Spotify arrives in Vietnam more than two years later than its competitor Sweden-based music, podcast, and video streaming service Spotify has become available to users in Vietnam since Monday, in its expansion to 64 markets worldwide. Limited songs and features are available for free with advertisements, while additional features such as improved streaming quality and downloads are offered via paid subscriptions. In Vietnam, customers can upgrade to a premium account for VND59,000 (US$2.60) a month, after a 30-day free trial. Vietnam was among three countries involved in Spotify’s market expansion on Monday, which also saw the Swedish company expanding its reach to South Africa and Israel. The combined population of the three countries is approximately 160 million, making it Spotify’s biggest international expansion since it became available in Thailand in August last year, Music Business Worldwide reported. Monthly premium subscriptions in … [Read more...] about Spotify challenges Apple Music in Vietnam’s streaming market
Russian market
Hanoi-Shenzhen, Guangzhou flights launched
The will be two flights between Hanoi and the Chinese destinations each day, boosting tourism ties between Vietnam and China. Photo for illustration The flights are also expected to help Vietnam attract more tourists from third countries as Shenzhen and Guangzhou are home to many foreign workers, businesses and investors. In 2017, Vietnam welcomed 4 million Chinese tourists, some 30 percent of the nearly 13 million foreigner visitors to the Southeast Asian country. China has been an important tourism market of Vietnam in recent years. Meanwhile, an increasing number of Vietnamese have picked China as their top destination. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, 3.1 million Vietnamese traveled to China in 2016. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Hanoi-Shenzhen, Guangzhou flights launched
Vietnam looks to stronger partnerships with Russia, Belarus
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA led by top Vietnamese legislator Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan departed Hanoi on December 8 for official visits to Russia and Belarus. Her visit to Russia is made from December 8 – 11 at the invitation of Chairwoman of the Federation Council V. Matviyenko and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia V. Volodin. She will then make an official visit to Belarus from December 12 – 14 at the invitation of Chairman of the Council of the National Assembly Mikhail Myasnikovich and Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko. The visits to the two nations take place in the context that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, and the ties of traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam - Belarus have been incessantly strengthened and seen positive development. Both Russia and Belarus attach importance to and … [Read more...] about Vietnam looks to stronger partnerships with Russia, Belarus
New-generation FTAs create opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy
An international workshop on Vietnam's economic prospects until 2025: opportunities and challenges brought by new-generation FTAs (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) Under its 5-year socio-economic development plan until 2020, Vietnam has maintained an annual GDP growth rate of more than 6.8%. Last year’s growth was more than 7% and this year is expected to exceed 7%. Vietnam has achieved the GDP growth target set for the entire period. Inflation has been under control and the public debt ratio has been decreasing. But growth has been heavily dependent on capital. The support industry has grown slowly. The contribution of services with high added value has remained low. Logistics costs are high. Exports depend on foreign-invested enterprises. Most Vietnamese businesses haven’t participated in global value chains and their ability to innovate hasn’t improved much. At a recent international workshop on Vietnam's economic prospects until 2025, many experts pointed … [Read more...] about New-generation FTAs create opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy
Schools of Southern students in the North celebrate 65th anniversary
In 1954, to realize the Geneva Accords on ending war and restoring peace in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Government decided to send children of some revolutionary families in the south to the North to be trained for the future revolutionary cause. The move was meant to prepare personnel for the national construction once the country was reunited. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the event Among the 28 schools established at that time, there was one for children of ethnic minority groups and another for those of Vietnamese families of Chinese origin. The ceremony brought together over 3,000 delegates representing more than 32,000 children of Southern revolutionary families, who were sent to the North between 1954 and 1975. In his remarks, PM Phuc lauded contributions of the students to Southern liberation, Northern defense, national reunification and construction, as well as the implementation of late President Ho Chi Minh’s testament. The educational model has … [Read more...] about Schools of Southern students in the North celebrate 65th anniversary