One man died and at least two others were injured after a truck slammed into multiple motorcycles which were stopping at a red light in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam on Tuesday evening. The fatal crash took place on a My Phuoc-Tan Van Road section in the provincial city of Thuan An at around 7:00 pm, when the truck was en route from Thuan An Hoa Street to My Phuoc-Tan Van Road. The truck driver was identified as Ha Dinh Be, 43, residing in the provincial city of Tan Uyen. At the scene of the accident, three damaged motorcycles were found lying in front of the truck. One of the victims, identified as Tran Chi Cuong, 20, a native of northern Nam Dinh Province, was crushed to death by the truck. Meanwhile, Mai Van Han, 36, residing in Binh Duong, and Pham Ngoc Thuy, 43, a native of north-central Quang Binh Province, were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. The truck also hit a tractor-trailer, leaving both damaged. Police are … [Read more...] about 1 killed, 2 injured as truck hits vehicles at red light in southern Vietnam
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Power overhaul plan picks up steam
Vietnam’s long-awaited Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), confirmed in mid-May, is a milestone in the country’s journey towards energy transition. The main objective of the legislation is to achieve energy security for Vietnam, progressing on its climate change commitments towards the middle of this century, and more specifically to export 5,000-10,000MW of power by 2030. Towards these goals, the PDP8 proposes a new energy mix with a substantial reliance on renewables and the development of smart transmission grids to support the renewables industry, including connecting the power grids with neighbouring countries. “We appreciate the government for the approval of the PDP8, as it provides a clear path to the completion of the grid interconnection, which is critical for us and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to complete agreement on the tariff and schedule of the power purchase agreement (PPA). We target completion of the PPA in Q4 of 2023 in order to break ground in 2024,” said Ian … [Read more...] about Power overhaul plan picks up steam
Local banks seek foreign funding
Meanwhile, in late July or early August, VPBank is set to receive over $140 million from its arrangement to sell a 15 per cent stake to Japanese partner SMBC. The bank received a deposit equal to $156 million from the Japanes bank in mid-April. Many other lenders are currently mulling over plans to sell a stake in their businesses to foreign investors, with deals values at billions of US dollars. The most eminent among those involve Vietcombank and BIDV. Vietcombank is mulling over a private placement of over 307 million shares between 2023-2024 to a foreign financier. Assuming that the purchase price is set at around $4 a share, as was the ticker price at the close of business last week, the state lender would acquire approximately $1.2 billion from any deal. Besides selling stakes in the banks themselves, many local commercial lenders are being proactive in seeking foreign funding. Similarly, BIDV is seeking to sell a 9 per cent stake equal to over 455 million … [Read more...] about Local banks seek foreign funding
Ninh Thuan to set off fireworks to welcome grape – wine festival
Ninh Thuan to set off firework s to welcome grape – wine festival (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNA) – The south central province of Ninh Thuan will hold a 15- minute firework display to welcome the Grape - Wine Festival 2023 and the ceremony to receive a certificate from UNESCO recognising the pottery-making art of the Cham ethnic minority people as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Long Bien said that the festival, running from June 13-18, are an important and meaningful event for Ninh Thuan to attract more tourists, thereby turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector with sustainable development in the coming years. Themed “Ninh Thuan – The land of convergence of different values”, spectators will have a chance to enjoy a low-range firework display in the opening night of the festival which is slated for June 16, 2023 at April 16 Square. According to Nguyen Van Hoa, Director … [Read more...] about Ninh Thuan to set off fireworks to welcome grape – wine festival
Apple retailers set for price competition shake-up
Apple on May 17 announced the expansion of the Apple Store online into Vietnam. Customers throughout the country can now shop direct with Apple and receive a service delivered by dedicated team members ready to share their expertise in Vietnamese. Meanwhile, in mid-May, eDiGi, Vietnam’s foremost premium Apple retailer, announced the closure of its store after five years. The store entered the market when official Apple products were struggling to compete against smuggled counterparts. Backed by one of Vietnam’s top retail companies, IPP Group, eDiGi aimed to carve a niche for itself in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The accolades poured in as eDiGi secured the coveted Apple Premium Reseller and Apple Service Provider certifications, becoming the country’s pioneering haven for Apple aficionados seeking unrivalled services. However, eDiGi found itself grappling with a market where affordable prices outweighed immersive shopping experiences, and it struggled to … [Read more...] about Apple retailers set for price competition shake-up
Support to continue in form of VAT cut
