The agreement – announced on May 21 – will see the two sides increase exchanges, share experience, and explore cooperation opportunities in line with their respective strengths, needs, and development orientations.

For Petrovietnam, cooperation with Vitol is aligned with its orientation to expand activities into regional and international markets, including in investment and commercial trading. With its market experience, sourcing capabilities, logistics capacity and global flow management, Vitol can complement Petrovietnam in accessing new business models, enhancing market capabilities and expanding opportunities in the energy sector.

Under the cooperation framework, the two sides will discuss business structures in crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas in international markets and in Vietnam; explore opportunities to develop oil and gas infrastructure; and identify potential cooperation in projects supporting decarbonisation, sustainable development, and verified emission reductions.

Petrovietnam and Vitol will also share international trading experience and knowledge of the broader hydrocarbon value chain, helping to enhance Petrovietnam’s market access capabilities, expand its international connectivity, and support Vietnam’s objectives of ensuring energy security and socioeconomic development.

Vitol is a global energy and commodities company that produces, manages, and delivers energy and commodities to consumers and industry worldwide. In addition to its primary trading business, Vitol has invested more than $13 billion in long-term infrastructure assets globally. Its customers include national oil companies, multinationals, leading industrial companies, and utilities.

Petrovietnam Gas awards first multi‑year LNG deal to Shell PV Gas has signed its first multi‑year LNG supply contract, a five‑year agreement with Shell delivering about 400,000 tonnes per year to the Thi Vai terminal from 2027 through 2031.

Oil and gas sector sees renewed momentum Robust profit growth across the value chain, accelerating major projects and supportive policies are driving a strong rally in oil and gas stocks, with expectations of further upside in 2026.

EVN and PV GAS agree to supply LNG for Quang Trach power plants Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Petrovietnam Gas (PV GAS) signed a framework agreement on the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Vung Ang LNG terminal in Ha Tinh to the Quang Trach II and III power plants on April 3 in Hanoi.

The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HSX) has announced the registration results for the share auction of Vietnam Ha Investment and Trading JSC, a company currently owned by the Hanoi People’s Committee. The auction is set to take place at 9am on May 18 at the HSX. Payment for purchased shares will be made from May 19 to May 25, with deposit refunds scheduled from May 19 to May 22.

A total of 13 domestic investors – one institutional and 12 individual – have registered for the auction. The institutional investor has registered to buy more than 39.25 million shares, while the 12 individual investors have registered to purchase a combined total of over 47.1 million shares.

According to a previous announcement, the Hanoi People’s Committee plans to auction more than 39.25 million shares in Vietnam Ha Investment and Trading JSC, equivalent to just over 51 per cent of the company’s charter capital, at a starting price of $0.84 per share (VND21,524).

If all shares are successfully sold as planned, the municipal authority is expected to collect at least $33 million from the divestment.

Vietnam Ha Investment and Trading JSC was formerly Vietnam Ha Investment One Member LLC before being converted into a joint-stock company in 2017 under the government’s equitisation policy and the Hanoi People’s Committee according to its website

Established in 1966 as a small factory producing essential consumer goods for Hanoi residents, Viet Ha has developed over nearly six decades into a diversified investment and consumer goods group with 11 subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliated companies operating in the food and beverage sector nationwide.

The group owns several well-known brands, including Viet Ha Beer, Trang An Confectionery, Hanoi Confectionery, and Ngoc Ha Shoes, alongside major property projects such as the Viet Ha mixed-use residential and commercial complex and the Linh Nam commercial and service centre. The company currently has charter capital of VND769 billion (about $30 million), with its core business focused on beer and malt production.

Besides the Hanoi People’s Committee, the company’s other major shareholders include Vegetexco Vietnam JSC, holding 36.1 per cent, and Vietnam International Commodity Exchange JSC, which owns 12.56 per cent.

As a pharmacist, Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha – born in 1984, living in Ho Chi Minh City – pays close attention to changes in her health. When her fatigue worsened in the run-up to the traditional Lunar New Year, she went for a health check-up. The diagnosis came as a shock: she had lung cancer.

The 3cm tumour was located in the lower lobe of her right lung, in a dangerous position adjacent to several major blood vessels.

One hospital advised her to undergo chemotherapy first to shrink the tumour due to concerns about extensive tissue removal and the risk of significant blood loss during surgery.

Dr. Thanh performs robotic-assisted lung cancer surgery using the Da Vinci Xi system. Photo: FV

As someone working in the healthcare field, Ha felt uneasy about this treatment approach and sought further advice from specialists.

During her research, she visited the da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre at FV Hospital, where she was consulted directly by Dr. Dang Dinh Minh Thanh, head of the Centre and a specialist in robotic thoracic surgery.

After reviewing Ha’s medical records, Dr. Thanh recommended a different approach: early surgery instead of chemotherapy.

