Hsbc report

Vietnamese companies prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable practices as part of their efforts to ensure long-term growth. More than 85% of Vietnam's 500 fastest-growing companies (FAST 500) have committed or plan to comply with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, according to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Report Company (Vietnam Report). Electronics production at SGK Company (Chuong My Industrial Park), a component supplier for Samsung. Photo: The Hanoi Times As the global community continues to prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, Vietnam is also placing a great deal of emphasis on achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050. FAST500 companies are aware of the importance of ESG standards and are in the process of adopting this strategy, the report states. Specifically, 14.8% of companies surveyed had initiated and implemented some of their ESG obligations, while 37% had fully planned and … [Read more...] about Over 85% of major Vietnamese companies are committed to ESG standards

People shop at a supermarket in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam is becoming an attractive retail market for companies all over the world with many regional and global FDI investors recently announcing plans to increase capital and expand distribution networks here. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnamese retail market is worth 142 billion USD and is expected to increase nearly 2.5 times to 350 billion USD by 2025. In January, total retail sales of consumer goods and services decreased by 6% on-month to more than 481.8 trillion VND (20.4 billion USD) due to weaker demand as many commodities were purchased ahead of the Lunar New Year. People spent more on festival activities post Tet, said the General Statistics Office. However, it still rose 13% year-on-year. For the first two months of the year, the country’s total retail sales of consumer goods and services advanced 13% over the same period of 2022 to over 994.1 trillion VND. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s retail market proves attractive for foreign investors

Some 600 new European standard shelters will be built at public bus stops in Hanoi city. Hanoi will allow investors to build advertising boards in exchange for 600 modern bus stop shelters and shelter displays worth VND1 trillion (US$43 million) in 12 urban districts, Kinhtedothi.vn reported. The move is part of efforts to encourage Hanoi’s residents to turn to public transportation for mobility, thus easing the number of cars on road and improving air quality. Hanoi to have 600 new bus stop shelters Currently, there are 1,078 bus stops in Hanoi's downtown, but only 365 of them have shelters. The shelters are built by different investors, which make them apprear ununiform. According to the municipal People's Committee, 600 new European standard shelters will be built at public bus stops in the city under the PPP funding mechanism. Among them, 270 shelters will be newly installed and the other 330 will be replaced. In exchange, 1,200 advertising boards … [Read more...] about Hanoi to allow advertising rights in exchange for 600 bus stop shelters

It is now nearly impossible to buy a new apartment at the VND 2 billion mark. According to a report in 2022 from Rever, a Southeast Asia technology firm in real estate brokerage, for VND1.5-1.8 billion, one can buy a 30-55 square meter apartment built 6-10 years ago in Thu Duc City, on the secondary market. The average income of workers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) this year is about VND148 million a year, according to property listing platform Batdongsan.com.vn. By that calculation, it will take up to 24 years to save, with no spending on anything, just to buy an apartment. The type of apartment used in this survey costs VND3.5 billion per unit. The data also shows that Vietnam ranks first in Southeast Asia in terms of the gap between house prices and average worker incomes. From 2018 to 2021, the ratio of the difference between real estate prices and the average income of Vietnamese has continuously increased, surpassing even Singapore. On the other hand, Indonesia, Malaysia and … [Read more...] about A laborer needs to save for 25 years to buy an apartment

Aside from the drug possession charge, police are investigating Bam on charges of child abuse and "enticing others to use drugs." Videos of Bam giving meth to the 3-year-old boy were brought to investigators’ attention by a man known only as Tai, the boy’s biological father, who reported the case to the police on Friday. Police arrested Bam on Sunday afternoon at his house in Cu Chi District after a two-day search for him. The officers found meth, drug paraphernalia and other related evidence inside the house. Bam tested positive for drugs, and fortunately the boy was negative. He is currently at the Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital in stable condition with no abnormal symptoms. The boy’s mother and Bam said they "only let the boy use meth once just for fun" many months ago. Police are currently taking the testimonies of people involved in the case. One of the clips Tai showed police revealed the boy in diapers sucking on a meth straw while a woman’s voice can be heard … [Read more...] about Man arrested after forcing 3-yr-old to smoke meth

