Like so many others in Lam Dong Province and other rural areas of southern Vietnam, Toan saw the value of his agricultural land skyrocket in 2020-2021. He took it as an opportunity to start flipping properties for profit. But the market froze last year and short-term loans at high interest rates have now sunk him and many other farmers-turned-inexperienced-traders in impossible debt instead. The veteran coffee grower sold his land 7 km from the center of Di Linh District for several billions of dong in profit during a property price bubble in 2021. He then took out short-term, high-interest loans and used them plus money he made from his land sale to by several more plots he planned to resell for profit in what he thought would be at most 1-2 months. He said he thought he’d be able to sell some of the land back in even just a couple of weeks. But the properties still haven’t sold. In early 2022, Toan poured another VND15 billion ($635,600), including VND6 billion from another … [Read more...] about Debt buries farmers trying to flip property in frozen market
Big profit margin business
Foreign investors remain confident about Vietnam’s business environment
Foreign investors poured nearly US$1.7 billion into Vietnam as of January 20. In the first month of 2023, newly-registered capital is estimated to have increased 3.1 times over the same period last year, showing that foreign investors still maintain confidence in Vietnam's investment environment. Hanoi ranks among the top localities in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2022. Photo: Thang Long Industrial Park The Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that there were 801 newly-registered projects totaling $1.2 billion and 89 projects increasing capital with a combined amount of $306.3 million. In addition, 204 transactions of share purchases by foreign investors were worth $174 million, representing a year-on-year decline of 60.7%. Meanwhile, the disbursement of foreign investments dropped by 16.3% to $1.35 billion. The agency attributed the decrease in registered and disbursed FDI to the national holiday (the … [Read more...] about Foreign investors remain confident about Vietnam’s business environment
Military business assists locals in economic development
The company also presented funds to help 63 households in the communes to transform their coffee gardens. This was an activity within the "National target program on socio-economic development - model of soldiers associated with people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period 2021- 2025” component project. Over the past years, Coffee 15 One Member Co., Ltd. has helped hundreds of poor households in the project areas of the two defense-economic zones transform their old coffee gardens, reclaim land for wet rice, fruit trees, and medicinal herbs to increase income, thus reaching sustainable poverty reduction target. Below are photos of Coffee 15 One member Co., Ltd. helping local people develop domestic economy. Translated by Song Anh … [Read more...] about Military business assists locals in economic development
Apartment market to continue slumping this year
Decreasing demand for apartments in the region is also forecast to continue through at least the middle of the year. But it may begin to gradually rise by the last quarter of 2023 as legal bottlenecks and obstacles to credit are slated to be at least partially removed by the government, according to DKRA real estate consultants. DKRA Vietnam deputy R&D director Vo Hong Thang said apartment market liquidity, this year, would concentrate in affordable housing projects with prices of below VND50 million ($2,118) per square meter in HCMC and less than VND35 million per square meter in Binh Duong. Such social housing projects promise to be a ray of light in the otherwise gloomy 2023 market, he said, while adding the caveat that supply would still be limited. According to Thang, businesses are gradually supplying fewer high-priced homes and more affordable apartments and social housing units this year. He said this trend may last until 2025, with new supply focusing on the city’s … [Read more...] about Apartment market to continue slumping this year
Mekong Delta develops more OCOP products
A showroom displays and sells products under the country’s One Commune-One Product (OCOP) programme and other products in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tra Vinh. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta’s 12 provinces and the city of Can Tho are developing more products under the country’s “One Commune-One Product” programme. Launched in 2018, the OCOP programme focuses on developing specialty products and high-quality products in rural areas to increase incomes for locals and boost the sustainability of economic development in rural areas. OCOP products are commercial products and services such as food and beverages, handicrafts and rural tourism services. They are classified as having one to five stars. Under the programme, the Cuu Long delta, which is the country’s largest rice, seafood and fruit producer, has developed more OCOP products and increased their value. Can Tho recognised 18 new OCOP products last year, including 10 three-star … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta develops more OCOP products
January FDI nears 1.7 billion USD
