The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), or the central bank, has reaffirmed the 30 percent ceiling for foreign ownership in a single domestic bank, Vietnam News reported in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The message was sent to dispel ongoing rumors that Vietnam may raise the limit to 35 percent, which caused confusion to investors, the newspaper quoted source with the bank as saying.

The rumor started with the recent approval by Vietnamese government for the London-based HSBC to hold a 20 percent stake in the local Techombank. Before that, a single foreign strategic investors is normally allowed to own up to 15 percent of a domestic bank.

SBV, once again, said that total foreign ownership could not exceed 30 percent of a Vietnamese bank's charter capital. A foreign, non-credit institution is allowed to hold no more than five percent. A foreign credit institution can own up to ten percent. Ownership by a single foreign strategic investor is capped at 15 percent.

In special cases, the government and the central bank will consider allowing a foreign strategic investor to hold up to 20 percent of stake in a local bank.