Financial insights
Practical articles on budgeting, saving, investing, taxes and household business finance — written for Vietnam.
9 Principles of Personal Finance Management
To manage your personal finances effectively, you need to follow some basic principles To manage your personal finances effectively, you need to follow some basic principles: 1. Create a clear financial plan Before managing your finances, identify your current income and expenses. Daily income and expense tracking gives you an overview and makes it easier to make reasonable adjustments.
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- Net worth: the true measure of financial health, not salary07/06/2026
- Setting SMART Financial Goals and Money Milestones to Achieve by Age07/06/2026
- Money Psychology: Escaping the "Lifestyle Inflation" Trap and Emotional Spending Pitfalls07/06/2026
- Gold, deposits, and bonds: understanding safe havens and fixed income correctly07/06/2026
- Emergency Fund: How Much Do You Need and Where Should You Keep It?06/21/2026
Risk, Return, and Diversification — Three Pillars Every Investor Must Understand Before Investing
Why high returns always come with high risk, the three main types of risk you need to know, and how diversification helps reduce risk without sacrificing expected returns. There's a classic saying in the market: "There's no such thing as a free lunch." If someone promises you 20% annual returns that are "absolutely safe, guaranteed no loss," you're not looking at an opportunity — you're looking at a trap.
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- Open-end funds, ETFs, and fund certificates: the "lazy" yet effective way to invest for busy people07/06/2026
- Asset Allocation and Portfolio Rebalancing: A Decision More Important Than Stock Picking07/06/2026
- Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA): A Strategy for Ordinary People to Beat the Market Without Timing Highs and Lows07/06/2026
- Stock Market Investing for Beginners in Vietnam: Start Right, Avoid Costly Mistakes07/06/2026
- The Power of Compound Interest: Why You Should Start Investing at 25 Instead of 3506/28/2026
Health Insurance: How State Health Insurance Differs from Private Commercial Insurance, Do You Need Both?
Medical expenses are the leading cause of financial ruin. Understanding the roles of state health insurance and private commercial health insurance, and how to properly coordinate these two layers of protection. Among all types of insurance, this is the one you should prioritize first.
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- Mandatory and Voluntary Social Insurance: The Real Benefits You Receive (updated with 2024 Social Insurance Law)07/06/2026
- Property and Liability Insurance: Home, Vehicle, and the Major Risks Often Forgotten07/06/2026
- Investment-Linked Insurance (ILP): Pros, Cons, and Critical Considerations Before Signing07/06/2026
- Understanding the True Nature of Insurance: It's for Protection, Not Investment07/06/2026
- Life Insurance: When You Actually Need It and How Much Is Enough?07/06/2026
Why You Should Start Retirement Planning at 25, Even Though Retirement Is 35 Years Away
Retirement may seem distant when you're 25, but that's exactly why you should start now. Why time is your most valuable asset in the retirement equation, and the cost of delaying. At age 25, "retirement" sounds like something for a stranger three decades from now. But here's the paradox of retirement planning: the moment it feels least urgent is exactly when starting has the most value.
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- Early Retirement and the FIRE Movement: Is Financial Independence Really Feasible in Vietnam?07/06/2026
- Voluntary Supplementary Pension Funds: Build Your Retirement While Getting Tax Deductions07/06/2026
- Retirement withdrawal strategy: how to make sure your money doesn't run out before you... stop needing it07/06/2026
- Your "Retirement Number": How Much Do You Need to Save for a Worry-Free Retirement?07/06/2026
- Three retirement pillars in Vietnam: don't put your entire retirement on one leg07/06/2026
Investment Taxes: How Are Securities, Dividends, and Deposit Interest Taxed?
Do you have to pay taxes on investment gains? How personal income tax applies to securities transfers, dividends, and bank deposit interest — plus common misconceptions among investors. When you start investing, one question often gets forgotten until... you receive your statement: "Do I have to pay taxes on investment gains, and how much?" The answer varies by asset type — and there are a few surprises for beginners.
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- Complete Guide to Personal Income Tax 2026: 5-Tier Tax Table and Calculation Method Everyone Should Understand07/06/2026
- Personal Deductions and Legal Tax Deductions: Don't Overpay Tax Due to Lack of Knowledge07/06/2026
- Personal Income Tax Finalization: who must do it, who gets refunds, and how?07/06/2026
- Tax on Real Estate Rental Income: New Tax Threshold and How to Calculate from 202607/06/2026
- Legal Tax Optimization for Individuals and Freelancers: Keep More Money Without Breaking the Law07/06/2026
Real Estate Legalities: Red Book/Pink Book, Contracts, and Taxes & Fees When Buying or Selling Property
Understanding property certificates, what to check in contracts, and all taxes and fees in property transfers — including updates on tax exemptions for sole residences from 2026. In real estate transactions, what costs people the most money isn't the price itself, but legal issues. A fake certificate, a loophole in the contract, or misunderstanding tax obligations can turn a billion-dong transaction into a disaster.
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- First-Time Home Buying: Step-by-Step Process and Legal Checklist to Avoid Costly Mistakes07/06/2026
- Rent or Buy a Home? Solve the Problem with Numbers Instead of Emotions07/06/2026
- Real estate valuation and avoiding "land fever" traps: buy with reason, not with the crowd07/06/2026
- Rental real estate investing: evaluate with cash flow and yields, not expectations07/06/2026
- Home Loans: Calculate Your Repayment Capacity Before Signing—Don't Let Your Dream Home Become a Burden07/06/2026
Household Business Tax 2026: flat tax eliminated, switching to self-declaration — what you need to know?
From 1/1/2026, flat tax is eliminated and household businesses will self-declare based on actual revenue. New taxable threshold, revenue-based grouping, and two methods for calculating personal income tax you need to understand.
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- Registering and Operating a Household Business Legally: Foundation for Growth, Not a Burden07/06/2026
- Cash Flow and Capital Management for Household Businesses: Secrets to Survival and Growth07/06/2026
- E-invoicing for household businesses: what to prepare so you're not caught off guard by the new regulations?07/06/2026
- Household Business or Enterprise: Which Model Should You Choose for Your Business?07/06/2026
- 5 Common Financial Mistakes of Household Businesses and How to Avoid Them06/30/2026
Credit cards: use wisely as a tool, use wrongly as an interest trap
Credit cards can be a useful financial tool or a high-interest debt trap, depending on how you use them. How to leverage benefits, understand interest-free periods, and avoid the most costly mistakes. Credit cards are one of the most misunderstood financial products: some see them as "their own money," others fear them like avoiding evil.
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- Credit Score and CIC History: The "Financial Record" That Determines Whether You Can Borrow07/06/2026
- Good Debt vs. Bad Debt: Distinguish to Use Leverage for Wealth Building Instead of Drowning in Debt07/06/2026
- Understanding Interest Rates: Why the Advertised Rate Isn't the Real Rate You Pay07/06/2026
- Two debt repayment strategies: "snowball" and "avalanche" — which one helps you get out of debt fastest?07/06/2026
- Consumer Loans and Unsecured Loans: When to Use Them, When to Stay Away07/06/2026