Producing shoe components at a foreign-invested company, in Thuan An city, Binh Duong province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth 1.69 billion USD as of January 20 this year, down 19.8% annually, according to the General Statistics Office ( GSO ). In the month, local authorities granted licences for 153 new FDI projects worth 1.2 billion USD, up 48.5% in number and 3.1 times in value. Among these projects, those related to wholesale, retail, and repair of automobiles and motorised vehicles accounted for the lion’s share of the total registered sum, at 54.1% or 651.9 million USD. They were followed by those in the processing and manufacturing industry, which together registered 351.2 million in capital. Also in January, 28 foreign countries and territories invested in Vietnam . Singapore was the largest with 767.6 million USD, followed by China with 198.2 million USD. Meanwhile, Vietnamese investors poured … [Read more...] about January FDI nears 1.7 billion USD
Cultural diplomacy raises Vietnam’s position worldwide
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the official noted that Vietnam has focused on including the cultural content into the activities of high-ranking leaders during their overseas trips and the country’s reception of foreign leaders; and on promoting deep and wide integration in the fields of culture, science and education at international forums. According to him, Vietnam hosted significant regional and international conferences and events last year, including the 31st SEA Games and the Vietnam day program in the Republic of Korea, Austria and India. The country was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 term with the highest number of votes. The first official visit to Vietnam by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay was a highlight, putting the country, its culture and people on the radar of international media, Ngoc said. The guest said she was impressed by … [Read more...] about Cultural diplomacy raises Vietnam’s position worldwide
RoK tops list of countries with most foreign visitors to Vietnam
The Republic of Korea (RoK) topped the list of countries and territories with most foreign visitors to Vietnam in January 2023, the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) announced on January 29. Located in central Vietnam, UNESCO-recognised Hoi An is one of the major tourist attractions for Korean visitors. (Photo: travelelog.com) According to data released the GSO, Vietnam welcomed 258,000 Korean arrivals in January, representing a 13-fold increase month on month and a 72fold increase year on year. The RoK was followed by the United States (nearly 78,000 arrivals), Thailand (55,000), Australia (44,225) and Malaysia (37,267). Besides, Japan, Cambodia, Singapore, Taiwan (China) and the United Kingdom were all countries and territories with large numbers of tourists to Vietnam in the first month of 2023. The GSO reported Vietnam attracted 871,200 foreign arrivals in January 2023, an increase of 23.2% over the previous month and 44.2 times higher than the … [Read more...] about RoK tops list of countries with most foreign visitors to Vietnam
Ailing woman seeks help for children facing leukaemia
An ailing woman in the northern province of Bac Giang is calling for community support to save her two children who are both struggling with leukaemia. Ngo Thi Nga, 32, from Lang Giang District’s Tien Luc Commune has been living with thyroid cancer. However, she has suspended her treatment for many months due to the family’s financial difficulties. According to Nga, in 2014, her eldest daughter Nguyen Thuy Ngan faced consecutive high fevers. After being taken to a hospital in Hanoi, she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Nga and her children Ngan fainted in her class several times and then had to suspend her studies for treatment. In 2016, her second child Nguyen Trong Khanh, three years old, faced the same symptoms as Ngan and was also diagnosed with leukaemia. Nga burst into tears after receiving the news from doctors. After giving birth to the third child Nguyen Trong Khoi in 2020, Nga felt tired and had fevers. Doctors said that she had developed thyroid … [Read more...] about Ailing woman seeks help for children facing leukaemia
What’s on January 30-February 5/2023
EXHIBITION HCMC-Exhibition ‘No more, not yet’ Opening: Feb 3, 06:30 pm EMASI Nam Long, 147 Street No.8, Nam Long Residential area, D7, Display: Feb – June, Wed & Fri, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Nam Long (D.7) Tues & Thurs, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Vạn Phúc (D.Thủ Đức) *and every last Saturday of the month From the organizer: Nguyen Art Foundation (NAF) proudly invites you to the opening of ‘No more, not yet’, an exhibition that looks back on Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai’s shapeshifting artistic practice in all its multiplicity. Winner of the Artist Excellence Award (inaugural edition, initiated by The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre and managed by in-tangible institute), her work is presented here alongside nearly 20 artists whom she calls her colleagues and friends. The exhibition will be on display from February to June 2023 across the campuses of EMASI Nam Long and EMASI Van Phuc. Hanoi-Exhibition “This is not A Dream” Exhibition: Until Mar … [Read more...] about What’s on January 30-February 5/2023