Olivier Langlet, CEO of Central Retail Vietnam, said Vietnam is one of the group’s major markets, with annual sales growing rapidly to nearly THB38.6 billion or more than VND25 trillion within 10 years, accounting for 22 percent of Central Retail’s total revenue. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the group’s retail sales in Vietnam grew 0.2 percent, marking a new record. Central Retail currently has more than 300 shops and 39 shopping centers, with total retail space of more than one million square meters. Another foreign retailer, AEON, also plans to build additional hypermarkets in Hanoi, targeting 20 shopping centers in Vietnam by 2025. These and other expansion plans reflect an impressive post-pandemic economic recovery. Domestic retailers are also thriving. The Masan Group, for example, has successfully overcome COVID-19-induced difficulties to maintain operations. In 2021, revenue of The CrownX - the owner of WinCommerce (with WinMart supermarkets and … [Read more...] about Post-pandemic retail market recovers strongly
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Lao tourism sees signs of recovering after reopening
A tourist complex in Laos. (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – The number of tourists coming to Laos increased again after it lifted travel restrictions in January 2022, said the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s Tourism Development Department. The Laotian Times cited figures from the department that more than 42,000 foreign nationals entered the country on tourist visas in the first half of this year, with the highest numbers arriving in May and June. The average stay for these arrivals was 7.9 days, with spending averaging around 83 USD per person. As a result, tourism revenue generated from the group reached approximately 4.55 million USD in the period. Most of the international arrivals came from Thailand, Vietnam, and a spattering of other ASEAN nations. Domestic tourism also increased, with more than 600,000 Lao people travelling within the country and spending an average of 45 USD per person over 2.5 days./. VNA … [Read more...] about Lao tourism sees signs of recovering after reopening
Vietnam minister proposes visa exemption for US, European travelers
He also suggested the government consider simplifying immigration procedures to attract foreign tourists as Vietnam reopened after over two years of border closure, he said in a report submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Tuesday. Hung also proposed extending tax cuts to tourism businesses until the end of 2023 to help them recover after the pandemic crisis. Though Vietnam reopened tourism and lifted most Covid restrictions, Hung said travel firms and those working in the tourism industry are grappling with difficulties and have not really benefited directly from current policies. The country welcomed 954,000 foreign arrivals in the first seven months this year, up nine times year-on-year. This year, Vietnam targets five million foreign tourists, around 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The government has allowed quarantine-free entry and resumed its pre-pandemic visa exemption policy for 24 tourism markets including Western European countries from … [Read more...] about Vietnam minister proposes visa exemption for US, European travelers
Tireless efforts made to soothe Agent Orange pain
Many policies on the settlement of AO consequences have been carried out over the past years, including supporting AO victims. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Joining hands to soothe the pain caused by Agent Orange (AO) is not only a charitable or humanitarian deed but firstly an activity to express gratitude to revolution contributors and the sense of responsibility of each Vietnamese people. Vietnam marks 61 years since the AO disaster on August 10 this year. Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Rinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of AO/ Dioxin (VAVA), said the Party, State, and people have made wholehearted efforts with the highest sense of responsibility to care for revolution contributors, including those suffering from toxic chemicals in the resistance war and AO victims. Many policies on the settlement of AO consequences have been carried out, he said, noting that the State has spent tens of trillions of VND each year on providing monthly allowances, health … [Read more...] about Tireless efforts made to soothe Agent Orange pain
Vietnam Airlines flight returns to save ill passenger
Vietnam Airlines flight returns to save an ill passenger. (Photo: Vietnam Airlines) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam Airlines ’ Flight VN384 on its way from Hanoi to Haneda (Japan) on August 8 had to return to the departing airport after more than 1 hour and 45 minutes to provide urgent care for a Japanese boy who had a health problem. The 10-year-old boy, among the 145 passengers on board, suffered a nosebleed. The flight attendant team immediately provided emergency assistance to him on the plane. However, due to the passenger's non-stop bleeding, the crew decided to return the plane to Noi Bai International Airport to seek medical support . The passenger, who was with his mother and sister, was then brought to a hospital in Hanoi. His condition has become stable. Due to the return, Flight VN384 was 275 minutes late. The passengers have received support from Vietnam Airlines in different ways. All of them showed support to the crew’s response to the situation. Chief … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines flight returns to save ill passenger
