New economic policies take effect from November 2025

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* Tighten the handling of late payment and evasion of compulsory social insurance payment

The Government has just issued Decree No. 274/2025/ND-CP dated October 16, 2025, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Social Insurance 2024 on late payment, evasion of payment of compulsory social insurance (SI), unemployment insurance and settlement of complaints and denunciations in this field. The Decree takes effect from November 30, 2025.

According to the new regulations, if employers are late or evade compulsory social insurance and unemployment insurance payments, the amount and number of days of violation will be determined. The amount of late payment is calculated based on the employer's payment obligation, while the number of days of evading payment is determined from the next day of the prescribed payment deadline.

In addition, the decree clearly stipulates the authority and procedures for handling complaints and denunciations related to violations in the field of social insurance, ensuring the legitimate rights of employees. The issuance of this document is considered a step to complete the legal framework to strengthen discipline, protect social security rights, and at the same time enhance the responsibility of enterprises in fully implementing social insurance obligations.

* Promulgating the new Vietnamese economic sector system

The Prime Minister has just signed Decision No. 36/2025/QD-TTg dated September 29, 2025, promulgating the System of Vietnamese Economic Sectors, effective from November 15, 2025, replacing Decision No. 27/2018/QD-TTg.

The new industry system updates and standardizes the industry code list in line with the trend of digital transformation, green economic development and international integration. The decision clearly stipulates the principles of using industry codes in business registration, investment registration, state statistics and administrative databases.

Accordingly, businesses need to review and update their business registration codes to ensure consistency and avoid errors in administrative procedures and statistical reporting. The application of the new system is expected to help synchronize national economic data and improve policy-making efficiency.

* Credit institution rating according to new standards from November 2025

On September 10, 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular No. 21/2025/TT-NHNN regulating the rating of credit institutions and foreign bank branches, effective from November 1, 2025.

According to the Circular, the ranking is carried out annually, based on criteria of capital safety, asset quality, management capacity, business results and liquidity. The goal is to comprehensively assess the financial health of credit institutions, increase transparency in banking operations, and create a basis for management agencies to take appropriate monitoring measures.

The ranking results are divided into several levels, which are the basis for considering licensing network expansion, deploying new products and services and determining the level of risk in credit management. Commercial banks, especially foreign bank branches, are required to prepare documents and review their internal management and control systems to meet the new criteria. This regulation is expected to contribute to improving the quality of the banking system and strengthening confidence in the financial market.

* Strengthening anti-money laundering management in the banking sector

On September 15, 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular No. 27/2025/TT-NHNN guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering 2022. The Circular takes effect from November 1, 2025.

Under the new regulations, credit institutions, payment intermediaries, e-wallets and financial exchanges must conduct periodic money laundering risk assessments, classify customers according to risk levels, and report electronic money transfer transactions to the Anti-Money Laundering Department under the State Bank.

In addition, the circular requires mandatory reporting of large value transactions, suspicious transactions or cross-border money transfers, ensuring more transparent monitoring and control of cash flows. Data on these transactions must be stored for at least 05 years and provided upon request for inspection and investigation purposes.

* Banks are allowed to deliver and receive gold bars from November 15, 2025

On September 30, 2025, the State Bank of Vietnam issued Circular No. 33/2025/TT-NHNN amending and supplementing Circular No. 17/2014/TT-NHNN regulating the classification, packaging and delivery of precious metals and gemstones. The Circular takes effect from November 15, 2025.

Accordingly, from this point on, the State Bank and credit institutions are allowed to deliver and receive gold bars according to purchase, sale or processing contracts. The delivery and receipt must be carried out in accordance with the correct procedures, with legal documents, clear seals and responsibility for the quality and quantity of gold bars.

The Circular also specifies the standards for classifying gold into three groups: jewelry - fine art gold (8 Karat content or more), gold bars (with clear codes, parameters, and standards) and raw gold (in the form of bars, grains, and pieces). Gold bar packaging must be anti-counterfeit according to the standards of commercial banks or businesses licensed to produce gold bars.

Notably, gold packaging and sealing are regulated more strictly: gold bars of the same quality are packed in lots of 100 or multiples of 100 pieces (maximum 500 pieces), raw gold is packed in lots of 5 or multiples of 5 bars (maximum 25 bars), in stainless metal boxes, sealed and clearly labeled with verification information.

* Amendments to regulations on cashless payment services

The State Bank of Vietnam has just issued Circular No. 30/2025/TT-NHNN dated September 30, 2025, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 15/2024/TT-NHNN regulating the provision of non-cash payment services. The Circular takes effect from November 18, 2025, except for the provision in Clause 2, Article 7, which will take effect from April 1, 2026.

Accordingly, Circular 30/2025 supplements regulations on customer identity authentication, requiring individuals who are Vietnamese citizens to present their citizen identification card or level 2 electronic identification; for foreigners residing in Vietnam, they must have a passport, equivalent documents or level 2 electronic identification when using the service.

In addition, the Circular tightens the responsibility of payment service providers in handling complaints and denunciations of violations, and requires ensuring that the online payment system is not interrupted for more than 4 hours/year. If the interruption exceeds 30 minutes or the maintenance is not announced in advance, the unit must report to the State Bank within 4 hours and send a detailed report within 3 working days.

This document is expected to improve safety, security and transparency in electronic payment activities, in line with the national digital transformation trend...

Source: https://vtv.vn/nhung-chinh-sach-moi-lien-quan-den-kinh-te-co-hieu-luc-tu-thang-11-2025-100251028182205269.htm