Vietnam to keep reserve requirement unchanged-c.bank

HANOI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Vietnam would not lower the requirement on compulsory reserves banks must keep against their deposits, the central bank's governor said on Thursday, even though inflation is expected to ease in coming months.

"I can assure you that the reserve requirement will not be changed," State Bank of Vietnam Governor Nguyen Van Giau told reporters.

The central bank will ensure its monetary management measures will stay in line with the government's policy which was aimed to bring Vietnam's double-digit inflation down to a single digit by the end of next year, Giau said.

Banks have been keeping aside 11 percent of their dong and dollar deposits of up to 12 months since Feb 1, up from 10 percent previously while the reserves for deposits longer than 12 months have been raised to 5 percent from 4 percent.

On Wednesday, Vietnam cut the retail price on petrol by 5.6 percent, the impact of which would be reflected in Vietnam's consumer price index next month.

Prior to the price cut, experts from the government's domestic market regulatory group had forecast the monthly inflation in September would be 1-1.2 percent, against a monthly rise of 1.56 percent in August. (Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)