The interest rate per annum for the US dollar is 5 – 7 percent, and for VND, 13.5 – 15 percent.

"The risk in exchange rate fluctuation is exceptionally small, and experts believe that for the next six months, the exchange rate will be stable. As a result, foreign currency loans at banks are growing," said Nguyen Hoang Minh, vice director of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)'s HCM City office.

For the first five months of the year, the number of Vietcombank's foreign currency loans rose 8 percent while VND loans were at a standstill. In the inter-banking market during the final week of May, the interest rate for foreign currency increased only slightly on one-week and six-month loans. But then it experienced a sharp rise, from 1.11 percent to 2.23 percent per year on three-month loans.

For the last two months, the exchange rate has remained stable and prices on the black market were lower than in the inter-banking market. This has helped banks to easily attract clients.

VNA