"Sticky rice, miss! Have some sticky rice and park your motorbike over there," a young man with a fancy hairstyle and in a pair of shorts, a fake branded T-shirt and honeycomb sandals calls out as he attempts to block a motorbike on the street. The woman on the motorbike quickly steers away to avoid him and the smoke of grilled meat coming from a nearby charcoal stove. It is past midnight, but the lights are still shining bright on the ‘Fried sticky rice, mung bean sticky rice, banh mi pate, stewed chicken’ sign at the De La Thanh-Giang Vo intersection in Hanoi. In front of the eatery, another young man is still fanning and flipping fat-dripping meat skewers while four young women are preparing sausages, sticky rice, eggs, and pickles. Most eateries in the area close at midnight without needing to be told by the police. This little street corner is however an exception. Two sticky rice outlets, a pho eatery and a perch and rice paper stall are still filled with customers … [Read more...] about Night-time economy: Vietnam yet to see the light
Vietnam places to see
Living in the best place to watch the sunrise
Anyone who has ever seen films of the upper class living in New York must be familiar with The Hamptons, a town full of sunshine, blue seas, beaches and 300-year-old heritage right along the coast. This is the upper land of the rich and famous stars in the US. Việt Nam also has a dreamlike place like The Hamptons – it is Halong Marina, a big urban area on the banks of Hạ Long Bay. Halong Marina, the best place to see the sunrise As an overseas student majoring in finance, Đức Duy (35, from Hà Nội) has a special worldview about real estate. He is looking to buy a coastal house with the desire to see the dawn every morning and sunset every evening. After many years of preparing finance, Đức Duy decided to buy a villa in the Marina Urban Area of the prestigious real estate developer BIM Land, the perfect home for his choice. Halong Marina is located right next to the masterpiece of natural heritage. Living in Hàng … [Read more...] about Living in the best place to watch the sunrise
Vietnam poised to profit from free trade agreements
Lindsey Ice, senior economist from Spanish-based FocusEconomics, which provides in-depth global economic analysis Since the doi moi policy started in 1986 and more recently through its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2007, Vietnam has become a success story of robust economic growth driven by trade liberalisation and global integration. Indeed, Vietnam’s opening to international commerce and FDI has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the stellar growth it has experienced over the last three decades, which transformed it from one of the poorest nations in the world to a middle-income market economy. Its economic narrative has been one of rapid transition from an agriculture-based economy to one where manufacturing and services play a much larger role. One key way of boosting trade and economic development is through participation in free trade agreements (FTAs). Two such pacts that are slated to come into effect in 2019 and could have a profound impact on the … [Read more...] about Vietnam poised to profit from free trade agreements
Vietnam gets to grips with CPTPP
Through the ratification of the CPTPP, Vietnam will be able to attract even more foreign investment to key technology sectors, Photo: Le Toan Tran Hoang Ngan has spent days studying the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He is not a negotiator of the deal, but a National Assembly (NA) member from Ho Chi Minh City recently provided with documents related to the agreement, before it was officially discussed at the NA last week. Initially, the deal was formed in 2005 as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The US joined the TPP in 2008, and Vietnam quickly followed suit. In January 2017 the US withdrew from the deal, which was then inked in March 2018 under the new name of the CPTPP. “Why was Vietnam invited to join the TPP, though its per capita income is only $2,380, while the average of other member states is $30,000?” asked Ngan, who is also a senior economist. “I think member … [Read more...] about Vietnam gets to grips with CPTPP
Phu Quoc among world’s most popular places to visit in 2019
The Hanoitimes - There are some beautiful locations, beaches and culturally rich cities to see that aren’t bombarded with tourists. Phu Quoc island, offshore Vietnam's southernmost province of Kien Giang, has been ranked 4th among 10 super cool vacation spots that are on the rise to be one of the most popular places to visit in 2019, according to a list released by The Travel, among the world’s most interesting sites for travel tips, guides, and facts. Phu Quoc island. When tourists are looking for a quiet beach vacation, they often don’t look to Vietnam to find their paradise. But Phu Quoc is made up of 28 islands that are uninhabited or used for private resorts. According to The Travel, the sand in Phu Quoc is soft and white, the beaches are serene, silent, without being overloaded by tourists. “These islands are warm year-round boasting an average of 80 degrees. The best part is that luxury hotels are being built on these islands, making it a … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc among world’s most popular places to visit in 2019