“After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the tumour may adhere tightly to the blood vessels and bronchi, making surgery significantly more difficult and potentially less effective,” Dr. Thanh said, explaining that given the characteristics of the tumour, robotic-assisted surgery was considered the most suitable treatment option.

According to Dr. Thanh, operating in deep and narrow areas close to major blood vessels can be challenging with conventional surgical techniques due to limited flexibility and natural hand tremors.

In contrast, robotic surgical systems offer highly flexible instrument movement, tremor elimination, and highly magnified high-definition visualisation, enabling surgeons to carefully dissect tumours while preserving surrounding vital structures.

“I had heard about robotic surgery before, but after receiving detailed consultation from Dr. Thanh, I felt completely confident choosing FV Hospital for my treatment,” Ha said.

The 100-minute surgery was performed by Dr. Dang Dinh Minh Thanh using the da Vinci Xi robotic system – currently one of the world’s most advanced robotic surgical platforms.

Just one day after surgery, Ha was able to sit up and talk with Dr. Thanh. Photo: FV

Thanks to the robot’s precision and enhanced visualisation capabilities, the tumour was completely removed without the need for additional resection of other lung lobes. Associated lymph nodes were also successfully removed.

“Everything went according to plan and even more smoothly than expected thanks to the support of the robotic system,” Dr. Thanh said after the surgery.

The benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery became evident the very next day. Without experiencing severe postoperative pain or prolonged dependence on drainage tubes, Ha was able to sit up comfortably and speak with family members and doctors.

For her, the procedure was not only successful medically but also remarkably gentle in terms of recovery. She recovered rapidly after surgery and was discharged just three days later.

“Although I had researched robotic surgery beforehand, I only truly understood its effectiveness after experiencing it myself. This truly feels like a major advancement in medical technology,” Ha said.

According to Dr. Thanh, patients may receive targeted therapy after surgery to help maintain long-term health outcomes. He also advised that patients recovering from pneumonia should undergo follow-up CT scans after three to four weeks to help detect potential malignancies early and prevent disease progression.

FV expands robotic surgery across multiple specialities

The FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre began operations in early 2026 with a comprehensive clinical ecosystem, including specialised physician training, standardised surgical protocols, and internationally accredited operating room systems.

The initiative reflects FV Hospital’s strategy to bring advanced medical technology closer to patients in Vietnam.

Doctors perform surgery at the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre. Photo: FV

At the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, robotic-assisted surgery is currently being applied across multiple specialities to improve surgical precision, treatment effectiveness, and postoperative recovery:

*Thoracic Surgery: Lung cancer, mediastinal tumours, thymus tumours, and oesophageal surgery.

*Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery: Gastrectomy, colorectal resection, liver resection, and pancreatic resection.

*Urology: Prostatectomy, nephrectomy (kidney removal), and bladder resection.

*Gynaecology: Hysterectomy, treatment for endometriosis, removal of uterine fibroids, and treatment for gynaecological cancers.

To help patients access advanced medical technology earlier, FV Hospital is offering a promotional programme with a VND40 million ($1,600) discount for the first 50 cases to use da Vinci Xi robotic surgery, valid through June 15, 2026. For more information, patients and readers can visit FV Hospital at 6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7), Ho Chi Minh City, or contact (028) 3511 3333.

Robotic surgery advances women’s health at FV Hospital A French obstetrician and gynaecologist with more than three decades of experience is applying robotic surgery at FV Hospital to enhance precision, fertility preservation, and recovery outcomes for women.

FV and Metfone launch Vietnam-Cambodia health corridor to ease cross-border care The collaboration between FV Hospital and Viettel Cambodia (Metfone) is expected to streamline cross-border healthcare for Cambodian patients, making access to high-quality services more convenient, transparent, and seamless.

Robotic surgery treats high-risk pulmonary mycosis After six months of unsuccessful high-dose antifungal treatment in Cambodia and Thailand, a 58-year-old Cambodian patient underwent da Vinci Xi robotic surgery at FV Hospital, preventing life-threatening massive hemoptysis and enabling rapid recovery within just three days.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers, FOM University of Applied Sciences, Essen/Germany

The UAE’s withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1 is merely a short-term oil market event. Rather, it reveals something far more fundamental: global energy markets are becoming more fragmented, more geopolitically sensitive and significantly more driven by national strategies and interests.

Sooner or later, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will normalise, and the Emirates’ freedom from quota restrictions will gain in importance. Markets will then watch very closely whether and to what extent Abu Dhabi actually increases output, and whether the other producers will question the discipline of the OPEC system.

Abu Dhabi’s decision is a strategic repositioning. In future, the UAE does not want to be seen merely as an oil producer, but as an energy, industrial and investment hub with greater flexibility across several economic sectors. Thus, this withdrawal should not be understood only in terms of oil, but as a step towards strategic autonomy: the freedom to transform its own energy resources into industrial growth, global investment power and diversified national value creation. For markets worldwide, this means that there will eventually be more supply available, but at the same time, less predictability.

