City dwellers 7 little words

Ho Chi Minh City’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first quarter expanded a mere 0.7 percent year on year. The Ho Chi Minh city Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) on Wednesday cited statistics from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam as showing that the metropolis’ GRDP reached some VND360 trillion (US$15.3 billion) this quarter, inching up from the nearly VND247 trillion ($10.5 billion) in the same quarter of last year. The growth rate was higher than the 0.29 percent in the first quarter of 2022. However, experts were not surprised at the modest growth, saying that it had aligned with previously released forecasts. They also noted that growth in the second quarter of the year could be even lower. According to the HIDS, the city’s agro-forestry-fishery sector improved 2.06 percent, the service sector edged up 2.07 percent, and the industry and construction sector fell 3.6 percent, according to Thoi Bao Tai Chinh Viet Nam (Vietnam Financial Times). … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City reports modest economic growth in Q1

In Ho Chi Minh City , four out of the 11 commodity groups increased in price, three remained unchanged, and the rest saw prices fall in March. (Photo: VNA) Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s Statistical Office on March 30 reported that the consumer price index (CPI) of the country's biggest metropolis increased by 0.04% in March. Four out of the 11 commodity groups increased in price, three remained unchanged, and the rest saw prices fall, it said. Beverages and tobacco, garments and footwear, housing and construction materials, equipment and household appliances all saw prices jump. Drugs and medical services, education, culture and entertainment held steady, while food and catering services, transportation, post and telecommunications, and other goods and services all fell in price. Analysing the price index movements of some industry groups compared to the previous month, the office said that the group of food and food services decreased by 0.27% in prices. … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City CPI inches up by 0.04% in March

The government of Vietnam has given the green light to the development of Tam Anh University in Long An Province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City, according to a decision signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Wednesday. The Ministry of Education and Training was told to team up with relevant agencies to appraise a plan to develop the university as per prevailing regulations and report to the government for consideration. Tam Anh University, whose investor is Tam Anh General Hospital JSC, is slated to get off the ground in 2024, requiring an estimated VND2 trillion (US$85 million) in investment. The university will offer a range of courses across various disciplines, with a focus on medicine and healthcare. Tam Anh General Hospital JSC’s current partnership with many major global pharmaceutical firms is expected to pave the way for the university to facilitate international cooperation in training and scientific research. The university is expected to contribute to … [Read more...] about Gov’t approves establishment of $85mn new university in Ho Chi Minh City neighbor

On March 29, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No.318/QD-TTg approving Khanh Hoa's master planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, by 2030, the south central coastal province will fall directly under the central government as an international sea tourism and service centre, serving as the growth pole in the central coastal region, the Central Highlands, and the whole country in terms of the marine economy, high-tech industry, sci-tech, innovation, human resource training, and high-quality healthcare services. The province’s GRDP growth rate for the 2021-2030 period is set to average 8.3 per cent per year. Having been named as one of the leading coastal cities with the most liveable environment in Asia, Khanh Hoa aims to become a major marine hub for the country and a smart, environmentally friendly city that is on par with its regional peers in Asia. Khanh Hoa’s master planning for this period identifies four pillars for … [Read more...] about Khanh Hoa aims to become leading liveable coastal city in Asia

The company's primary focus is to promote smart-money habits and improve financial wellbeing for entire families. This is particularly important in Southeast Asia (SEA), where financial literacy rates are among the lowest in the world, according to the S&P Global FinLit Survey. Cyrus Daruwala, managing director of Global Financial Services at IDC cited, “Traditional banks do a great job tailoring their services towards financially established adults, but none have done well building services for families and younger pre-collegiate consumers. These digital natives are a part of the multi-billion-dollar addressable market. Contrary to belief, most customers often stay with their first bank, so it is important to introduce them to banking while they are young.” Little Wallet is pioneering the concept of family banking in Southeast Asia, which has not been introduced in the region before. The company's founder Rahul Sharma and co-founder Phoebe Tran, both INSEAD global executive … [Read more...] about Little Wallet secures pre-seed funding of $1.6 million