The National Assembly (NA) will discuss the VAT reduction from the existing 10 per cent rate to 8 per cent on June 1 before receiving an approval from NA deputies in a resolution slated for June 24, the last day of the ongoing fifth session. The VAT cut proposed by the government is set to be applied from July 1 to the end of 2023 for all types of goods and services currently subject to a 10 per cent VAT rate. The initiative is part of Resolution No.43/2022/QH15 released early last year on fiscal and monetary policies supporting the Programme on Socioeconomic Recovery and Development. Consumers of many types can benefit from VAT cuts, photo Le Toan Under Resolution 43, the 2 per cent cut was applied last year for goods and services subject to a 10 per cent rate, except for various goods and services such as telecommunications, IT, financial and banking activities, securities and insurance, trading of real estate, metal and precast metal products, mining products … [Read more...] about Support to continue in form of VAT cut
Vietnam’s services sector remains a bright spot: HSBC
Vietnam’s services sector remains a bright spot, partially offsetting some external weakness, according to a report released by HSBC Vietnam on May 31. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The report, themed “Vietnam May data: Still a long way to go,” said while Vietnam’s May trade data points to no further deterioration, there is still a long way to see a meaningful rebound in its trade cycle. Exports slightly fall According to the report, exports fell 5.8% year on year in May, a slower pace than the market expected, but with lingering broad-based weakness. None of the major categories, including electronics, machinery, textiles/footwear and wooden furniture showed signs of a meaningful rebound. Data as of April 2023 suggests substantial falling shipments in Vietnam’s three largest exporting destinations - US, China and the EU. In particular, with a hefty share of 30%, Vietnam is particularly sensitive to a US economic slowdown. Despite exports falling by … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s services sector remains a bright spot: HSBC
Responsible businesses for Vietnam’s thriving next generation: forum
VCCI Vice Chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh speaks at the forum. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - A Child Rights and Business Forum was organised in Hanoi on May 30 by UNICEF Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( VCCI ), emphasising the need for responsible business practices that respect child rights and prevent adverse human rights impacts. “Children are both the present and the future, and business practices cannot be sustainable if they do not account for their impact on children”, said Rana Flowers, Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam. “It requires children to be a key consideration in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assessments – where impacts and risks are assessed objectively, and key practices identified that can minimise those risks and create a positive impact for children. It will improve competitiveness and sustainability, it will win the support of stakeholders, especially investors, who are socially conscious and looking at ESG risks … [Read more...] about Responsible businesses for Vietnam’s thriving next generation: forum
Localities in Mekong Delta augment efforts against IUU fishing
Border guards of Ca Mau province examine a fishing vessel. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – In efforts to persuade the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning, localities in the Mekong Delta have been taking strong and concerted measures to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and help the fisheries sector develop sustainably. In Soc Trang province, the Sub-department of Fisheries said it has coordinated with the provincial Department of Information and Communications to step up checking vessel monitoring systems (VMS) installed on fishing boats and asked VMS suppliers to make timely repair if there are any breakdowns. So far, all fishing vessels over 15m long in Soc Trang have been equipped with smoothly operating VMS. The province’s Border Guard Command has also ordered local border guard posts to intensify the dissemination of the 2017 Law on Fisheries and others to fishermen. As a result, 368 vessels operating in deep-sea … [Read more...] about Localities in Mekong Delta augment efforts against IUU fishing
TPBank pays $170 million to repurchase premature bonds
A customer making a transaction at an office of TPBank. — Photo courtesy of TPBank Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) has announced the results of early bond redemption transactions of Tien Phong Commercial JSC (HoSE: TPB). From May 15 to 25, TPBank bought VND4 trillion (US$170 million) of outstanding bonds. While the bond TPBL2124003 was issued in 2021 and is expected to expire in 2024, the rest, which are TPBL2225001, TPBL2225002, TPBL2225003, TPBL2225004, and TPBL2225005, were issued in May 2022, and are due in May 2025. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) approved TPBank to expand its charter capital up to nearly VND6.2 trillion through the issuance of common shares to enhance share capital in the equity, following the authorised plan in the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders 2023. Previously, TPBank's 2023 General Meeting of Shareholders approved the plan to increase charter capital by issuing nearly VND620 million shares to pay dividends to shareholders, equivalent to a rate … [Read more...] about TPBank pays $170 million to repurchase premature bonds