The index closed the Friday session down 13.37 points, or 0.78%, at 1,696.24, while the HNX-Index fell 2.01 points, or 0.81%, to 245.84.

For the trading week of March 9-13, the market recorded a second consecutive week of losses as geopolitical tensions intensified. The VN-Index plunged sharply in the first session of the week, rebounded over the next two sessions, and then declined again in the final two sessions.

Overall, the index dropped 4.05% for the week, slipping below the psychological 1,700-point threshold.

Market breadth was negative as heavy selling pressure hit oil and gas stocks after a period of strong gains, while declines also spread across technology, telecommunications, financial services, industrial parks, aviation, ports and real estate sectors. Construction, renewable energy and chemical stocks were among the few bright spots.

The market’s weak performance was largely attributed to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which drove oil prices higher and increased caution across global equity markets, including in Vietnam.

Vo Diep Thanh Thoai, head of priority client services at DNSE Securities, told The Investor that maintaining investment discipline and risk management is crucial during periods of market volatility.

He advised investors to maintain a reasonable cash allocation and avoid excessive leverage while market trends remain unclear. Such an approach helps control risks while preserving capital for opportunities when conditions become more favorable.

Investors should also focus on companies with solid fundamentals, stable earnings growth, and limited exposure to macroeconomic volatility. During periods of strong market divergence, firms with strong financial health tend to attract more sustainable capital inflows, he said.

“Investors should adopt a medium- to long-term perspective rather than focusing too heavily on daily fluctuations,” Thoai added. “Historically, volatile periods often provide opportunities to accumulate quality stocks at reasonable valuations ahead of the next growth cycle.”

Meanwhile, analysts at Saigon-Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS) said the VN-Index’s short-term trend remains under pressure below the resistance level around 1,740 points, which corresponds to the lowest level recorded in February 2026. Key support is seen near 1,630 points, roughly the low recorded in December 2025.

At current levels near 1,700 points, the total market capitalization of Vietnam’s stock market is about $389 billion, equivalent to roughly 76% of the country’s 2025 GDP.

SHS said current valuations appear relatively reasonable but not particularly attractive.

The firm recommended that investors continue to manage risk and rebalance portfolios when prices rise significantly. It maintained a neutral market outlook while highlighting potential opportunities in renewable energy and construction companies linked to public investment spending, provided these sectors confirm a sustained growth trend.

Investors should maintain balanced portfolio allocations and prioritize stocks with strong underlying fundamentals, the firm said.