The stock market in Vietnam was flooded in red on December 16 as investors dumped shares heavily on bearish sentiment.

On the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, the Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index chopped 12.79 points, or 2.33 percent, to close at 535.14 points. Of the index members, 208 stocks retreated, 40 advanced while 39 remained unchanged. Figures show that the index has fallen to the lowest level since June this year.

VN30-Index, tracking the city's top 30 stocks, fell 12.14 points, or 2.01 percent, to 591.78 points with 27 losers, two winners, and one unchanged.

HNX-Index of the smaller bourse in the north also slipped 1.6 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 82.64 points with 164 stocks losing, 55 gaining, and 146 standing still.

The HNX30 Index, comprising the bourse's 30 leading large-cap stocks, slid 4.7 points, or 2.82 percent, to close at 161.7 points with 22 decliners, one gainer, and 7 stocks treading water.

The market’s total trading volume was nearly VND3.3 trillion.