and early 2025. After reaching 98-100 million VND/ounce in early 2025, forecasts suggest that gold prices may stabilize or undergo corrections if geopolitical tensions ease.
Investing in gold may not yield high returns. It is considered a defensive asset, and should be used as a small percentage of an investment portfolio.
Thirdly, the Vietnamese stock market is expected to grow by 14-15% in 2025, making it a potential investment channel for the middle class. According to several securities companies, technology, banking, retail, and industrial real estate stocks have bright prospects.
However, investing in stocks requires knowledge and a willingness to accept risk, making it more suitable for those who are willing to learn and monitor closely.
Ultimately, depositing money in a bank savings account remains a safe option, but it doesn't offer exceptional returns. With interest rates at 3-6% per year, it's a good place to store capital in the short term.
Another commonly recommended principle is to diversify your investment portfolio. Don't invest all your money in a single channel. Invest in yourself, learn new skills such as technology and finance to adapt to modern work trends, and thereby increase your proactive income. Avoid the mentality of "surfing the market" for quick profits in a volatile market.
It may be advisable to prioritize channels with solid growth potential, such as high-tech stocks or suburban real estate, but these should be held for the long term.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nha-dat-va-vang-tang-dung-dung-gioi-trung-luu-cam-tien-ty-boi-roi-2385582.html
Comment (0)