The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange closed down 34.23 points, or 1.82 per cent, at 1,846.10 points.
On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index dropped 3.82 points, or 1.45 per cent, to 259 points.
Market liquidity remained high, with trading value on HoSE reaching nearly VND 47.3 trillion (USD 1.8 billion), up 57.31 per cent from the previous session. Total trading value on the two main exchanges exceeded VND 50.5 trillion.
Market breadth strongly favoured sellers, with 504 stocks declining, including 32 that hit floor prices, compared with 242 gainers.
The financial sector faced intense selling pressure, with notable losses among major banks and securities firms. VIX Securities (VIX) fell 4.89 per cent, Vietcombank (VCB) lost 3.08 per cent, VietinBank (CTG) declined 3.66 per cent and BIDV (BID) dropped 5.64 per cent.
Sacombank (STB) was a rare bright spot, rising 2.29 per cent.
The information technology sector also weakened, led by FPT Corporation (FPT), which slid 3.55 per cent and weighed heavily on the benchmark index.
Property stocks were mixed but mostly lower. Vinhomes (VHM) tumbled 6.94 per cent, Vingroup (VIC) fell 2.79 per cent and Development Investment Construction JSC (DIG) and Dat Xanh Group (DXG) also posted significant declines.
In contrast, oil and gas shares bucked the trend. PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PVS) surged 9.92 per cent, PV Drilling (PVD) rose 5.99 per cent and Petrolimex (PLX) gained 6.92 per cent. PV Power (POW) advanced 6.9 per cent on strong liquidity.
Oil and gas stocks were supported by a sharp rise in international oil prices after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend.
Foreign investors were net buyers on both main bourses, with net purchases of VND 766.5 billion on HoSE and VND 22.14 billion on HNX.
Several securities firms said the market may need additional time to consolidate within the 1,850-1,900 point range to absorb short-term supply. Immediate support is seen around 1,830-1,850 points, with holding this level considered important for maintaining the medium-term upward trend.
However, continued foreign selling pressure and market breadth skewed heavily towards declines indicate that volatility risks may persist in the coming sessions.
