Vietnam e commerce white book 2021

Phung Ba Hung was recently named amongst the recipients of the Fulbright Master’s Program Scholarship so that he can continue to spread his love for reading in Vietnam. Hung’s passion for reading began when he was a child. It was not until after he graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi with a degree in journalism and media studies that he started sharing his passion with others through the launch of Duong Lieu. Duong Lieu is a private library he opened in his living room designed to create a safe space for neighborhood children to lose themselves in the magic of literature. When Hung, 33, launched Duong Lieu in 2013, the few private libraries that existed in his Hanoian neighborhood were primarily run by retired teachers, veterans, and the elderly. While these libraries were appreciated by many, they were not particularly approachable and child-friendly. “My knowledge of journalism and media has really … [Read more...] about This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network

Illustrative image (Source: baodautu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is one of the most potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region for shoppertainment - a trend that combines online shopping with entertainment, according to a report named “Shoppertainment: APAC’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity” by the US-based Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) and TikTok. The report shows that the shoppertainment opportunity in the region is projected to expand to a market value of over 1 trillion USD by 2025, doubling from the 500 billion USD value last year. Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will contribute 67% of gross market value (GMV) in shoppertainment by 2025, reflecting their large and established e-commerce bases. Meanwhile, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand add to the mix of some of the region’s most exciting growth markets, and, alongside Australia, will contribute to a remarkable 63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next three years, quadrupling the market … [Read more...] about Vietnam a potential market for shoppertainment: report

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long presents gifts to the three speakers at the event. (Photo: VNA) London (VNA) – Speakers from the British Museum and Library have introduced documents on Vietnam’s culture and its long-standing ties with the UK, at a discovering-Vietnam event held at the D-Contemporary in central London. The March 30 event was organsied by the Vietnamese Embassy as part of its Vietnamese Days in the UK programme lasting from March 28 to April 27. One of the speakers, Sud Chonchirdsin, the curator for the Vietnamese collection at the British Library from 2005-2019, showed visitors to historical documents proving that the Vietnam-UK trade relationship was formed 350 years before the two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1973. Among the items were two letters, one by Lord Trinh Tac sent in 1673 to William Gyfford, head of a delegation from the British Government’s British East India Company when the group came to … [Read more...] about British national museum, library introduce items on Vietnam

The call was due to the first quarter (Q1) of the year getting off to a slow start, likely hampering the total performance for the year. Vietnam’s real GDP growth in Q1/2023 decelerated to 3.32 per cent on-year, and from 5.92 per cent in Q2/2022, missing both the UOB and consensus forecasts. The main cause for the weak performance was due to manufacturing, which dipped into negative territory with a 0.4 per cent decline, for the first contraction since Q3/2021. The sector undershot estimates considerably and saw the slowest pace of expansion since that 6 per cent fall over 18 months ago, when the economy was in a state of shutdown during the pandemic. UOB said that the main cause for the manufacturing sector’s poor performance came primarily from weak external demand, which was largely expected. Exports in Q1 fell just under 12 per cent on-year to $79.2 billion, compared with an almost 13 per cent increase in the same quarter last year, while imports declined by over 14.5 per cent, … [Read more...] about UOB trim GDP growth forecast for Vietnam

Illustrative image (Source: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has projected the country's export sector to gradually recover in the latter part of the year. The rebound of the service and tourism sectors should also boost demand from trading partners , the ministry said. However, global economic uncertainty and an inflationary environment will inevitably affect Thai exports in the first half of the year. Thai outbound shipments are expected to contract in the first and second quarters, as importers still maintain large stockpiles, said Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department . The ministry reported on March 30 the customs-cleared value of exports dipped for the fifth month in a row in February, falling 4.7% year-on-year to 22.4 billion USD while imports increased by 1.1% to 23.5 billion USD, resulting in a trade deficit of 1.11 billion USD. For the first two months of 2023, Thai … [Read more...] about Thailand’s export expected to recover in H2 of 2023

