Bottles of Carlsberg beer are seen in fridge in a bar in St. Petersburg June 17, 2014. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk/File Photo

HANOI (Reuters) - Carlsberg CARLb.CO is keen on expanding its stake in Habeco BHN.HM, one of Vietnam's biggest brewers, to at least 51 percent, a local news website reported, citing a Habeco executive.

Vietnam plans to privatize Habeco by selling its entire 82 percent stake. Carlsberg, which already owns around 17 percent of the company, also holds the priority purchase rights.

Habeco is still in talks with the Danish brewer on the stake sale, state-controlled An Ninh Thu Do online newspaper quoted Habeco’s deputy chief Vuong Toan as saying.

Carlsberg did not immediately reply to a request for comment.