How will Vietnam be affected?

For Vietnam, this development is both an opportunity and a warning. If the Emirates eventually produces more outside the quota system, this could help to ease global oil prices. This would be positive for energy-importing markets. Lower oil prices reduce inflationary pressure, lower logistics and transport costs, and support household purchasing power.

This affects Vietnam directly. The country is one of the most open countries in Asia and is deeply integrated into the global economy. Vietnam’s growth model depends strongly on manufacturing, exports, logistics and global value chains. Energy prices directly affect production costs, freight costs, import prices, export competitiveness and inflation.

However, I would not be too optimistic too quickly. The larger lesson from the UAE’s exit is that energy markets are becoming increasingly unpredictable. Today, the issue is OPEC coordination. Tomorrow, it might be another maritime chokepoint, a geopolitical conflict, higher shipping insurance costs, currency pressure or a sudden disruption in supply chains. We should be aware that black swan events can occur at any time, anywhere.

For a country like Vietnam, the key issue is not whether the oil prices go up or down next week. The key issue is volatility. Volatility makes planning more difficult for companies, investors, and policymakers. It affects corporate calculation, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates and public finances.

In short: falling oil prices would, of course, be welcome for Vietnam. But the biggest issue is not today’s price level, but rather volatility. Vietnam should therefore use this period as a warning signal. The country should strengthen its own energy security, diversify its supply and accelerate the modernisation of its energy system and digital economy.

Over the past year and a half, Vietnam has already launched a wide range of reform initiatives aimed at making the economy more resilient and more productive. These include the emphasis on private sector development (Resolution 68), legislative and administrative reforms under Resolution 66, the focus on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation under Resolution 57, and the Law on the Digital Technology Industry (DTI). In this broader reform context, energy security is not separate from economic development. This strengthening of resilience plays a key role in many of these reforms.

However, it would be fatal to simply rest on these laurels and hope that the economic rise of recent years will simply continue. From my own experience in Vietnam – both in banking and in policy-related work – I would say that Vietnam is very good at reacting quickly to external shocks. This has been visible several times over the past decades. But the next stage of development requires more than fast reaction. It requires structural preparation.

Vietnam’s ambition is to become a modern industrialised country by 2045. Such an economy cannot rely solely on cheap energy. It requires a secure, diversified, affordable and predictable energy supply. This is even more important in an age of digitalisation and AI, where data centres, advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing and sophisticated logistics will all require a reliable electricity supply in large quantities.

Vietnam should consider three dimensions in its energy policy: security, competitiveness and transformation. Energy supply must be secure enough to protect the economy from external shocks. At the same time, it must be competitive enough to support manufacturing and exports. And it must be modern enough to support Vietnam’s long-term energy transition without weakening industrial competitiveness.

Four strategic priorities

My conclusion regarding Vietnam is that the country should adopt a pragmatic approach. Vietnam should not attempt to predict oil prices with absolute accuracy. No country can do that. Instead, Vietnam should focus on resilience. In my view, four priorities are particularly important.

First, Vietnam should diversify its energy supply and avoid excessive dependence on a single region or shipping route. The current situation vividly demonstrates how vulnerable global trade can become when one major chokepoint is disrupted.

Second, Vietnam should strengthen strategic reserves and contingency planning. This does not only concern the state, but also large companies, small- and medium-sized enterprises, logistic providers and industrial zones. The target should be better risk management for energy and transport costs.

Third, Vietnam should accelerate its domestic energy transition pragmatically. This includes renewable energy, grid investment, energy efficiency, storage capacity, and liquefied natural gas wherever appropriate. Nuclear energy could also be an option in the longer term, provided there is a clear framework of safety, financing and regulatory capacity.

Fourth, Vietnam should link its energy policy more closely with its industrial policy. This includes improving risk management for companies and public institutions that are heavily dependent on energy and logistics costs

The current oil shock should not be viewed solely in a negative light, but rather as a wake-up call. It reminds us that an industrialising country needs to work even harder on the resilience of its economy. What makes me optimistic is that Vietnam’s policymakers increasingly understand this connection. Energy security, energy transition and digital modernisation are no longer separate agendas. They belong together. For Vietnam, this could become a decisive competitive advantage in the next stage of development.

National Assembly approves zero tax on petrol, oil, aviation fuel The National Assembly has unanimously approved sweeping tax cuts on petrol, oil and aviation fuel, reducing key rates to zero through June 30 in a bid to cushion domestic markets against volatile global energy prices.

Fuel imports rise in first quarter amid global market volatility Vietnam has ramped up fuel imports in the first quarter of the year amid global energy market volatility due to the tensions in the Middle East.

BSR secures three months of crude supply for Dung Quat refinery Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical has secured enough crude oil to operate its Dung Quat refinery for the next three months amid Middle East supply disruptions.