Nen said the exchange of experience in supervision over judicial affairs and the settlement of complaints has contributed to enhancing relations and sentiments between the Vietnamese and Lao parties, countries and people. Despite the complex and unpredictable regional and international situation, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the bilateral relationship has kept growing, with increasing political trust, he said. Nen highlighted the success of the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Friendship Year 2022 marking the 60th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries. Ho Chi Minh City has also organized many visits to Laos, aiming to promote cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, training and health care, he continued. Municipal leaders are delighted at socio-economic achievements Laos has recorded over the past years, and believed that under the leadership of the Lao People’s … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City’s leader receives Lao legislator

This coffee shop in Alley 53, Lane 252, Tay Son Street, Dong Da District is surrounded by trees. The shop's design stands out with its primary orange-brown hue and classic-style wooden furnishings. The coffee shop features indoor air-conditioned rooms in addition to the outdoor seating. Customers who use the outdoor dining area will feel comfortable thanks to the arrangement of plants there. The shop covers an area of more than 1,400 square meters, including two floors divided into areas suitable for each customer's needs. Customers will immediately notice the presence of several plants as they enter the coffee shop and them hanging on the walls and placed over the seats. Another highlight of the shop is the fish pond. The pond resembles a little tropical forest thanks to the diversity of colorful fish swimming around in it. As the shop is hidden … [Read more...] about A sprawling green coffee shop in Hanoi

The number of national-standard schools in Hanoi has increased to 1,620, or 72.3% of all the schools in the city. Hanoi aims to have more than 170 new national-standard schools this year, an increase of 22% from the previous year, according to the municipal Department of Education and Training. Representatives of new national-standard schools in Hanoi receive certificates from the Department of Education and Training. Photo: The Hanoi Times A total of 130 new national-standard schools, including 46 kindergartens, 53 elementary schools, 28 secondary schools, and three high schools, were to be built this year under the original proposal from the department. As of the end of February, local authorities expected the city's overall number of national-standard schools to rise by 40 units to 173 for the year. In 2022, Hanoi had 142 new national-standard schools certified, more than doubling the target of 70 new national-standard schools established at the start … [Read more...] about New national-standard schools in Hanoi accredited

More than 5,000 expert and amateur runners from home and abroad participate in the race. The annual Tay Ho Half Marathon running race will take place around West Lake on April 9 to encourage the city's entire strata to lead healthy lifestyles, according to the Tay Ho District People's Committee. There have already been 5,000 registrations for the running tournament. Photo: Tay Ho Half Marathon Runners will have the chance to experience the majesty of West Lake and run through numerous historic sites, such as Tran Quoc Pagoda, Tay Ho Palace, and Quan Thanh Temple. The Tay Ho Half Marathon, powered by BIM Group 2023 and Kids Run the Earth, has already attracted more than 5,000 registrations, more than doubling the number of previous competitions, according to Bui Thi Lan Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of Tay Ho District People's Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee. In particular, she noted that up to half of the participants in the event would run the 21 … [Read more...] about Tay Ho Half Marathon 2023 to promote Hanoi running community

People see some results of  project on enhancing women 's role in increasing the resilience o the coastal community and eco-system in the central region of Vietnam.(Photo: VNA) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The Centre for Social Research and Development (CSRD) on March 29 held a workshop in the central city of Hue to summarise the results of its project on enhancing women’s role in increasing the resilience of the coastal community and eco-system in the central region of Vietnam. The 66,752 Euro (72,323 USD) project, sponsored by UP Transfer - Potsdam University of Germany, was implemented between 2021 and 2023. Its main components include building a mangrove nursery managed by the community and planting Sonneratia caseolaris (commonly known as mangrove apple) in the lagoon area of Hai Duong commune, Hue city. The project coordinated with the Women's Unions of communes near Tam Giang lagoon to organise communications activities on ecosystem-based natural disaster risk reduction … [Read more...] about Project proves women’s role in increasing community’s resilience to natural disasters