Living in Vietnam can bring moments of total pleasure and those of total wonder. When is a hot dog not a hot dog? Well, that answer came to me through experience some 10 years ago when I began my teaching career here in Vietnam. It was only weeks after I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to start a new life journey and I had already experienced my first episode of 'Vietnam Belly.' I wasn’t feeling all that great and I found that the local food and cheap beer just weren’t what my body wanted. I met a fellow Australian expat who introduced me to his employer – a major name in Vietnam’s teaching industry. Despite my unreliable health, I interviewed with the company. I was just hoping things would hold themselves together long enough to get the job, and they did. When I found out I got the job, my only thoughts were about how much I hoped I would be able to recover by the time I started classes. Early the next morning, my phone rang. It was the school asking if I could cover a class … [Read more...] about A hot dog that isn’t a hot dog in Vietnam
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Hoa Binh Province in Vietnam delights travelers with northwest beauty, uniqueness
Situated over 70 kilometers from Hanoi, Hoa Binh Province overflows with cultural identities and charming venues to lure visitors. As the gateway to the northwestern region, the province, which boasts various unspoiled tourist destinations, has attracted numerous travelers over the past few years. Some must-visit places are recommended to holidaymakers in Hoa Binh. Mai Chau: Hoa Binh’s most popular tourist area Mai Chau is the province’s most famous tourist site, which is favored by not only in-the-know tourists from Hanoi and neighboring provinces, but also international visitors. The place is often selected for a weekend trip to relax and relieve stress. Apart from enjoying the fresh air in the majestic mountainous area, travelers might also admire a picturesque view shrouded by clouds at Thung Khe Pass or Da Trang (White Stone) Pass en route to the heart of Mai Chau District. Also, the mountainous district features a variety of cultural traits and the Thai ethnic … [Read more...] about Hoa Binh Province in Vietnam delights travelers with northwest beauty, uniqueness
Sacombank, Vietbank honoured at Vietnam Outstanding Banking Awards
Nguyen Minh Tam (R), deputy CEO of Sacombank, receives the "Outstanding Retail Banking" and "Outstanding Bank for Community" awards at a ceremony in HCM City last week. — Photo courtesy of the bank Sacombank won the awards for Retail Banking and Bank for Community at the 2022 Vietnam Outstanding Banking Awards that were given away in HCM City last week. It was for a sixth consecutive year that Sacombank won the awards given by the International Data Group, the Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Agency, the Vietnam Banks Association, and other organisations. Sacombank won the "Outstanding Retail Banking" award for achieving consistent customer growth -- with its customer base topping 15 million by the end of 2022 -- and having large transaction, ATM and merchant networks and diverse products and services. It offers more than 250 products and services for individuals and corporate customers and has linked up with 110 banks and 30 e-wallets for money transfer. It won the … [Read more...] about Sacombank, Vietbank honoured at Vietnam Outstanding Banking Awards
How bad debts influence lending rates
Latest figures from the central bank show that in late February the on-balance sheet non-performing ratio of the banking system stood at 2.91 per cent, an increase compared to 2.46 per cent in late 2016, 1.49 per cent in late 2021 and most recently, 2 per cent in late 2022. However, according to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) assessment, several sorts of debts have the potential to be turned into bad debts in the future, such as investment into corporate bonds for debt restructuring, hard-to-collect receivables, among others. “If such debts were considered, the non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio of the system might reach 5 per cent of total outstanding balances,” said SBV Governor Nguyen Thi Hong. One positive point is that credit institutions have been taking practical measures to ensure operational safety through boosting their loan loss reserve (LLR) funds for their bad debts . Accordingly, credit institutions have maintained a fairly high LLR ratio approximating … [Read more...] about How bad debts influence lending rates
☀️ Morning digest May 30
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency . - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received visiting Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara in Hanoi on May 29. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (R) receives visiting Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara. (Photo: VNA) Welcoming agreements signed between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications, Ha expressed his wish that the two sides will actively promote cooperation and technology transfer so that Vietnam and Laos can jointly implement digital and green transformation as soon as possible. Read full story At the talks between the delegations of the VFF Central Committee and the National Council of the Solidarity for the Development of Cambodian Motherland. (Photo: VNA) At the talks, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest May 30
Vesak Day 2023: VFF leader visits Buddhist establishments
Vice Chairwoman of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha visits Office 2 of the VBS Central Committee (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Vice Chairwoman and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha visited and congratulated leaders of several Buddhist establishments in Ho Chi Minh City on May 26, on the occasion of Vesak Day, the 2567th birth anniversary of the Buddha. Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee in District 3, Ha hailed the VBS for always being an active member of the VFF, making significant and effective contributions to patriotic movements and campaigns launched by the VFF, building new-style rural areas, protecting the environment, coping with climate change, and joining social welfare and charitable endeavors, with noteworthy accomplishments. VNA … [Read more...] about Vesak Day 2023: VFF leader visits Buddhist establishments
Nha Trang street cleaner killed in hit-and-run
Nguyen Thi Tuyet, 55, a graveyard-shift sanitation worker for the Nha Trang Urban Environmental Company, was cleaning up trash on the Tran Phu Bridge at around 1:15 a.m. when a car hit her. Tuyet was thrown onto a nearby flower bed and died at the scene. Following the impact, the driver of the car did not stop. Witnesses said the car that hit Tuyet had five seats. Authorities found fragments of the car at the scene. Tran Van Huong, director of Tuyet’s department, said Tuyet had been with the company since 2015. The incident happened around an hour into her shift, he added. Police are analyzing nearby camera footage to find the car’s driver. An investigation is ongoing. … [Read more...] about Nha Trang street cleaner killed in hit-and-run
Vietnamese, Cambodian front organisations forge cooperation
Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien (6th from right) receives the Cambodian delegation. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held talks with representatives from the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland in Hanoi on May 29. At the talks, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha affirmed the fruitful relations between the two sides, with the signing of cooperation documents. The two sides briefed each other on operations of their front organisations, and compared notes on cooperation orientations and contents in the time ahead. Nhem Valy, Permanent Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the National Council of the Solidarity for the Development of Cambodian Motherland, held that the talks will help the two front organisations better understand each other, thus helping … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Cambodian front organisations forge cooperation
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
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