An overview of the NA's fifth session. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) deputies will continue their ongoing fifth session on May 30 discussing important matters, including a draft Law on Electronic Transactions (revised) and a draft resolution on pilot special policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. The draft Law on Electronic Transactions (revised) has seven chapters and 54 articles. Compared to the current version, the bill has 31 new and nine amended articles, while erasing a number of regulations in five and eliminating three articles. During the morning discussion, NA deputies will decide the investment policy for the project to construct road from National Highway 27C to Road 656 in Khanh Hoa province which links to Lam Dong and Ninh Thuan provinces, as well as the adjustment of the investment policy for Ka Pet reservoir in Ham Thuan Nam district of Binh Thuan province. In the afternoon, they are scheduled to listen to a proposal and a … [Read more...] about NA deputies continue to discuss draft laws, resolutions on May 30
Severance land law
HCM City seeks to attract remittances, investment
Speakers at a meeting in HCM City on Monday to discuss ways for the city to attract remittances and investment. — Photo danviet.vn HCM City will improve its business climate and create favourable conditions to attract remittances and investment, said a city official. Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Nguyen Duc Lenh, deputy director of the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) HCM City branch, said the city planned to enhance monetary and foreign exchange policies and remittance services. Options for remittances include money transfers, cheques, bank transfers, prepaid cards and several other ways of sending money without a bank account. "Besides foreign investment (FDI), remittances are a major source that helps ensure the foreign currency supply and stabilise the national foreign exchange reserves," he said. Financial and banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said Viet Nam should ensure stable macroeconomic policies to increase the confidence of overseas Vietnamese to send back money for … [Read more...] about HCM City seeks to attract remittances, investment
Socio-economic matters main topic at NA session on May 31
At a NA working session. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly (NA) will spend the whole day of May 31 – the ninth working day of its fifth session – looking into supplementary assessments of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2022 and the first months of 2023. The working session will be broadcast live on television and radio channels. According to the Government report submitted to the NA, Vietnam fulfilled 13 out of 15 targets in 2022, with GDP growth of 8.02% (the initial reported figure was 8%), GDP per capita of 4,109 USD (the initial figure was 4,075 USD), CPI growth of 3.15% (initially around 4%), and State budget collection of 1.81 quadrillion VND (77.07 billion USD), 201.4 trillion VND higher than the figure reported to the legislature earlier. The country posted export-import revenue of 371.3 billion USD and ran a trade surplus of over 12.4 billion USD, also exceeding the numbers reported … [Read more...] about Socio-economic matters main topic at NA session on May 31
Favorable visa policy urged to draw tourists
Last year, Vietnam welcomed over 3.66 million foreign visitors, or over 73% of the target. This year’s figure is set at 8 million, which is an uneasy task. The number of foreign arrivals reached 3.7 million in the first four months of this year, hence, the tourism sector must race to meet the goal. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with several foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam, the European Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, the Vietnam Business Forum, the Tourism Advisory Board and the Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV) also made proposals for a more favorable visa policy to improve the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry. Suggested changes in the visa policy are related to the amendment and supplementation of several articles of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam. If approved, the new entry and visa … [Read more...] about Favorable visa policy urged to draw tourists
HCM City seeks ways to attract more remittances
HCM City seeks ways to attract more remittances. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The southern largest economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City is striving to achieve an annual growth rate of at least 10% in the inflow of remittances during the 2023-2025 period and maintains this rate in 2025-2030. The information was heard at a seminar held in the city on May 29 by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of HCM City, in coordination with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Branch in HCM City to seek comments and solutions of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to effectively attract and optimise remittance resources in the city. Remittances to Ho Chi Minh City have always maintained a relatively high growth rate and play a crucial role in the city’s socio-economic development. (Photo: VNA) According to Nguyen Duc Lenh, Deputy Director of the SBV Branch in HCM City, remittances to the city have always maintained a relatively high growth rate and play a crucial role in … [Read more...] about HCM City seeks ways to attract more remittances
IOM helps improve border guards’ capacity of combating trafficking in persons
IOM’s Chief of Mission Park Mihyung (second from left) speaks at the workshop (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Department of Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Vietnam Border Guard on May 30 held a workshop to launch the “Training Curriculum on Counter-Trafficking and Victim Protection” and to wrap up the project “Frontline training for Border Guards in Border Areas of Vietnam”, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Department of State. Participants at the workshop agreed that the Vietnam Border Guard plays an important role in the fight against trafficking in persons (TIP) and the provision of protection and support for trafficking victims. Overseeing 4,639km of land borders and 3,444km of coastlines, the Border Guard is at the forefront of cross-border crime prevention and control. After three years of implementation, the project has achieved a number of … [Read more...] about IOM helps improve border guards’ capacity of combating trafficking in persons
Kick-off of the UNESCO-recognized Saint Giong Festival
One of Hanoi's most fascinating and historic events, the festival is a tribute to Saint Giong, one of Vietnam's four immortals. The 2023 Giong Festival kicked off last week at Phu Dong Temple in Hanoi's suburban Gia Lam district. The festival's opening ceremony also marked the recognition of Phu Dong Commune as a new rural area. The opening ceremony of the Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple in Phu Dong Commune of Gia Lam District. Photo: Hoang Quyet/The Hanoi Times Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Duc Hong, Vice Chairman of Gia Lam District People's Committee, said the district is an ancient land of cultural convergence of Thang Long (original name of Hanoi) and Kinh Bac (an old name designating the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang) and the holy place where Saint Giong was born. "The festival is in commemoration of Saint Giong, or Heavenly King of Phu Dong, who led the country against foreign invaders during the reign of the Sixth Hung King. The … [Read more...] about Kick-off of the UNESCO-recognized Saint Giong Festival
Hanoi’s second metro line delayed again to 2027
In a decision issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday, the completion of the capital's second metro line has been pushed back five years later than previously planned. The decision was in line with a recent proposal by the Hanoi People’s Committee to postpone the project’s completion date. The total investment for the project is now over VND34.8 trillion, with VND3.9 trillion more coming from the city budget, and VND2 trillion less coming from Official Development Assistance (ODA). The committee will be responsible for the accuracy of information and statistics regarding the project, including the resolution of potential issues, the decision stated. Hanoi will also be responsible for the delay's extra costs, which will be paid for with funds from the city's 2021-2025 public investment plan. If the project fails to meet its new deadline by the end of 2025, the capital city would have to utilize other sources of funding to complete the project. In April, the … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s second metro line delayed again to 2027