It is now nearly impossible to buy a new apartment at the VND 2 billion mark. According to a report in 2022 from Rever, a Southeast Asia technology firm in real estate brokerage, for VND1.5-1.8 billion, one can buy a 30-55 square meter apartment built 6-10 years ago in Thu Duc City, on the secondary market. The average income of workers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) this year is about VND148 million a year, according to property listing platform Batdongsan.com.vn. By that calculation, it will take up to 24 years to save, with no spending on anything, just to buy an apartment. The type of apartment used in this survey costs VND3.5 billion per unit. The data also shows that Vietnam ranks first in Southeast Asia in terms of the gap between house prices and average worker incomes. From 2018 to 2021, the ratio of the difference between real estate prices and the average income of Vietnamese has continuously increased, surpassing even Singapore. On the other hand, Indonesia, Malaysia and … [Read more...] about A laborer needs to save for 25 years to buy an apartment
Gasoline prices surge amid higher global rates vnexpress international
Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism
Visas, service quality, and technology were all part of discussions on a better-performing tourism sector Photo: Cuong Minh May’s National Assembly session is likely to help push ahead a revamp of the country’s rules on entry and exit for foreign visitors, after the Ministry of Public Security crafts amendments to the current law. The development will be an important basis for the issuance of new regulations related to the visa policy, removing difficulties for the tourism industry, and creating conditions to attract more international visitors this year, according to most observers. Dang Tuan Viet, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Secrutity’s (MoPS) Vietnam Immigration Department, said that the proposal emphasised two major areas related to unilateral visa exemption and electronic visa policy. The MoPS also proposes to expand the number of countries that can issue e-visas from 80 countries to the maximum. The MoPS will also ask to increase the temporary stay … [Read more...] about Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism
Vietnam needs digital tourism map
Vietnam is in need of a national digital tourism map which features tourism resources, destinations, and service providers to support tourists as well as local tourism service providers. The proposal on the digital map has been made and attracted the attention of local enterprises, but it has yet to be rolled out. Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel Holdings, a local travel firm, said the digital tourism map would meaningfully increase the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism sector and help sell more tours at higher prices. Thailand has well-connected tourism systems, including travel, lodging, and transport services. Thus, their tour prices are stable and reasonable. At a recent meeting to seek solutions for the local tourism development, Nguyen Huy Dung, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, also suggested a digital tourism map for tourists as all travelers have a demand for information during their trips. “In the short term, a professional national website … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs digital tourism map
State leader requests courts to further improve judging quality
The meeting between President Vo Van Thuong and the Supreme People’s Court in Hanoi on March 27. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and State President Vo Van Thuong had a meeting with the Party’s civil affairs board and leaders of the Supreme People’s Court in Hanoi on March 27. The number of cases handled by courts at all levels has increased about 6% annually while the quality of courts’ judging and settlement of cases has also recorded progress. The rate of the verdicts cancelled or amended due to subjective causes was low, under 1.5%, according to a report delivered at the meeting. The application of information technology to hold online trials has helped save a large amount of money for the state budget and also won high evaluation from the public, said Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh, who is also a Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee. Applauding the court sector’s achievements, President Thuong highlighted … [Read more...] about State leader requests courts to further improve judging quality
Banks underwriting bonds should buy back bonds: Central bank
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Commercial banks that underwrite and sell corporate bonds have to buy them back if investors so demand, the central bank has said. It followed a meeting with voters (members of the public) the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) held in Ho Chi Minh City amid the ongoing bond market troubles. Besides asking for underwriting banks to take responsibility for redeeming bonds, the voters also urged the SBV to tighten inspection of credit institutions to ensure they comply with regulations while investing in bonds. The SBV recently raided 11 banks and fined a number of them for violating regulations related to bond purchases. Under current regulations, banks must have an internal credit rating system and can only buy bonds if their bad debts ratio is below 3%. For bonds sold in the domestic market, when issuers cannot pay in full and on time the bond principal and interest, they must negotiate with bondholders for extending the term … [Read more...] about Banks underwriting bonds should buy back bonds: Central bank