Hanoi green development 2023

Nine Vietnamese universities listed in THE Impact Rankings 2023 (Photo source: nhandan.vn) Hanoi - Nine Vietnamese universities have been listed in the THE Impact Rankings 2023 released by the Times Higher Education (THE) on June 1. Accordingly, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) has improved its ranking compared to last year, entering the group of 401-600 in the world. In particular, its Quality Education goal ranking saw a strong breakthrough, ranking 70th in the world (5th in Southeast Asia and first in Vietnam). Besides VNU-Hanoi, Duy Tan University is also in the 401-600 group while Ton Duc Thang University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), National Economics University and FPT University are in the group of 601-800, and Phenikaa University is in the 801-1,000 category. The two new institutions that join this year’s list are University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (301-400) and Ho Chi Minh City Open University (1001 ). In 2022, seven … [Read more...] about Nine Vietnamese universities listed in THE Impact Rankings 2023

Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam’s national flag carrier, was named one of the world’s top 25 airlines for 2023 by Australia-based AirlineRatings.com, an aviation safety and product review group. The carrier sits at number 20 in the rankings, above Turkish Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines. The first five positions on the list respectively went to Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, and Singapore Airlines. To prepare its annual round-up, AirlineRatings.com considered major safety and government audits, as well as looked at airline fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product and services, and staff relations. To make it to the top twenty-five, airlines must achieve a seven-star safety rating and demonstrate leadership in innovation for passenger comfort, according to AirlineRatings.com. “We are focused on leadership and airlines that innovate to make a real difference to the passenger … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines among world’s top carriers for 2023

Illustrative image (Photo: Dai bieu nhan dan newspaper) Hanoi (VNA) - The State Treasury raised 162,952 billion VND (nearly 6.94 billion USD) worth of Government bonds via auctions on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) in the first five months of 2023, up 188.4% year-on-year. The amount was equal to 48.4% of the issuance plan in the second quarter, and 40.74% of the plan set for 2023. In May alone, as many as 23,269 billion VND, or 75.06% of the total G-bonds on offer, was mobilised via 17 auctions on the HNX. Most of the total volume offered in the month was 15-year and 10-year bonds, accounting for 43.4% and 32.1%, respectively. Interest rates continued their downward trend in all terms, with a decrease of 27-35 basic points compared to the last session of April. In the last auction of May, the interest rates for 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-year terms were 2.4%,  2.95%, 3.05%, 3.19% and 3.4%, respectively. On the secondary market, the State Treasury … [Read more...] about Nearly 6.94 billion USD raised through Gov’t bond auctions in five months

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The total State budget revenue in the first five months of this year reached over 663.84 trillion VND (28.27 billion USD), equivalent to 48.3% of the ordinance estimate and 96.9% compared to the figure in the same period last year, reported the General Department of Taxation on June 2. Out of 20 receipts and taxes, 12 achieved a relatively high level of collection (above 48%) while others had lower revenue, including environmental protection tax which was equivalent to 53% of the same period last year, registration fee 72.5%, land use fee 44.6%, and land and water surface lease fee 48.9%. According to the general department, 17 out of the country's 63 provinces and centrally-run cities recorded a high level of budget collection (above 48%). Several provinces and cities saw slow progress with less than 35% of the estimate, namely Lao Cai, Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Lai Chau, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Tuyen Quang, … [Read more...] about State budget collection reaches over 48% of estimate in five months

Vietnam aims to increase the proportion of renewable electricity production, including hydropower, to 30-39 per cent of total commercial electricity. Consequently, when investing, it is crucial to evaluate energy storage requirements and forecast prices. According to a number of analysts, the research model by the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET) for forecasting energy storage demand and electricity pricing, which was announced on the afternoon of May 31, has wide applicability. The research conducted by VIET on energy storage systems yielded three significant findings. To accelerate the energy transition in a reliable and sustainable fashion, it is necessary to first increase the capacity of hydroelectric power sources and electricity storage. Secondly, to achieve the ambitious objective of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), it is advised to have at least 6GW of conserved hydroelectricity or other electricity storage systems to guarantee energy … [Read more...] about 40 per cent renewable energy target for Vietnam’s commercial power consumption

