Domestic

Crowds flock to Co To island in Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The tourism sector served 12.5 million domestic visitors in May, pushing the total number of the group to over 50.5 million in the first five months. Also in May, revenue from domestic travelers is estimated to hit 267.2 trillion VND (11.37 billion USD). The volume of Vietnamese holidaymakers traveling around the country has been on the rise in conjunction with the annual peak of domestic tourism. On the opposite end, the peak time in domestic tourism is also when international tourism hits its low-season travel period. The sector hosted 1.3 million tourists from the Republic of Korea and 399,000 from China in the period from January to May. This year, Vietnam set a target to earn some 650 trillion VND from 110 million visitors, including 8 million foreigners. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the 4.6 million international arrivals recorded between … [Read more...] about Vietnam hits peak time for domestic tourism

Apple on May 17 announced the expansion of the Apple Store online into Vietnam. Customers throughout the country can now shop direct with Apple and receive a service delivered by dedicated team members ready to share their expertise in Vietnamese. Meanwhile, in mid-May, eDiGi, Vietnam’s foremost premium Apple retailer, announced the closure of its store after five years. The store entered the market when official Apple products were struggling to compete against smuggled counterparts. Backed by one of Vietnam’s top retail companies, IPP Group, eDiGi aimed to carve a niche for itself in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The accolades poured in as eDiGi secured the coveted Apple Premium Reseller and Apple Service Provider certifications, becoming the country’s pioneering haven for Apple aficionados seeking unrivalled services. However, eDiGi found itself grappling with a market where affordable prices outweighed immersive shopping experiences, and it struggled to … [Read more...] about Apple retailers set for price competition shake-up

The National Assembly (NA) will discuss the VAT reduction from the existing 10 per cent rate to 8 per cent on June 1 before receiving an approval from NA deputies in a resolution slated for June 24, the last day of the ongoing fifth session. The VAT cut proposed by the government is set to be applied from July 1 to the end of 2023 for all types of goods and services currently subject to a 10 per cent VAT rate. The initiative is part of Resolution No.43/2022/QH15 released early last year on fiscal and monetary policies supporting the Programme on Socioeconomic Recovery and Development. Consumers of many types can benefit from VAT cuts, photo Le Toan Under Resolution 43, the 2 per cent cut was applied last year for goods and services subject to a 10 per cent rate, except for various goods and services such as telecommunications, IT, financial and banking activities, securities and insurance, trading of real estate, metal and precast metal products, mining products … [Read more...] about Support to continue in form of VAT cut

The government last week reported that under its latest calculations, the state budget revenue last year hit about VND1.815 quadrillion ($78.93 billion), which is VND201.4 trillion ($8.75 billion) or 12.5 per cent higher than a previously reported figure. “The revenue has sufficiently met all tasks on expenditures for development investment, social security, salary reform, and other necessary tasks,” the government stated. Budget estimate shortcomings require modern fix Such a revenue increase was thanks to a rise in many items, with enterprises performing relatively well despite massive difficulties. For example, the economy’s most updated export turnover last year reached $371.3 billion, higher than the $368 billion earlier reported to the National Assembly – with the exact trade surplus of more than $12.4 billion, far higher than the only $1 billion earlier reported to the legislative body. However, the National Assembly Economic Committee (NAEC) found that the … [Read more...] about Budget estimate shortcomings require modern fix

VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh speaks at the forum. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - A Child Rights and Business Forum was organised in Hanoi on May 30 by UNICEF Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( VCCI ), emphasising the need for responsible business practices that respect child rights and prevent adverse human rights impacts. “Children are both the present and the future, and business practices cannot be sustainable if they do not account for their impact on children”, said Rana Flowers, Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam. “It requires children to be a key consideration in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assessments – where impacts and risks are assessed objectively, and key practices identified that can minimise those risks and create a positive impact for children. It will improve competitiveness and sustainability, it will win the support of stakeholders, especially investors, who are socially conscious and looking at ESG risks … [Read more...] about Responsible businesses for Vietnam’s thriving next generation: forum