Vietnam Stock Market Breaks Out in August: Big Profits and Regrets

The Vietnamese stock market has just experienced a colorful August.

Some people are happy because of big profits, others regret staying out, and some choose to play it safe after past shocks.

Continuing the upward momentum of July 2025, last August, VN-Index increased by a total of 179.69 points, equivalent to +11.96% and ended at 1,682.21 points. This is considered the month with the strongest increase in more than 7.5 years, since January 2018. In terms of absolute points, this is the largest increase in more than 18.5 years, since January 2007. Since the beginning of the year, this index has increased by 32.8%, far exceeding the increase in the whole year of 2024 (+12.11%) and 2023 (+12.2%).

Some are happy, some are regretful

The growth momentum came from three key sectors: banking increased by nearly 19%, securities increased by 21% and real estate increased by more than 14%. Strong cash flow into these sectors helped the market accelerate in the context of investors expecting economic recovery and interest rates maintained at supportive levels.

Many investors missed opportunities when the market continuously exploded in a short period of time. Photo: HOANG TRIEU

Notably, liquidity also set a new record, with average trading value exceeding VND53,000 billion (over USD2 billion) per session, even reaching VND80,000 billion on some days. This abundant demand has pushed many stocks to increase sharply, with many codes doubling in value in just a few weeks.

Ms. Phuong, who lives in An Lac ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said she had never had any experience investing in stocks, and only had some spare money so she let her younger brother trade on her behalf. Initially, she invested 200 million VND, then gradually increased it to 500 million VND. "I just hoped to get a profit of 5%-7% each month to be happy. But in the past 3 months, I have made a profit of more than 20%" - she shared with a voice both surprised and excited.

Mr. Phan Huu Quoc - an employee of a logistics company in Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City - could not hide his excitement. Although he has only invested for more than 2 years, his account has doubled.

Mr. Quoc recalled: "At first, I bought and sold quickly when I saw profits. But from the end of 2024, I chose good stocks to hold for a long time. With an initial capital of 200 million VND, then added 50 million VND when the VN-Index decreased in early April 2025, now my account has more than 550 million VND."

Along with the laughter, there were many sighs from outsiders, or investors who sold early and then saw their stocks increase by 50%-60%. Mr. Thanh, head of the sales department of a financial company in Ho Chi Minh City, sold his entire portfolio at the end of July with a profit of 5%-25% per code.

At that time, he thought the market would fall sharply after surpassing 1,500 points, so he decided to stay out. "I also told my friends to sell to keep their money. But the market only dropped slightly for one session and then increased sharply. Every time I tried to buy back, the price continued to climb. The stocks I sold have increased by 30%-40% so far," Mr. Thanh said. This investor said that if he had kept the codes SSI, SHS,SHB as before, his current profit could have been up to 70%-80%.

Explaining the reason for "staying out" for the past month, Mr. Thanh said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was forced to sell by a securities company - losing more than 3 billion VND right when the market collapsed. This time, he was more cautious but missed the opportunity.

A similar story happened to Mr. Phan Tan Hung (residing in Cat Lai ward). After 20 years of experience, he chose a short-term trading strategy to pay off bank loan interest. But in early July, he withdrew money to pay back the principal and did not have time to borrow again. "For the past 2 months, I just stood there watching" - he sighed.

Familiar psychological defense mechanism

According to the Head of Brokerage Department of VPS Securities Company, the big winners in this period are not necessarily experienced investors but those who know how to allocate cash flow reasonably. "They do not spend all their capital, only use 40%-50%, choose good stocks and hold them. Even for many newly opened accounts, a profit of 10%-15% in a month is normal. The important thing is that they are optimistic, choose the right stocks in the securities and banking sectors" - this person analyzed.

Mr. Huynh Anh Tuan, General Director of Vikki Digital Banking Securities Company (VikkiBanks), commented: "In the recent period, the market has brought many emotions to investors. The more experienced people are, the less profit they make. On the contrary, investors with less pressure are successful. The big winners are those who catch the right wave and choose the right group of stocks."

Mr. Tuan cited that the market has been clearly differentiated in the past 2-3 months, with groups of stocks benefiting from public policies such as VIC, VHM, VPL, VRE or businesses with their own stories such as Gelex (GEX, VIX, VSC...) all breaking out. In particular, the banking and securities groups have become the focus of attracting cash flow thanks to economic and market prospects, despite being quite sluggish before. Meanwhile, technology or public investment stocks have been flat.

According to Mr. Huynh Anh Tuan, the market trend in the coming time is still positive, but an adjustment of several dozen or even 100 points is normal after a breakthrough period.

Notably, this expert pointed out a paradox: if we ignore groups of stocks that have a strong impact on the general market such as Vingroup, banks, securities or Gelex group, the VN-Index is actually only around the 1,500 point mark. "That shows that not all investors win" - he emphasized.

From the perspective of Master of Psychology Quang Thi Mong Chi, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology - University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU-HCMC), the hesitation of many experienced investors in recent times does not stem from a lack of financial knowledge, but from a familiar defensive psychological mechanism.

"In behavioral psychology, people tend to fear loss more than joy. Memories of past losses have left "psychological scars", causing many investors to view the market with high vigilance. Although reason recognizes opportunities, the fear of repeated losses still makes them choose to stay out, to preserve their achievements," Ms. Chi explained.

Another mechanism that contributes to shaping this behavior is that when people learn a pattern of action and successfully apply it, they often implicitly consider it as the "standard model" for subsequent decisions.

For veteran investors, many years of trading experience is a familiar frame of reference. However, the stock market is always unpredictable, formulas that were correct in the past can become outdated at the present time. "When the market picture changes, old experience invisibly contributes to "anchoring" psychology, keeping them in a safe zone, causing hesitation to overwhelm opportunities" - Ms. Chi said.

To avoid falling into that psychological trap, Master Quang Thi Mong Chi advises investors to learn how to control their emotions and maintain an independent mindset, not letting themselves be swept away by the crowd. Instead of "buying" fear, focus on choosing businesses with solid foundations and long-term growth potential.

"The stock market is not a short-term race, but a long-term journey. On that journey, the winner is the one who is patient and disciplined enough to overcome the "traps" created by his own psychology," said this expert.

Short-term profit taking is necessary

Saigon - Hanoi Securities Company (SHS) recommends that in the short term, the VN-Index has a support level of around 1,650 points, stronger at 1,600 points. However, short-term profit taking and portfolio restructuring after the hot growth period is necessary. Investors need to maintain a reasonable proportion, directing capital flow to businesses with good fundamentals, leading the industry and associated with sustainable economic growth.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chung-khoan-but-pha-nguoi-vui-ve-ke-tho-dai-196250902201707446.htm