Despite the festive occasion, the consumption of non-essential goods in the first month of 2023 remained stagnant, with analysts believing the situation will linger throughout at least the first half this year. Despite the unfavourable environment, Mobile World Group (MWG) – the largest consumer electronics retailer in Vietnam – still aims to post positive revenue and net-profit growth in 2023, as well as two-digit growth compared to average level during the 2020-2022 period. To achieve this goal, the company envisages opening new stores on a selective basis and striving for new shops to generate profit for the patent company within three months after launching. Simultaneously, all shops in the system will focus on augmenting the sales revenue at existing outlets and controlling their operating costs to boost profits. Besides this, MWG will optimise its cash flow and slash financial expenses through improved inventory management. Specifically, the group aims to … [Read more...] about Retailers flexibly steering through turbulent times
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Tourism – a source of growth in Vietnam for 2023: HSBC
Despite near-term trade headwinds, tourism has emerged as a source of growth for Vietnam to mitigate the challenges ahead in 2023, according to the “Vietnam at a glance” report released by HSBC on February 6. Foreign tourists visit Vietnam (Photo: VNA) The report stressed that January’s data showed Vietnam continues to face difficulties in trade and the inflationary pressure of increasing prices. However, in spite of slowing trade, there are still pockets of resilience in Vietnam’s economy, and tourism will be a key one in 2023. Following its re-opening last March, Vietnam’s domestic tourism has been soaring, easily surpassing its 2022 target of 60 million to over 100 million tourists. Meanwhile, international tourism, which previously accounted for 60% of tourism receipts, saw a tepid recovery post COVID-19, with tourist arrivals reaching 3.6 million, only 20% of 2019’s level. But there are good reasons to expect a more meaningful recovery, in … [Read more...] about Tourism – a source of growth in Vietnam for 2023: HSBC
Hoi An’s full moon festival named intangible heritage
The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Chau bird's nest, Thanh Ha pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bong village and Tra Que vegetable garden. The center said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cam Pho, Ong Voi, Japanese Bridge, Ong and Ba Pagoda and Minh Huong communal house, as well as the Fujian and Jiao Zhou clubs. A night parade will take place in the Old Quarter with lanterns and a poet recital at Cam Pho communal house as well as folk games at Kazik Park on February 4-6. Pagodas and communal houses will be open … [Read more...] about Hoi An’s full moon festival named intangible heritage
Vietnam’s Internet speed to remain sluggish until March
The sluggish Internet speed in Vietnam will not improve until March when one of the four submarine cable systems with ongoing problems is expected to be fixed. Repair work on the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) is expected to be finished in March, a representative of an Internet service provider (ISP) told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday. It is still unclear when the problems on the Asia America Gateway (AAG), Asia Africa Europe (AAE-1), and Intra Asia (IA) cables will be fixed. Four out of the five submarine Internet cable systems connecting Vietnam to the world are facing problems. The APG and IA encountered issues in late January, while glitches were recorded on the AAG and AAE-1 in late 2022. ISPs said they have deployed routing solutions to overland cable lines, as well as implementing other contingency plans, to minimize the impacts on domestic users. However, many people said that they were unable to use online television and entertainment services, conduct … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Internet speed to remain sluggish until March
Spring festival to showcase cultural identities
The festival is held annually to welcome the spring and to honor ethnic communities' identity, promote solidarity among them and offer a traditional festive atmosphere to tourists as well. Some 100 representatives of 15 ethnic groups from 13 localities throughout the country will host activities each day during the month. The festival climax will be on February 11 and 12 with the Kate Festival of the Cham group, tree planting, folk cham do ho singing and performing Xoe Thai - a UNESCO recognized intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The Kate Festival is one of the biggest and most unique cultural activities of the Cham. It features a host of activities and ceremonies at ancient towers, with traditions including offerings to ancestors, musical performances, and the signing of hymns praising kings who were prominent in the building and development of the Champa Kingdom and the Cham people. Tree planting has become an annual Vietnamese custom each lunar New Year since … [Read more...] about Spring festival to showcase cultural identities
Businesses in Ho Chi Minh City speed up production to achieve set targets
New momentum For over one week now, more than 94% of businesses in the Southern economic hub has resumed their production with over 95% of workers being back to work after Tet holiday. Workers at Go Vap district-based Joint Stock Company 28.1 under the Corporation 28 of the General Department of Logistics, which specializes in garments making, are working with the highest capacity, focusing on orders from the U.S., Australia, and European countries. Working for the company for more than 21 years now, Nguyen Van Hong from Hai Duong province said that good income and policy offered by the company make him feel secure at work. Despite difficulties facing the garment sector due to COVID-19, his company has ensured orders uninterrupted, so workers have resumed work since the beginning of the lunar New Year. In addition, good Tet welfare policy has helped keep workers attached to the company. Senior Colonel Tran Doan Thoan, Director of Joint Stock Company 28.1 informed that the … [Read more...] about Businesses in Ho Chi Minh City speed up production to achieve set targets
Malaysia, Singapore strengthen cooperation in data protection, cyber security, digital economy
The 6th Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Information and Communications Cooperation is held between Malaysia and Singapore on February 3, highlighting the importance of digitalisation. (Photo: Facebook/KKD) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia and Singapore have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation on personal data protection , cyber security and the digital economy. The commitment was made at the two countries' 6th Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Information and Communications Cooperation held in Kuala Lumpur on February 3. At the meeting, officials of Malaysia and Singapore shared their perspectives on the importance of digitalisation as their economies transition to the endemic phase of COVID-19. Both sides shared the view that the rising uptake of digital technologies during the pandemic demonstrates an opportunity to bolster digital economies and improve corporate and individual connectivity. Consequently, the need for a safe and secure online space has … [Read more...] about Malaysia, Singapore strengthen cooperation in data protection, cyber security, digital economy
What to do with ChatGPT
I wanted to address my staff on the first working day after the Tet holidays, but instead of writing a speech by myself, I asked ChatGPT to do it by using three keywords: "optimism," "speed" and "resilience." It finished the speech in 15 seconds. It was terrific though I had to edit it a little bit. The AI tool knew how to express my ideas logically based on the keywords I provided. The speech expressed the foundation, the connection between these keywords, and the central point. Moreover, the structure of the speech was excellent, making a reference to the current economic situation and highlighting the key points and conclusions. The writing was coherent, and the wording is suitable for business executives and consultants. ChatGPT by U.S. startup OpenAI is estimated to have reached 100 million active users in January, just two months after launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer app in history, according to a study released on February 1 by analytics firm UBS. This … [Read more...] about What to do with ChatGPT
HCM City faces shortage of teacher
HCM City faces a shortage of teachers at all levels of education, according to the city’s Department of Education. HCM City is facing a shortage of teachers in all levels of education. — Photo: sggp.org.vn The situation was mentioned at a press conference on socioeconomic issues and COVID-19 prevention and control in the city held recently. Notably, the education sector is facing difficulties in recruiting teachers at primary and secondary schools. The department has submitted a project to attract human resources for primary and secondary school teachers and retain teachers at schools to the People's Committee of HCM City. In HCM City, the number of students, mainly at elementary schools, is expected to soar by 40,000 each year. Thủ Đức City, District 12, Bình Tân District, Bình Chánh District, and Hóc Môn District, which are in the process of rapid urbanisation, report the highest growth of student numbers. At the beginning of this school year, … [Read more...] about HCM City faces shortage of teacher