Lockdown

Nguyen Cam Loan in Ho Chi Minh City was frustrated after her recent trip to Phu Quoc for the Reunification Day and May Day (April 30-May 1) holidays. When using a taxi to take her family to a local restaurant, she was enthusiastically introduced by the driver to a rice pot restaurant. However, a meal for four people with regular dishes, including rice, boiled vegetables, braised fish and braised meat, cost nearly VND1.3 million ($55.39). She then complained to the taxi driver who took her family to the restaurant to no avail. Incensed, Loan said drivers should only recommend eateries based on quality, otherwise both drivers and restaurants "will lose customers in the future." Once a popular tourist hotspot for its famed pearls and scenery, Phu Quoc has been shunned by travelers recently. In addition to high airfares, exorbitant service prices have made the island lose much of its charm in the eyes of many tourists. Phu Quoc officials have said that food services in Phu Quoc … [Read more...] about Taxi commissions raise Phu Quoc restaurant prices

Hanoi's key economic drivers such as investment, exports and consumption should be the focus of further promotion. Hanoi should remain an example for other cities/provinces in socio-economic development. Hanoi from above. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times The Government Office released the Prime Minister's conclusion on the direction of the capital's development. The conclusion emphasizes Hanoi's crucial role as the national political-administrative center and an important hub for business, culture, education, science, technology, and international integration. Despite the prevailing challenges faced by the entire country, the city has shown great determination and taken decisive action to successfully contain the Covid-19 pandemic, eventually moving from a state of lockdown and social distancing to a safe and flexible adaptation. "This has enabled the recovery of socio-economic development and ensured social security," the announcement said, adding … [Read more...] about Hanoi to set example in socio-economic development

In comments on a draft amendment to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the board (TAB) encouraged the government to waive visas for up to a month for those entering Vietnam to attend sports tournaments, conferences and tourism fairs, the Vietnam News Agency reported. TAB also backed a clause in the draft amendment extending the validity of e-visas from 30 days to a maximum of three months. The stipulation would also allow for multiple-entry e-visas, in order to attract international tourists. The board has also stated that it wants to triple to 45 days the duration of visa-free stays for tourists from certain countries who now enjoy a 15-day waiver. "Applying for a visa at international border gates prompts additional visa fees and causes trouble for international tourists, especially solo travelers," said a TAB statement. TAB also suggested the government grant five-year visas to foreign individuals who buy residential real estate in … [Read more...] about Vietnam advised to waive visa for wealthy travelers

Illustrative image. A boy plays with bubbles on the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must make greater efforts to improve the quality of life in the region to build a resilient community and achieve a faster recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, said a new report released by the Asian Development Bank ( ADB ). Lockdown measures implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic in the ASEAN countries led to a 3.2% contraction in the region's gross domestic product in 2020, while the growth improved to 3.5% in 2021 and rose further to 5.6% in 2022, according to the report. VNA … [Read more...] about ASEAN should boost quality of life to build resilient and inclusive community: ADB

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue last week urged the government to make new timely measures to assist people and enterprises struggling against prolonged woes. An overview of the NA's fifth session. (Photo: VNA) “In Q1 of 2023, the country’s economic growth reached a lower-than-expected level of only 3.32 per cent on-year. A number of localities suffered from on-year low or below-zero growth. Meanwhile, the total export-import turnover in many key industrial sectors either dropped or increased at a low level,” Chairman Hue stressed. He also suggested that solutions must be taken to punishing those who are irresponsible for implementing their assigned tasks, which have undermined the country’s efforts to support people and enterprises and to achieve the desired economic growth of 6.5 per cent this year. Feeling anxious about the economy’s performance, the NA’s Economic Committee (NAEC) also underscored that the economy is now facing huge … [Read more...] about Struggling global outlook dampens growth prospects

According to a recent report by the Bank of Korea (BOK), Vietnam is swiftly becoming a significant market for South Korean semiconductor makers, who have been grappling with lacklustre demand in China. As the rivalry between the United States and China intensifies, the BOK has emphasised the importance of diversifying export markets for industry giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The BOK underlines Vietnam's emergence as a new source of demand for South Korean semiconductors, highlighting its growing status as an international hub for IT device production and potentially positioning it as a substitute for China in the future. Major smartphone manufacturers have established production bases in Vietnam, where South Korean semiconductors play a crucial role as intermediary goods in the production of finished products, the report notes. Vietnam's abundant low-wage workforce and its proximity to the Chinese market are attracting global businesses, including South Korean … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s market becomes ray of hope for South Korean semiconductor manufacturers