Visas, service quality, and technology were all part of discussions on a better-performing tourism sector Photo: Cuong Minh May’s National Assembly session is likely to help push ahead a revamp of the country’s rules on entry and exit for foreign visitors, after the Ministry of Public Security crafts amendments to the current law. The development will be an important basis for the issuance of new regulations related to the visa policy, removing difficulties for the tourism industry, and creating conditions to attract more international visitors this year, according to most observers. Dang Tuan Viet, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Secrutity’s (MoPS) Vietnam Immigration Department, said that the proposal emphasised two major areas related to unilateral visa exemption and electronic visa policy. The MoPS also proposes to expand the number of countries that can issue e-visas from 80 countries to the maximum. The MoPS will also ask to increase the temporary stay … [Read more...] about Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism

Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos Vietnam is piloting 5G with the support of Ericsson. Is the country still slow in 5G rollout, or keeping up with regional countries? Today, various countries are in different stages of 5G rollout. Every country and market has its own path, and Vietnam is very well-placed as one of the most dynamic and attractive investment destinations in the world, with a fast-growing digital economy and strategic focus on nationwide digital transformation and Industry 4.0, enabled by 5G as a critical national infrastructure. Ericsson fully supports and endorses this vision, and we are committed to helping Vietnam achieve this important and strategic ambition. Today there are 235 5G networks in the world in commercial service, with 5G having over 30 per cent population coverage globally. Vietnam is well poised to commercially expand 5G later this year and derive the benefits of the latest, most advanced 5G products … [Read more...] about 5G commercialisation – a must to drive the digital vision of Vietnam

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has announced that passenger biometric authentication (facial recognition) will be piloted at check-in desks in Van Don international airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The Van Don int’l airport will pilot biometric authentication for passengers. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) The authority has asked the airport to take measures to prevent congestion and handle situations that arise during the trial period. It also requested the airport to coordinate with relevant agencies and businesses to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot application regarding aviation security risks and convenience for passengers, and submit monthly reports to the CAAV. Vietjet Air and Hanoi-based Noi Bai international airport’s aviation security centre will worked closely with Van Don international airport and related partners in this scheme. Previously, the CAAV has proposed to the Ministry of Transport on extending the … [Read more...] about Van Don int’l airport to pilot biometric authentication for passengers

The Dong Lam meadow in Huu Lung district, Lang Son . (Photo: VNA) Lang Son (VNA) – The northern mountainous province of Lang Son is working to complete a report on the addition of tourist attractions to the four sightseeing routes planned for its geopark area ahead of March 30, heard a working session on March 27. The session took place between the Lang Son authorities and a delegation of consultants for developing the geopark into a global one, led by Guy Martini , chairperson of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council . Chairing the meeting, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Duong Xuan Huyen took into account recommendations of the experts. He assigned localities involved to coordinate with the management board of the geopark to complete the report. On March 11-15, the delegation examined the current status of geological heritage, biodiversity, cultural heritage and tourism products in Lang Son city and the six districts of Loc Binh, … [Read more...] about Lang Son considers building four routes for panoramic geopark touring

The meeting between President Vo Van Thuong and the Supreme People’s Court in Hanoi on March 27. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and State President Vo Van Thuong had a meeting with the Party’s civil affairs board and leaders of the Supreme People’s Court in Hanoi on March 27. The number of cases handled by courts at all levels has increased about 6% annually while the quality of courts’ judging and settlement of cases has also recorded progress. The rate of the verdicts cancelled or amended due to subjective causes was low, under 1.5%, according to a report delivered at the meeting. The application of information technology to hold online trials has helped save a large amount of money for the state budget and also won high evaluation from the public, said Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh, who is also a Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee. Applauding the court sector’s achievements, President Thuong highlighted … [Read more...] about State leader requests courts to further improve judging quality