According to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) deputy general director Nguyen Tai Anh, "It will be crucial to implement a swift legal framework on investment, building, and operating offshore wind power projects while simultaneously drawing in investment and enhancing the existing transportation system." "The urgent need is to alter the policy framework as well as regulations to effectively accomplish the defined goals," added Tai Anh, speaking at a conference hosted by EVN on June 1. According to international practice, bringing an offshore wind power project into action requires about 8–9 years of planning and execution. Some analysts predict that Vietnam will require a vigorous preparatory process with suitable regulations to expedite the implementation time to meet the target of 7GW of power from offshore wind by 2030. The German Development Agency's Energy Support Programme and Vietnam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG) gathered specialists to share their international knowledge … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs to modify policies to foster offshore wind power

Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) has been validated as the first dairy company in Vietnam to have carbon-neutral factories and farms, according to the British Standard's Institution (BSI) PAS 2060 specifications that demonstrate carbon neutrality. Reducing emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transitioning to a net-zero standard in the dairy industry has proved to be an extremely difficult task, particularly for large-scale dairy farms. Nguyen Dinh Minh Tam, a representative of the BSI, said, "With its target of net zero by 2050, we expect Vinamilk to establish more facets of their business as carbon-neutral in the near future." Vinamilk's general director Mai Kieu Lien said, "Managing emissions and minimising our carbon footprint are among the company's core sustainable development initiatives. Presently, 13 Vinamilk farms and 10 of its factories have been completely outfitted with solar energy while promoting renewable energy sources such as biomass at the … [Read more...] about Vinamilk receives BSI nod for carbon-neutrality efforts

A mother in Nam Dinh Province is in calling for support to treat her two children who both have cerebral palsy. Tran Thuy Loan and her daughter Tran Thuy Loan's son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at only 7-months-old. For three years, she brought her son to various hospitals for treatment. Unfortunately, when her son's condition showed signs of improvement, her husband had brain cancer in 2014 and died in late 2020, leaving behind three children and a VND300m (USD13,000) debt. Loan's youngest daughter, Tran Tuong Vy, was born prematurely and also suffers from cerebral palsy. "Who wouldn't want their children to be healthy and pursue studying? After my husband died, one of my children, who was only 7 years old, kept asking me to let him drop out of school to work to save his siblings," Loan said. "The doctors said both my children need long-term treatment. I just don't know what to do." Dr Vu Thi Vui from the National Hospital of Acupuncture said, … [Read more...] about Cerebral palsy children in need of help after losing father

Going to department stores to avoid the hot weather has become the 36-year-old woman’s family ritual. On sunny days, their house in a cluster of rentals in Quyen District, Hai Phong, absorbs the heat from outside, making it unbearably hot. Hoa tried several ways of reducing the heat in her house, from pouring water onto the floor, to wiping the walls with a wet cloth, to opening every door and window. None seemed to work. The three-member family thus began seeking air-conditioned places outside the home to avoid sitting at home sweating and being uncomfortable. Both Hoa and her husband work at factories. Their accumulated monthly income is VND14 million (around $596), which is just enough to pay for their costs of living. Hoa once contemplated buying an air-conditioner, but even the one with the lowest power consumption would make her family’s monthly electric bill increase by VND400,000. "With that amount of money, I can buy enough food for my family to eat for eight days," … [Read more...] about Northerners use public ACs to escape heat wave

Egroup's chairman Nguyen Ngoc Thuy has purchased Apax Holdings' bonds At a recent meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee on the socioeconomic situation, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that increasing numbers of local enterprises have sold their properties to foreign businesses. The selling of assets and properties, or even entire businesses, has been common over the past year or two, with more businesses falling into difficulties and lacking capital. At the beginning of March, for example, the owner of the Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake Hotel in the heart of Hanoi put the hotel on the market at a starting price of $250 million. Nguyen Huu Duong, chairman of the hotel owner Hoa Binh Co., Ltd., said that the company's social housing project had not been granted construction permits, meaning a lack of cash flow and the need to sell off assets to ensure liquidity. “Many of the partners negotiating to buy our hotel are businessmen … [Read more...] about Foreign investors buying up local businesses