40 most valuable brands of Vietnam honoured

The total value of those companies is estimated at nearly US$8.1 billion, an increase of about 50% compared to the 2017 list. The surge is attributed to the robust growth of Vietnam's stock market, which drives up the average price-earnings ratio in most sectors.

Consumer good businesses still dominate this year's list, meanwhile those in the finance-banking sector narrow the gap as more commercial banks list their shares on the stock market.

Dairy giant Vinamilk maintains its top position in the list, with an estimated brand value of US$2.28 billion, much higher than the US$1.7 billion last year. The company is followed by military-run telecom firm Viettel with US$1.39 billion.

State-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) takes over third position from Vingroup, Vietnam's largest real estate company. With a value of US$416 million, VNPT gets its name in the list for the first time.

The other brands in the top ten are the country's biggest brewery Sabeco (US$393 million), Vinhomes, the residential property arm of Vingroup (US$384 million), Vinaphone, one of Vietnam's big three mobile operators and belonging to VNPT (US$308 million), Vingroup (US$307.2 million), food and beverage producer Masan Consumer (US$238 million), Vietcombank (US$177.9 million), and tech giant FPT (US$169 million).

Vinhomes and Vinaphone are also newcomers in the list.

Forbes compiled the list by looking at brands' incomes before and after tax based on their financial reports and data on the stock market.

(Source: NDO)