At a press conference on March 30 to report the collection of State budget in the first quarter of 2023 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - State budget revenue reached an estimated 491.5 trillion VND (over 20.9 billion USD) in the first quarter of 2023, equivalent to 30.3% of the estimate, and up 1.3% from the same period last year, the Ministry of Finance reported on March 30. Twenty-eight of the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide recorded state budget revenue hitting 28% of their yearly estimates. Twenty-three provinces and centrally-run cities saw the higher revenues than in the same period of 2022, while 40 others reported lower revenues. Meanwhile, the accumulated expenditure in the first quarter was equivalent to 17.5%  of the yearly estimate. The Ministry of Finance said expenditures in the last three months were carried out as planned, meeting requirements for socio-economic development, defence, security safeguarding, state management, debt repayment, and … [Read more...] about State budget revenue up 1.3% in Q1

Vietnamese steel industry calling for wider investment from overseas entities, photo Le Toan Posco Yamato Vina Steel JSC, a joint venture between South Korea’s Pohang Iron and Steel Company and Japan’s Yamato Holdings, is contemplating constructing a second facility in Vietnam. Lee Youngwoo, general manager of Posco Yamato Vina, wants to “establish a robust sales network” across Vietnam while enhancing scrap supply security. In 2020, Posco Yamato Vina was the first to manufacture wide H-shaped steel in Vietnam. According to Lee, the business built a representative office in Haiphong last year in order to “create additional prospects for collaboration” with clients. In the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Posco Yamato Vina operates a steel mill with a capacity of one million metric tonnes per year and produces section steel with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. Following a lack of foreign investment in steel manufacturing in recent years, many observers see Posco … [Read more...] about Vietnamese steel industry calling for wider investment from overseas entities

Inspectors examine a container at Cai Lan port in Quang Ninh province. More ports need to be built to promote inter-regional ties. (Photo: VNA) Thai Binh (VNA) - The Red River Delta is a region of geopolitical, economic, cultural, and social importance to Vietnam , according to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. The minister made the remarks at a seminar "Promoting investment, trade, and services to strengthen inter-regional ties" held on March 30 in Thai Binh province. He said in more than 15 years, the region saw a remarkable economic advancement with an average annual growth rate of 8.93%, far higher than the country's level. In 2022, its GDP hit 2.89 quadrillion VND (123 billion USD), contributing to nearly one-third of the national GDP. Its income per capita was 1.3 times as high as the national average, at 123.4 million VND per annum. Despite the impressive economic growth, the region still faces some major obstacles. First, its transition … [Read more...] about Red River Delta – national economic powerhouse: Official

A Khmer pagoda decorated to celebrate the Chol Chnam Thmay festival (Source: baochinhphu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has sent a letter offering greetings to Khmer ethnic people on the occasion of their traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival 2023. Highlighting the special importance of the New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay, PM Chinh attributed Vietnam’s significant achievements last year partly to support and joint efforts by the people, including substantial contributions by the Khmer community. He said ethnic minority affairs and the implementation of policies on ethnic groups have improved considerably, with a focus on accelerating the three national target programmes, especially the one on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and the action plan for implementing the strategy for ethnic minority affairs in the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2045. As a result, the socio-economic situation in ethnic minority and … [Read more...] about PM extends greetings to Khmer people on Chol Chnam Thmay festival

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – Many schools in Laos have been closed as the country is experiencing unprecedented high levels of PM2.5 - airborne particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter - due to wildfires and farmers burning scrubland in preparation for crop planting. All kindergartens in the northern provinces of Bokeo and Xayaboury have been forced to close, while the closure is imposed for all schools in Thaphabat district in the central province of Bolikhamxay from March 28-31. Air pollution has also impacted domestic tourism as a number of visitors have either cancelled their bookings or shortened their vacations. Some flights to northern Laos have also been delayed or cancelled due to the issue. Phu Chi Fa National Park in Thailand ’s Chiang Rai province has been closed to tourists after being ravaged by a forest fire that spread over the border from Laos. Earlier, the Thai province of Nong Khai which borders Vientiane also … [Read more...] about Serious air pollution forces many schools in Laos to close