Many of Hanoi’s traditional markets have attracted fewer customers after the Covid-19 pandemic. At around 9 am on March 22, Nga Tu So Market in Dong Da District was quiet, with more traders than customers. A man who works for the market’s parking lot said that over the past few years, just 20-30 motorbikes have been kept there every day compared to the hundreds a decade ago. Dang Viet Bang, deputy head of Dong Da District’s Market Management Board, said amid the fierce competition from online shopping, the number of traders at Nga Tu So Market has fallen to 200 compared to the previous 754. Some areas in the market have seriously deteriorated. Kim Yen, a 59-year-old trader, often turns on music to exercise as she has so much free time. Kim Giang Market in Thanh Xuan District is in the same situation. Ha The Hoach, owner of an electronic shop, said more people flock to supermarkets and shopping malls to buy electronic products, causing … [Read more...] about Hanoi traditional markets suffer fall in sales
How niche marketing works
GSM works with Be to deploy electric car and motorbikes service
Nguyen Van Thanh, general director of GSM (left), and Vu Hoang Yen, general director of Be Group, signed a cooperative agreement on March 21 in Ha Noi. — Photo coutersy of Vinfast Vingroup's Green-Smart-Mobility JSC (GSM) and Be Group JSC, a technology company, signed a cooperative agreement on March 21 to introduce electric cars and motorbikes to Vietnam. The agreement outlines that GSM will directly invest in Be Group to support its goal of becoming a multi-service consumer platform and the top technology transport service in Vietnam. GSM will also assist Be Group's drivers in converting petrol vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) conveniently and easily. This new service aims to enhance the quality of service and optimise business efficiency for Be and its drivers. In the project's first phase, GSM will partner with local VPBank to offer exclusive preferential policies for Be's drivers to purchase or rent VinFast's electric cars or electric motorbikes at attractive prices. … [Read more...] about GSM works with Be to deploy electric car and motorbikes service
Land law points further scrutinised
Land law adjustments aim to protect entities as well as the real estate market, photo Le Toan In a seminar to collect opinions from enterprises and experts regarding amendments to the Law on Land held last week in Ho Chi Minh City, Seck Yee Chung, a representative of the Vietnam Business Forum’s Trade and Investment Working Group, said that Article 35.d of the draft law provided that domestic companies only have the right to mortgages with their land and properties attached to the land at credit institutions licensed to operate in Vietnam. “This means that companies in Vietnam cannot mortgage their factory or land through foreign lenders, which creates great challenges for them to access competitive financing resources outside the country,” Chung said at the seminar, which was organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE). “Foreign lenders will look for security assets of Vietnamese companies to secure their … [Read more...] about Land law points further scrutinised
Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism shows positive signs with return of Chinese visitors
According to the city’s businesses, more Chinese tourist groups will arrive in the city this month and April will be the peak time marking the return of Chinese tourists to Vietnam. On the contrary, the number of Vietnamese tourists booking tours to China will also increase, helping to stimulate demand in the tourism markets of the two countries in the coming time. The forecast is based on the huge tourism demand of Chinese tourists after about three years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnam being one of the Chinese tourists’ favorite destinations. In addition, Vietnamese businesses have developed high-quality and oriented products and services for specific tourist segments. Accompanying the business community, the city’s Department of Tourism has just coordinated with the Zhangjiajie city People's Committee in China’s Hunan province and the Vietnam Global International Travel Group Joint Stock Company to organize a tourism promotion conference in Zhangjiajie … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism shows positive signs with return of Chinese visitors
Italy – Vietnam relationship “strongly rooted in history”: Ambassador
The following is the full text of the interview. Reporter: How do you evaluate the relations between Vietnam and Italy since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties 50 years ago, especially since the upgrading of the relationship to a strategic partnership in January 2013? Ambassador Antonio Alessandro: I would use the words of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, who has just released a warm message of congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Italy - Vietnam diplomatic relations. President Mattarella congratulated the two countries for their relationship, “strongly rooted in history” and at the same time “directed with confidence towards the future.” These words express very well the idea that the 50th anniversary is not only a great achievement, considering the long journey that both countries have made since the seventies, but also a platform to let our friendship grow further and face together the great global challenges, like climate … [Read more...] about Italy – Vietnam relationship “strongly rooted in history”: Ambassador
Displaying readiness for the energy transition in Vietnam
The energy transition in Vietnam is tied to the rapid growth of the economy, urbanisation, and industrialisation. We have seen the strong aspiration of the government to speed up the energy transition while meeting the requirements of economic development and the goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. Energy transition is more seen as a potential engine for employment, and this trend will likely grow, helping to build support for renewables. John Rockhold, head of the Power and Energy Working Group under the Vietnam Business Forum Fossil energy sources are gradually being replaced by green and clean energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, while Vietnam is one of the first countries to renew its nationally determined contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2020. The roadmap for the country’s transition process towards green and sustainable development will not only need to ensure … [Read more...] about Displaying readiness for the energy transition in Vietnam