How to catch a ghost

The Hanoitimes - The figure marked the first decline in car sales in four months, following month-on-month increases of 0.3% in July, 26.4% in June and 103% in May. The number of cars sold in Vietnam decreased by 14% month-on-month and 4% year-on-year to 20,655 units in August, which is also the seventh month on lunar calendar, traditionally called “the ghost month” when locals avoid buying new valuable things on fear of bad luck. The figure, released monthly by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), marked the first decline in car sales number in four months, following month-on-month growth of 0.3%  in July, 26.4% in June and 62% in May. Number of car sales in eight-month period. Source: VAMA. The volume included 15,419 passenger cars, down 12% inter-monthly; 4,966 commercial cars, down 20%; and 270 special-purpose vehicles, down 19%. The sales volume of locally assembled cars in August was 12,869 units, down 20% against the previous month, and that of imported cars was 7,786, down 2%. Overall, car sales in Vietnam in the January–August period dropped 25% year-on-year to 151,903 units across all segments. Upon breaking down, 109,694 were passenger cars, down 26% year-on-year; 39,787 were commercial vehicles, down 22%; and 2,422 were special-purpose vehicles, down 36%. Sales of domestically assembled cars reached 96,473 units during the period, down 19% compared to the same period of last year, while imported completely-built-units (CBUs) totaled 55,430 units (-33%). Sales of imported cars down 33% year-on-year in January - August period. Source: VAMA. Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) led the market in the first eight months with 49,940 units sold, down 16% year-on-year, followed by TC Motor with 40,987 and Toyota with 34,743. Automobile is considered a key industry in Vietnam, accounting for approximately 3% of national GDP. However, this industry was severely impacted by the Covid-19 …

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Fishermen in Nhan Trach Commune, Quang Binh Province have enjoyed bountiful catches after Tet. Quang Binh fishermen enjoys bountiful catches For the fishermen in Nhan Trach, the first fishing trip after Tet Holiday is meaningful and signifies their luck for the new year. Most fishing boats in Nhan Trach are small so they often have a quick trips overnight and return in the early morning. The beach was busy with all the boats and activity. Pham Nguyen said his crew were able to bring back 700kg of anchovies. "We’re all really happy to have such a good trip after Tet. We'll be able to earn about VND20m (USD866). We just hope for good weather and bountiful trips," he said. Anchovies used to make fish sauce Another fisherman, Pham Tan, said they caught nearly a tonne of anchovies. As they reached the shore, they could see the traders already waiting along the beaches. Anchovies and baby shrimp can be sold for VND30,000 (USD1.30) or VND20,000 per kilo respectively. Both of them can be used to make fish sauce and shrimp paste. According to the fishermen, if they have a bountiful trip with baby shrimp they will have good herring scad and cutlass fish trawls too. Nguyen Van Nghi, chairman of Nhan Trach Commune People's Committee said they have over 100 fishing boats. They are mostly nearshore fishing boats so they only work seasonally. Bountiful anchovies trips also mean local fish sauce manufacturing facilities will have good materials and an optimistic outlook. …

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Fishermen in the southern central province of Phu Yen are enjoying big catches of shrimp and fish after Tet Holiday. These days, many fishing boats in Song Cau Town arrived at local wharves with bountiful catches, particularly acete shrimp, providing local fishermen with a daily income of VND4-8 million (USD173.91-347.82). The buckets of fresh acetes are brought ashore from boats to sell to traders. According to fishermen, the acetes shrimp often appear in Phu Yen in the first lunar month. Local people leave home from 5-6 am and they can catch 5-700 kilos in the morning. Le Van Du’s boat caught nearly 500 kilos in a morning. At present, a kilo of acetes is sold for VND8,000, so with 500 kilos of acetes, Du’s family can earn VND5 million per day. The favourable weather and calm sea is the major cause of the successful catches this year. If the weather is fine, people in Phu Yen can catch acetes until the end of the first lunar month. Pham Hoai Lam who works at Dan Phuoc fishing port, said that around 50-60 boats docked the port every day. Each boat transports 800-900 kilos of acetes which are then quickly bought by traders. At this time of the year, many fishermen in Phu Yen also enjoyed the good catches of large head hair tail belt fish. Phan Van Oanh, a local resident, said that his boat with six people on board caught three tonnes of belt fish in three days, earning them VND60 million. …

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