Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang (second from right), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been and will continue to be one of the most important and trusted partners of the Government and people of Vietnam on the country’s development and integration pathway, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed. Addressing an interactive dialogue between the UNDP Executive Board and UN member states held in New York on June 6 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam - UN relations , the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN pointed out impacts of such global issues as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, geo-political tensions, and food and energy crises. As a speaker at the meeting to share the country’s success story, he said that in this context, the Vietnamese Government has implemented a number of measures to protect people’s health, … [Read more...] about UNDP one of Vietnam’s most important partners on development path: ambassador
15 day visa vietnam
Canada adds Thailand, Philippines to list of eligible countries for visa-free entry
In addition to the two Southeast Asian countries, the list also included Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay, the Star newspaper reported. Visitors from these countries are no longer required to have visitor visas and only need electronic travel authorization (eTA) so long as they hold either a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or currently have a valid United States non-immigrant visa. To apply for an eTA, travelers need only a valid passport, a credit card, and an email address. A visitor visa currently costs $100 per person and $500 for a family of five or more, but an eTA costs just $7 per person and is valid for as long as five years. Canada traditionally relied on data and benchmarks to determine if a country should be exempt from visa requirements. Thailand currently waives visas for citizens from 64 countries, including Canada, … [Read more...] about Canada adds Thailand, Philippines to list of eligible countries for visa-free entry
Loans in Vietnam – Regulatory and tax-related issues
With loan transactions, most lenders raise concerns as to the legal requirements for them to implement the loans and collections, specifically when foreign currencies are applied with foreign lenders. Borrowers, on the other hand, are concerned about tax deductibility. To address these concerns, the experts from Grant Thornton Vietnam will discuss the general principles and highlight key tax issues related to foreign loans in Vietnam based on the current regulations and their practical experience. Regulations for loans in Vietnam If domestic loans can be rather challenging to put into practice, foreign loans are much more difficult as they must comply with the laws on foreign currency management. A short-term foreign loan (for 12 months or less) is not required to be registered with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), while a medium or long-term foreign loan of more than 12 months must initially be registered with the SBV. Periodically, and no later than the fifth … [Read more...] about Loans in Vietnam – Regulatory and tax-related issues
Northern Vietnam lacks between 30 and 50 million kWh daily
Tran Viet Hoa, director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam under the MoIT, stated on June 7 that power supply difficulties do exist. He said that the total accessible capacity of the northern power system (including imported electricity) that can be mobilised to satisfy electricity demand is between 17,500 and 17,900MW (approximately 59.2 per cent of the installed capacity). This capacity consists of approximately 2,500 to 2,700MW of transmission from the south and central regions to the north via the 500kV Nho Quan-Ha Tinh transmission line. During the approaching sweltering days, electricity demand in the north may reach 23,500 to 24,000MW. Thus, the northern grid will fall short by approximately 4,350MW. According to Hoa, the system confronts the danger of capacity scarcity for the majority of the day. Hoa confirmed that many provinces and cities in the North have intermittently shut off the power recently due to supply issues. General director of … [Read more...] about Northern Vietnam lacks between 30 and 50 million kWh daily
Endangered tigers rescued in northern Vietnam
Six tigers, which have been kept by a family in the northern province since 2005, were handed over to the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center on Wednesday. Experts from the rescue center had evaluated the health of the tigers two months ago before devising rescue plans. Three male and three female tigers were kept inside five cages, each 3 m high with a total 300 m2 of space. The animals were not tagged with chips. The tigers were lured into cages to protect their rescuers. "It's costly and takes a lot of efforts, but it's the safest way for the tigers to be rescued. Previously, rescuing tigers involved sedating them, but doing so in this hot weather would be risky," said center director Luong Xuan Hong. Nguyen Khac Thuong, who owns the tigers, used chicken as bait to lure the tigers to the backyard, where the cages waited for them. He feeds and cares for the tigers every day. "For nearly 20 … [Read more...] about Endangered tigers rescued in northern Vietnam
Modern policy for private hospitals
