Under the golden sunshine and fresh breeze, the Hanoi Autumn Festival was successfully held over the weekend, attracting large crowds of visitors. With the theme "Hanoi Autumn: Come to Love," the Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 was successful as its diverse program of activities attracted about 80,000 visitors, according to the head of the Tourism Promotion Department. On October 1, the Hanoi Autumn Carnival, part of the Hanoi Autumn Festival, was held in a lively and colorful way in the pedestrian area of Hoan Kiem Lake. A booth selling banh cuon (steamed rice crepe) at the Hanoi Autumn Festival. Photo: Moc Mien/The Hanoi Times Held under the theme "Bright Colors of Autumn," the festival featured performances by art groups and the presence of women dressed in ao dai (traditional long robes), which added a charming touch to the event. Nguyen Thi Chanh, head of the Muong Gong Club in Phu Man commune, was happy that her ancient gong … [Read more...] about Hanoi Autumn Festival is a success: 80,000 people attend
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Vietnam’s Masan Group secures 200 million USD investment from Bain Capital
Masan is operating 3,500 supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese conglomerate Masan Group on October 2 said it has secured funding of at least 200 million USD from Bain Capital , one of the world’s leading private investment firms with approximately 175 billion USD in assets under management. The investment would be in the form of convertible dividend preference share at a price of 85,000 VND (3.5 USD) per share which can be converted into ordinary shares at a 1:1 conversion ratio, Masan said in a statement, adding that proceeds would be used to strengthen its financial positions. Danny Le, General Director of Masan Group , said Masan wishes to cooperate with Bain Capital to promote its vision in which consumers are put at the centre, thus becoming a platform serving their daily needs. Barnaby Lyons, a leader of Bain Capital, noted his belief that Masan has many solid foundations, and a suitable vision and growth … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Masan Group secures 200 million USD investment from Bain Capital
Vietnam news in brief – October 3
Follow us to see the latest news about Vietnam. Kon Tum - Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival to be held every two years The event will include activities such as an exhibition showcasing Ngoc Linh ginseng and other medicinal herbs related to the development of tourism and the life of ethnic communities. Distinctive tourism products related to Ngoc Linh ginseng and other " One Commune One Product " (OCOP) products and various cultural and sports activities will be displayed. Vietnam hosts world's first post-pandemic meeting of instant noodle producers Acecook Vietnam production line. Photo courtesy of the company The first post-pandemic meeting of the World Instant Noodle Association was recently held in Ho Chi Minh City. This is also the first meeting of the association in Vietnam. The meeting brought together 13 companies from 11 countries and two research institutes. Acecook Vietnam was the only Vietnamese noodle producer to attend the event. Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Vietnam news in brief – October 3
Public investment as catalyst for Vietnam’s economic recovery in 2023: ADB
Accelerated government spending is expected to boost demand in the remaining months of the year. ADB’s Principal Country Economist Nguyen Ba Hung shared his thoughts on Vietnam’s economic performance and its prospects for 2023 with The Hanoi Times. ADB’s Principal Country Economist Nguyen Ba Hung. What is the primary obstacle confronting Vietnam's economy for the remainder of the year? In the first half of 2023, Vietnam experienced a slowdown in GDP growth, with growth projected at only 3.7% compared to the positive momentum seen last year, when GDP grew 6.5% in the first half and 9.5% in the second half, resulting in an annual growth rate of 8% for the whole of 2022. One factor contributing to GDP growth in recent years has been public investment's sustained and steady growth. However, significant internal challenges have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam's economy heavily relies on exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) … [Read more...] about Public investment as catalyst for Vietnam’s economic recovery in 2023: ADB
Vietnam’s GDP growth forecast to expand by 4.7% in 2023: WB
Lower-than-expected growth in advanced economies and China could reduce external demand for Vietnamese exports. Vietnam's economic growth for 2023 is set to hit 4.7%, primarily influenced by weak domestic and external demand . Production of aircraft components at MHI Aerospace Vietnam. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times The World Bank released the forecast in its latest East Asia and Pacific October 2023 Economic Update. However, there's optimism for a recovery in the following years, with growth expected to reach 5.5% in 2024 and 6.0% in 2025. The main driver of this growth will be domestic demand, although at a slower pace than in previous years. In terms of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is projected to average 3.5% this year, largely due to scheduled increases in civil servant salaries. In the following years, assuming stable energy and commodity prices, inflation is expected to decline to 3.0% in both 2024 and 2025. On the fiscal side, … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s GDP growth forecast to expand by 4.7% in 2023: WB
Indonesia inaugurates Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway
The total investment for the 142km railway was estimated at 7.3 billion USD (Photo: Barchart) Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on October 2 that it has officially put into operation a high-speed railway line, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, which connects the capital Jakarta to the city of Bandung. Speaking at the ceremony in Jakarta, Widodo said that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway marks the modernination of this type of public transport , which is efficient and environmentally friendly. investment for the 142km railway was estimated at 7.3 billion USD. With speeds of up to 350km per hour, the travel time between Jakarta and Bandung is reduced to 45 minutes, down from the previous three-hour journey. Both Jakarta and Bandung are densely populated cities in Indonesia A senior official said that a trial period has been launched since the second week of September when residents can ride free of charge, adding that it will be … [Read more...] about Indonesia inaugurates Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway
Petrovietnam in step with 48 years of national development
An oil rig of Petrovietnam (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Forty-eight years since its establishment, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) has become a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and made breakthrough and comprehensive development strides. Petrovietnam was set up on September 3, 1975 with the goal of helping guarantee national energy security and serving as a pillar of economic support for national development. Shortly after the date of national reunification (April 30, 1975), on September 3 the same year, the Vietnam General Department of Oil and Gas, the predecessor of Petrovietnam , was established under the Council of Government in efforts to realise late President Ho Chi Minh’s aspiration to develop an oil and gas industry of the country. Nearly half a century has passed, Petrovietnam has managed to master the most cutting-edge technologies and build a complete oil and gas industry. From 1986 to 2022, it posted more than 400 billion USD in total … [Read more...] about Petrovietnam in step with 48 years of national development
Wood pellet, wood chip exports – a bright spot: official
Wood chips for export (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Wood pellets and wood chips are a bright spot in the shipment of forestry products, said head of the Wood Chip Section under the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Viforest) Thang Van Thong. Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that wood chip exports brought home 1.1 billion USD in the first seven months of this year while wood pellets earned 380 million USD. Following the heated growth in the last half of 2022, the average export price of wood pellets decreased by nearly 3% to around 157 USD per tonne in the first half of this year. The Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan have been the two major importers of wood pellets from Vietnam, accounting for nearly 100% of the total volume and value of Vietnam’s exports to all markets since 2019. During January-June, Japan spent over 195 million USD on importing more than 1.16 million tonnes of pellets from Vietnam, up 5.65% in volume and … [Read more...] about Wood pellet, wood chip exports – a bright spot: official