Highway 45 flooded

Climate change, rapid urbanization and large-scale construction are the main causes of Hanoi's flooding. Technology and innovation are crucial to protecting the capital city from heavy rains and urban flooding, Nguyen Trong Dong, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said on March 28. Tran Thai Tong street in Cau Giay District flooded after heavy rain. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the founding of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Co. Ltd., he said the company needs to speed up digitalization and improve performance and governance so that Hanoi can handle 50-55% of total sewage by 2025. Dong said the company needs to review all wastewater management criteria and standards to improve its performance. "The company must strengthen its cooperation with city departments and propose possible solutions to improve the city's wastewater treatment capacity," he added. "The company should also develop plans to … [Read more...] about Technology critical to Hanoi’s urban flooding solution

Hanoi is known to have more rivers, lakes, ponds, and lagoons than any other city in Vietnam, acting as natural air conditioners to maintain a balanced ecology or being the city's green lung. The Hanoi People's Committee has recently approved a comprehensive list of 3,164 lakes, ponds and lagoons that are now off-limits to reclamation activities, demonstrating the authorities' unwavering commitment to preserving the capital's greenery and environmental sanctity. Cau Giay Lake in Dich Vong Ward, Cau Giay District. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times There are 30 districts and towns on the list. Among them, the inner-city district of Hoan Kiem has the lowest number of protected lakes, with only one, while Quoc Oai District has the highest number of protected water bodies, with an impressive 276 lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Other areas with notable numbers include Cau Giay (29), Dong Da (15), Hoang Mai (40), Long Bien (53), and Son Tay Town (199). Drastic actions … [Read more...] about Hanoi determined to preserve its “green lung”

The Hanoi People’s Committee issued Decision No. 41/2017/QD-UBND dated December 6, stipulating management of water drainage and wastewater treatment in the city. The Decision includes three chapters and 23 articles, specifying following issues: regulations on water drainage management and wastewater treatment in urban areas, industrial zones, industrial clusters, rural residential areas: orientation and planning on water drainage, plan on water drainage investment and development, management and operation of the water drainage system, connection of water drainage system, water drainage services; right and obligatory of organizations, individuals and households involving water drainage and wastewater treatment in Hanoi. The regulation is applied for Vietnamese organizations, individuals and household, and foreign organizations and individuals that involve drainage and wastewater treatment in Hanoi. The Department of Construction acts as focal point to … [Read more...] about Hanoi to manage water drainage and wastewater treatment

The relaxation of visa requirements is an urgent necessity for the attraction of more tourists and the recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry. The Government of Vietnam is seeking approval from the National Assembly to issue electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories. International tourists on the way to the sandy beach in the southern province of Khanh Hoa's Cam Ranh Coastal City. Photo: Trung Vu/ The Hanoi Times Accordingly, Vietnam would extend visa validity from 30 to less than 90 days for single or multiple entries and stay from 15 to 45 days for foreign visitors from Vietnam's Visa Waiver Program countries and territories. The measure is seen as a boost for the development of Vietnam's "smokeless industry", which will enhance the competitiveness of national tourism in Southeast Asia. The country reinstated the visa waiver policy for citizens of 24 countries after three years of border closures due to Covid-19. Despite being one … [Read more...] about Vietnam considers issuing e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories

In a proposal to the government by the Private Sector Development Committee, port operators say that the current terminal handling charge (THC) in Vietnam is only 40-50% that of other countries in the region. Le Quang Trung, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Association, said that international shipping firms collect from their customers a THC of $140 per 20-foot container, but only pay Vietnamese seaport operators $45-52, or 37% of the total. Cambodian port operators, however, get as much as $90 per container, and operators in Singapore receive $115. According to international norms, 80% of the THC must go to the port operator, and therefore Vietnamese operators should get $80-100 per container instead of $45-52 as current, Trung said. Port operators have therefore proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade raise the THC in Vietnam gradually to reach the same level as other regional countries. A 15-20% increase annually for four or five years will bring THC in … [Read more...] about Port operators want container fee raised

A customer chooses Masan's products at a supermarket. The company's shares jumped 1.55 per cent on Wednesday, supporting the rally trend. — Photo courtesy of Masan Stock markets were mixed on Wednesday with the VN-Index extending its rallies, but gains were capped as investors were more cautious after GSO had revealed data showing that the economy grew modestly in the first quarter. The market's benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) rose 2.04 points, or 0.19 per cent, to close Wednesday at 1,056.33 points. The index inched higher, despite the fact that there were more stocks performing poorly, thanks to gains of large-cap stocks, and marked its seven days of the rally. On the southern bourse, 128 stocks increased while 176 ticker symbols went down. Liquidity fell sharply compared to Tuesday's trading day, of which the trading value of HoSE dropped by nearly 26 per cent over the previous session to more than VND8.3 trillion (US$353.4 million). The … [Read more...] about Investors turn caution after GDP data, liquidity falls sharply