Stemming from Resolution No.90/CP in August 1997 on the direction and policy of promoting private engagement in educational, medical, and cultural activities, Vietnam has a proud history of crafting policy on the nation’s health. They include legislation on development of non-public service providers, as well as encouraging private investment in education, vocational training, sports, the environment, and lots more. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van De - chairman of the Vietnam Private Hospital Association Over the past decade or two, these policies have been updated and amended in order to strengthen Vietnam’s framework in this area. These policies have created favourable conditions for localities to organise, apply, implement, and have clear and transparent mechanisms and policies, especially administrative reform in attracting investment for health projects. More importantly, we have attracted many resources, specifically from businesses and capable investors both at home … [Read more...] about Modern policy for private hospitals
Northern region facing risk of daily power shortage: official
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The northern region is facing the risk of power shortage at almost every point of time each day, according to Tran Viet Hoa, head of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). Hoa told the press on June 7 that as of June 6, most of the major hydroelectric reservoirs in the north, including Lai Chau, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Ban Chat, Hua Na and Thac Ba, had reached the “dead water level” or even below that. Only the Hoa Binh reservoir can ensure its plant to generate electricity until June 12-13, he said, adding that once its water level hits the “dead point”, a total of 5,000MW or even up to 7,000MW would be lost in the region. As of June 6, the combined capacity of the hydroelectric plants stood at 3,110MW, only 23.7% of their designed capacity. Over the past time, thanks to efforts in supplying coal for thermal power plants, turbines have been running at full … [Read more...] about Northern region facing risk of daily power shortage: official
2 waste-to-energy projects in Ho Chi Minh City at standstill after 4 years
Two waste-to-energy projects in Ho Chi Minh City have yet to be completed although work on them started in 2019 and they were expected to treat thousands of metric tons of garbage starting in 2020. The projects are funded by Vietstar Joint Stock Company and Tam Sinh Nghia Investment - Development Joint Stock Company in the Tay Bac Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Cu Chi District. The waste volume in the city increases annually, while burying waste is out-of-date and causes environmental pollution. As a result, Ho Chi Minh City needs to accelerate and put into operation waste-to-energy projects. Vietstar Joint Stock Company has completed the installation and operation of three waste sorting lines, constructed a 27-meter-wide road leading to the plant, leveled a construction site measuring 45,000 square meters, and signed contracts and made deposits for main equipment imports, Ngo Nhu Hung Viet, general director of the company, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. However, the … [Read more...] about 2 waste-to-energy projects in Ho Chi Minh City at standstill after 4 years
Japanese expat group cleans up Hanoi’s Sword Lake
Last Sunday morning, Tohru Ninomiya gathered a group of around 20 people, mostly Japanese and Vietnamese, at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square beside Sword Lake. After a few minutes of greetings, everybody put on their gloves to walk around the lake and pick up garbage. Ninomiya came to Vietnam 14 years ago and quickly fell in love with Hanoi and Sword Lake, also known as Hoan Kiem Lake. But he was a bit upset by the garbage he saw strewn around the iconic landmark. "The lake would be even more beautiful without all the trash around it," the 74-year-old Japanese man recalled thinking upon his first visit to the lake in the early 2000s. After living and working in Hanoi through 2011, Ninomiya finally decided it was time for him to "do something to thank Vietnam." He thought about his favorite place in town, Sword Lake, and asked five other Japanese if they would volunteer with him to collect garbage. Tohru Ninomiya stands by Sword Lake in Hanoi, June 2023. Photo by … [Read more...] about Japanese expat group cleans up Hanoi’s Sword Lake
My children won’t lose their Vietnamese roots abroad
My eldest son is 14 years old and has been living in Germany ever since we moved there five years ago. When he first arrived, he did not speak a word of German. Now, he can speak fluent German, Vietnamese and English, as well as conversational Russian. However, I have noticed that he was beginning to have some trouble forming more complicated Vietnamese sentences, and he cannot spell very well in his mother tongue. I try to let him speak at least some conversational Vietnamese at home. I teach him Vietnamese every day, and explain as best I can when he makes mistakes. Nevertheless, my son’s default language is now German. He responds in German during sudden outbursts of emotions. To him, German feels more natural than Vietnamese, which is not surprising, as he uses the language every day at school. Sometimes, he shies away from responding to me in Vietnamese because he does not want to make mistakes and face my language lessons. Admittedly, Vietnamese has its own quirks. We have … [Read more...] about My children won’t lose their Vietnamese roots abroad