Bank sector

Many banks in Vietnam have released their business results in 2022, which indicate their hefty profits. According to the 2022 financial report of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), it recorded a pre-tax profit of over VND37.3 trillion (US$1.59 billion), up 36 percent year on year and exceeding its 2022 target. With this result, Vietcombank has taken the lead in pre-tax profit in the entire banking system for five consecutive years. It was followed by Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), which earned over VND25.5 trillion (nearly $1.09 billion) last year, rising 10 percent compared with the preceding year. Last year was the ninth straight year that Techcombank had posted a profit growth rate, albeit at a modest rate. Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) was also among the banks with a high profit. Its pre-tax profit surged more than 70 percent to nearly VND23 … [Read more...] about Banks in Vietnam report handsome profits in 2022

Addressing the event, Sieu said member countries’ tourism reopening last year signified a strong recovery of the sector. Vietnam welcomed 3.5 million international visitors in 2022, with ASEAN named the country’s leading tourist market in terms of recovery speed, he added. The official affirmed that Vietnam always welcomes proposals from ASEAN member states to learn, share and explore the potential for further cooperation in the field of festival tourism. In the second half of this year, Vietnam plans to organize a regional conference on festival tourism, he unveiled. The conference focused on reviewing reports of the bloc’s four tourism cooperation committees, and approving a number of documents including the final drafts of standards and toolkit for the MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) and event organization profession, among others. Participants also discussed preparations for a series of functions such as the 26th ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting; … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends meeting of ASEAN National Tourism Organizations

The website suggested newlyweds can spend their unforgettable honeymoon in the “pearl island” of Phu Quoc, the ancient town of Hoi An or Ha Long Bay - the UNESCO world heritage site without hurting their wallet. According to the website, the top 10 budget-friendly getaways allow visitors to count their pennies without compromising on the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Indeed, they can experience a dynamic culture and delicious cuisine during their first adventure as newlyweds. Lonely Planet stressed that Vietnam is something of a street-food heaven, adding that visitors must sample the country's signature dishes, such as Pho bo (beef noodle soup), Bun cha (a type of barbecued pork with rice noodles), and Banh mi, a local type of baguette. “A mid-range trip won’t break the bank either, but will buy more characterful guesthouses, a better Ha Long Bay cruise and memorable experiences (a cookery class, a cycle around Hoi An) with change left for a beach stay on beautiful Phu Quoc … [Read more...] about Vietnam among top best places to go for budget honeymoon

-What do you think about local garment firms’ inability to dominate the domestic market of 100 million people here in Vietnam? - Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises are still [only beginning to] tap the domestic market. Last year, the domestic market increased by 40% against 2021. Local enterprises performed very well in the first half of last year and began to face difficulties in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, many good Vietnamese brands like Viet Tien saw sales decrease. In late 2022, the Vinatex Fashion Center retail outlet in Hanoi made revenues of only VND500-600 million ($21,200-25,400) a day, compared with daily revenues of over VND1 billion in previous years. Over the past two years, many domestic fashion brands have reduced their number of stores and limited new openings. They have had to focus on certain locations to reduce costs, optimize operations and try to offer products that are most suitable to consumers’ incomes.In fact, domestic … [Read more...] about Garment firms should tap niche markets: Vinatex chairman

Vietnam officially set up diplomatic relations with Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, taking the number of countries that Hanoi has diplomatic ties with to 192. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors Dang Hoang Giang and Dennis Francis Smith, heads of the delegations of Vietnam and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively, to the United Nations (UN), signed a joint communiqué on the diplomatic tie establishment on behalf of the two governments at the UN headquarters in New York. The two sides agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives at the ambassadorial level under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. On the same day, the joint communiqué was sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for circulation and to UN member countries for information. With the diplomatic ties with Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam has had official diplomatic relations with all 35 countries in the Americas and 190 out of the 193 member countries of the UN, proving the … [Read more...] about Vietnam establishes diplomatic ties with Trinidad and Tobago

Eugene Komboye, a Nigerian artist, is turning discarded plastic flip-flop sandals into colourful portraits in an effort to help clean up the environment in a country where plastic pollution is prevalent. What started as an assignment in college in 2017, has become a full time job for Komboye, whose studio in the city of Abeokuta in the southwest state of Ogun now trains aspiring artists who want to follow in his footsteps and create flip-flop portraits. Nigeria produces at least 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, according to government figures, with some of it finding its way into the ocean and rivers. Flip-flops are the footwear of choice for many Nigerians and Komboye, 30, sources his material mostly from dump sites, landfills and river banks. Back in his studio he disinfects and washes his findings before cutting them up and pasting them on a board to create a face on each one. Some customers come to his studio with photographs which he will use to create a … [Read more...] about Eco-friendly Nigerian artist turns plastic flip-flops into portraits

Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. -The Presidential Office on February 3 announced the Acting President’s order to promulgate the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment that was adopted by the 15th National Assembly at its second extraordinary session. The revised law aims to deal with shortcomings and emerging problems in medical examination and treatment activities in a bid to develop and improve the quality of medical services towards fairness, high efficiency, development and international integration, while strengthening State management over these activities. Read full text -A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on February 3 paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of the 93rd founding anniversary of the CPV … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on February 3

Workers at Phuong Nam Garment Trading Import Export Joint Stocks Company in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City ’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in January reduced by 21.4% compared to the previous month, according to the city’s Department of Industry and Trade. This year’s week-long Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival that falls in January was blamed for the decreased production as the production time in the month was less than the previous month’s. Some industries in the city also saw lower production indexes, for example, the processing and manufacturing industry down 22%, electricity generation and distribution down 12.8%, water supply and waste treatment down 8.4%. Besides, all 30/30 secondary industries decreased compared to the previous month and 15 out of the 30 industries dropped by over 20%. To meet people’s demand in the city in January 2023, especially during the Tet celebrations, the city's industry and trade sector … [Read more...] about HCM City’s industrial production falls over 21% in January

A petrol station in HCM City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to take measures to ensure the supply of all key commodities, especially fuel, and to stabilise the country's distribution channels for the economy after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) was told to speed up the construction and implementation of major power projects, including renewable energy, to ensure enough power for the country's crucial industries. In addition, priority should be given to connecting isolated and remote communes to the national power and telecommunication networks. MoIT, the ministry in charge of Vietnam's power sector, was told to quickly finish and submit the country's Power Planning VIII to the central government for review. The PM said the country's top priority in the short term is to focus on boosting exports, especially agriculture products to China and neighbouring … [Read more...] about MoIT proposes adjusting fuel prices every Thursday