Vietnam records additional 2,340 Covid-19 infections
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported an additional 2,340 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 11 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 11,351,563. On August 9, an additional 9,520 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.99 million. On Tuesday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 9, the country had injected more than 248 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. … [Read more...] about Vietnam records additional 2,340 Covid-19 infections
Mulan storm heading towards Mong Cai City
The location and direction of Mulan storm. (Photo: The National Center for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting) At 7:00pm today, the storm is predicted to be on Leizhou Peninsula (China), about 230km Southeast of Mong Cai City of Quang Ninh Province. The wind speed near the storm center will also be at level 8 (62-74km/hour), gusting to level 10. Disaster risk level is estimated at level 3. In the next 48 hours, Mulan is expected to move West-Northwestwards, with a velocity of 15km/hour. It will quickly weaken into a tropical depression in the Northeast of the North of Vietnam. The wind speed at that time will be at level 6, gusting to level 8. Under the effect of Mulan, the North of the East Sea (including the Paracel Islands) is now experiencing winds gusting to level 10, with 4-to-6-meter high waves and rough sea. The Gulf of Tonkin including the island districts of Co To and Bach Long Vi from tonight will likely experience increased gales and rough surf, with winds gusting … [Read more...] about Mulan storm heading towards Mong Cai City
Overseas workers return home to underpaid jobs
"With no certificates, I can only apply for a blue-collar job, but most factories turned me down," the 24-year-old woman said. Factories in Vietnam demanded that she work faster than in Japan for one-fifth of the salary she got there, at around VND6 million ($256) a month. In Japan she received VND30 million a month and was able to send two-thirds of it back to her family and live comfortably with the remaining one-third. "I had enough to spare, but in Vietnam, I run out of money very quickly." Nguyet is among nearly 548,700 Vietnamese citizens who’d gone abroad to work in the last five years to earn higher incomes and help their families back home. However, many of them are returning home to great disappointment, their expectations of resuming work at home for decent pay belied in no uncertain manner. Data from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shows that in Japan and South Korea, the two major labor markets for Vietnam, Vietnamese workers can earn … [Read more...] about Overseas workers return home to underpaid jobs
Shares rise on upbeat sentiment
Workers at a facility of PetroVietnam Gas JSC (GAS). GAS rose 0.9 per cent yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Vietnamese shares rose on Tuesday as risk appetite improved amid the authorities' efforts to curb inflation, promoting economic growth. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, the VN-Index rose 0.17 per cent to close at 1,258.85 points. The VN-Index had gained 0.32 per cent to close Monday at 1,256.75 points. Some 721.6 million shares worth VND16 trillion (US$684 million) were traded on the southern exchange. The market's breadth was positive with 270 stocks climbing, of which 12 stocks hit ceiling prices, while 193 stocks declined. The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, jumped 0.37 per cent, to 1,281.44 points. In the VN-30 index, gainers included Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), FPT Corporation (FPT), PetroVietnam Gas JSC (GAS), HDBank (HDB), Hoa Phat Group (HPG), Military Bank (MBB), Masan Group (MSN), Mobile World Group (MWG), Novaland (NVL), Tien Phong … [Read more...] about Shares rise on upbeat sentiment
People prefer bank deposits amid global uncertainties
A customer deposits at an ACB’s transaction office. ACB has continually adjusted savings interest rates by 0.3-0.8 per year since early August. — VNA/VNS Photo Accumulated and idle money of local people is continually flowing into banks in the context of increasing savings interest rates and rising risks of other investment channels amid the global uncertainties. Nguyen Phuong Thao, a salesperson in a Ha Noi-based logistics company, said in the past two years, when the savings interest rate at banks dropped sharply due to the pandemic, she used her idle money to invest in the securities market and got a decent profit. However, now, when the stock market is plunging while deposit interest rates are increasing, she has decided to deposit her savings at banks. “I am depositing my savings at a bank with an interest rate of 5.65 per cent for a year term and do not invest in any other channels because I feel secure when depositing my money in a reputable bank. Though the interest … [Read more...] about People prefer bank deposits amid global uncertainties