With strong GDP growth, a stable macroeconomic environment, increasing exports, and record levels of foreign direct investment, it is easy to see why Vietnam is considered among the world’s most exciting markets. Half of the population of 95 million is under age 35, and an expanding middle class has created a compelling domestic consumption story that has attracted the attention of companies from around the globe.

VOF gives investors access to a range of carefully selected investments in the listed and private companies that are participating in, benefitting from, and driving the sustainable growth Vietnam is experiencing today.

Latest commentary from our fund manager

December: Good riddance 2018, as VN Index closes in the red for the year

While November held out some promise that Vietnam’s stock markets might recover toward year’s end, December dashed all such hopes, with the VN Index closing at 892.5, down 3.1% during the month and contributing to a full-year decline of 11.2% (in USD terms), the first negative annual return since 2011. The only consolation is that the VN Index’s performance was not unusual in the context of international benchmarks, with many also ending the year in the red. The fund outperformed the VN Index during December, with net asset value (NAV) per share rising 0.8% (USD terms). For calendar year 2018, the fund’s NAV per share was down 9.0%, outperforming the VN Index and most other Vietnam-focused funds. We ended the year with USD16.1 million in cash which, together with our private equity investments, helped to limit the drop in NAV, though our capital markets portfolio (increased 0.9% month-on-month and decreased 9.9% year-on-year) also fared slightly better than the market.

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