Foreign investors return to net buying, proprietary desks accumulate over VND 1 trillion

Overview

On August 12, 2026, Vietnam’s stock market saw a notable shift in investor flows as proprietary trading desks net bought over VND 1 trillion and foreign investors ended a four-session selling streak with net buying of approximately VND 353 billion. The VN-Index rose nearly 20 points to above 1,793 points, though overall liquidity declined. Key beneficiaries included real estate and securities stocks such as NVL, SBT, VIC, VIX, and SSI.

Key Facts

• Proprietary trading desks on HOSE net bought VND 1.09 trillion on August 12, 2026.
• Novaland (NVL) was the top proprietary net buy, with VND 260 billion.
• SBT was the second-largest proprietary net buy, with VND 229 billion.
• Foreign investors net bought approximately VND 353 billion, reversing a four-session selling streak.
• Foreign net buying was strongest in VIC, VIX, and SSI, with values ranging from VND 141-189 billion per stock.
• Foreign investors net sold VHM the most, with a net value of VND 67 billion.
• VN-Index rose nearly 20 points to above 1,793 points on August 12, 2026.

What Happened

On August 12, 2026, both proprietary trading desks and foreign investors turned net buyers on the HOSE, providing a fresh boost to market sentiment. Proprietary desks recorded a net buying value of VND 1.09 trillion, with the strongest accumulation in NVL (VND 260 billion) and SBT (VND 229 billion). The only notable proprietary net selling was in the FUESSV50 fund certificate, with a net sell value of VND 60 billion.

Foreign investors also shifted to net buying, with a total net purchase of approximately VND 353 billion. This marked the first session of foreign net buying after four consecutive sessions of net selling. The buying was concentrated in VIC, VIX, and SSI, with net purchases ranging from VND 141-189 billion per stock. In contrast, VHM saw the largest foreign net selling, though at a modest VND 67 billion. The data comes from HOSE trading statistics for the session.

Market Context

The shift in foreign flows comes amid a broader market uptick, with the VN-Index gaining nearly 20 points to close above 1,793 points. However, overall trading liquidity declined compared to the previous session, suggesting that the rally was driven more by specific buying interest than broad participation. For NVL, a real estate developer listed on HOSE, the proprietary net buying of VND 260 billion is notable given the stock’s recent close at VND 13,550. The securities sector, represented by VIX and SSI, also attracted foreign interest, aligning with a positive outlook for brokerage activity. The return of foreign net buying, albeit modest, may signal a pause in the persistent foreign outflows seen earlier in the year.

Strategic Significance

For long-term investors, the resumption of foreign net buying, even at a modest scale, could indicate a shift in sentiment toward Vietnamese equities. The concentration of foreign buying in blue-chip and high-liquidity names like VIC, VIX, and SSI suggests a preference for quality and market leaders. Meanwhile, proprietary desks’ heavy accumulation in NVL and SBT points to domestic institutional confidence in these specific stocks, possibly reflecting expectations of sector recovery or company-specific catalysts. The sustainability of these flows will be key to confirming whether this marks a turning point or a temporary reprieve.

What to Watch

• Follow-up sessions to see if foreign net buying continues or if the selling streak resumes.
• Trading volume trends: whether liquidity picks up to support the price gains.
• Q3 earnings reports from NVL, SBT, VIC, VIX, and SSI for fundamental confirmation.
• Any regulatory or policy announcements affecting foreign ownership limits or market access.
• Movement in the VN-Index around the 1,800-point resistance level.