Raise the stakes how

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

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”

It is evident that organic production methods yield better economic returns and enhance the quality, competitiveness, and value of agricultural products. Hanoi has successfully implemented several organic farming models that align with modern agricultural development trends and have brought significant economic benefits to farmers. Organic rice cultivation model in Thanh Van Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi. Photos: Anh Ngoc/The Hanoi Times In 2022, the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center launched an organic rice production model on 20 hectares of land in Thanh Van Commune and Kim Bai Town, Thanh Oai District, according to which the production process involves the use of organic fertilizers and biological products instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the rice area. A yield of 5,730 kg per hectare using organic production has been achieved with this approach. This model is expected to be replicated in other communities in the district this … [Read more...] about Hanoi promotes high-quality organic farming models

The talk between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his guest focused on measures to tap the potential and strengths of both sides and further promote bilateral cooperation, especially between Vietnamese localities and Yunnan province in the near future. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the need to continue concretizing the common view of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping on taking the Vietnam - China relations into a new development phase with higher political trust, more practical and effective cooperation and a stronger friendship foundation. He wished that the two countries’ ministries, agencies and localities would maintain regular exchanges, effectively make use of existing cooperation, and actively promote friendly exchanges between mass organizations in border areas to raise mutual understanding and trust. The Prime Minister also wanted to expand mutually-beneficial cooperation … [Read more...] about Prime Minister hosts leader of Yunnan provincial Party Committee

In 2008, the US investment bank Bear Stearns, on the verge of collapse, had to be rescued by J.P. Morgan. This marked the beginning of the global financial crisis of 2008, which sent the global economy into a deep recession and caused significant economic damage, including massive employment losses. Patrick Lenain, senior associate at the Council on Economic Policies Today, several banks are once again in trouble. As of March 22, four large banks were in distress. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a $212 billion US bank specialising in tech startups, collapsed when it was unable to meet deposit withdrawal requests and had to be taken over by federal regulators. A few days later, Signature Bank, another midsized US bank with assets of $110 billion, also suffered a severe liquidity crisis and was seized by federal regulators. This was followed by First Republic Bank with assets of $205 billion, which was hit by rating downgrades and a tumbling share price and had to be … [Read more...] about Developments for Vietnam to watch in midst of bank crisis

Vietnam attracted 2.7 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of this year, representing an on-year rise of 29.7 times. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam welcomed 895,400 foreign arrivals in March, raising the country’s total number of foreign visitors to 2.7 million. However, the figure only accounted for 60 percent of the first quarter of 2019 pre-Covid-19-pandemic. Foreign tourists in Vietnam Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Pham Van Thuy, said the number of foreign travellers to Vietnam was on the rise. The figure would continue sharply increasing as summer nears. Thuy strongly believed that Vietnam would surpass eight million foreign arrivals this year. Between January and March, Vietnam served 140,233 Chinese tourists. The stronger recovery is expected to start from April as more programmes to promote tours to Vietnam would be carried out. In the first three months of this year, 81,000 … [Read more...] about Vietnam sees surge in foreign tourists

A view of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. (Photo chinhphu.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has just released Directive 1480 on enhancing smuggling and commercial fraud prevention among aviation employees. The directive highlighted the case of four airline staff who were caught allegedly transporting drugs that caused wide public attention recently. These allegations, according to CAAV, have damaged the image and reputation of the national airline, as well as posing potential threats to aviation safety and security. The case also showed how the previous directive on smuggling prevention had not been taken effectively by airlines . Through the directive, CAAV commanded related units, businesses and individuals to take responsibility and discipline if needed those who don't follow the directive. The authority also asked aviation enterprises to actively strengthen internal security control for aviation … [Read more...] about Leaders of aviation firms to be disciplined if employees committed wrongdoings

At the Japanese-funded NMS Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has freshly signed a decision to approve an action plan for implementing the 2021-2030 national foreign investment cooperation strategy. As per the plan, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) is assigned to submit to competent authorities a draft revised law on bidding within the 2022-2023 period; and the Ministry of Finance a governmental decree amending and supplementing Decree 08/2015/ND-CP concerning the implementation of the customs law in 2023. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, meanwhile, is responsible for drafting the Prime Minister's Decision on building a supporting industry development programme for 2026-2030, which should be submitted to authorised agencies by 2025. Reports by agencies and localities involved on the implementation of the strategy are set to be sent to the MoPI before October 30 annually. The decade-long strategy aims to … [Read more...] about Action plan approved to implement foreign investment cooperation strategy