Vietnam Update

Soco International PLC
16 January 2008


                             SOCO International plc
                           ('SOCO' or 'the Company')


                                 Vietnam Update


The Company's majority owned subsidiary, SOCO Vietnam Ltd., announces that the
Prime Minister of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has granted the extension of
the deadline of the Hoang Long Joint Operating Company's obligation of
surrendering the remainder of the Block 16-1 Contract Area until 6th June 2008.
This extension has been granted to allow the JOC to complete the currently
agreed active work programme.

                                                                 16 January 2008


ENQUIRIES:

SOCO International plc
Roger Cagle
Deputy Chief Executive and
Chief Financial Officer                                  Tel: [phone]

Pelham Public Relations
James Henderson                                          Tel: [phone]
Alisdair Haythornthwaite                                 Tel: [phone]


NOTES TO EDITORS:

SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company,
headquartered in London, traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent
of the FTSE 250 Index. The Company has interests in Vietnam, Yemen, Thailand,
the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
and Angola with production operations in Yemen.

SOCO holds its interests in Vietnam, all in the Cuu Long Basin offshore, through
its 80% owned subsidiary SOCO Vietnam Ltd. ('SOCO Vietnam') and through its 100%
ownership of OPECO, Inc. SOCO Vietnam holds a 25% working interest in Block 9-2,
which is operated by the Hoan Vu Joint Operating Company and holds a 28.5%
working interest in Block 16-1, which is operated by the Hoang Long Joint
Operating Company. OPECO, Inc. holds a 2% interest in Block 16-1.




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