Vietnam Morning News For December 19

Việt Nam is Asia’s hottest investment destination: Forbes
An article published by US magazine Forbes named Việt Nam the hottest investment destination in Asia.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam becomes member of UN Commission on International Trade Law
Vietnam has for the first time become a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), singing up for a six-year term.
— Nhan Dan online

Vietnam’s e-commerce forecast to boom
Vietnam’s e-commerce market is predicted to boom in the near future, given that 53 percent of the population uses the internet and nearly 54 million people use smartphones.
— VNA NET

Is Vietnam’s economy too dependent on Samsung?
The slowdown in demand for mobile phones may affect Samsung’s operations in Vietnam, which could affect the domestic economy.
— Viet Nam Net

Party expels nearly 51,000 members over seven years
The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has expelled 50,938 members during the 2011-2017 period, of whom 38,519 were removed from the Party rolls for wrongdoings and 12,499 were expelled from the Party as punishment.
— Vietnam+

Việt Nam’s tra exports exceed $2b for first time
Việt Nam’s tra fish export value has exceeded US$2 billion for the first time, with the figure hitting $2.05 billion in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 27.4 per cent, according to the General Department of Customs.
— Viet Nam News

1.7 million sq.m of apartment in Hanoi remain downgraded
Some apartment blocks which were built under the French colonialism are no longer safe for living and might collapse at any time.
— Viet Nam Net

FDI firms expand local textile-garment sector to maximise on CPTPP
Vietnam has become increasingly appealing to large foreign investor groups in the textile and garment industry who want to seize opportunities before the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) takes effect in January next year, according to analysts.
— VNA NET

Electricity generation technology to be applied to treat Hanoi’s waste
Waste collection and treatment in rural areas have been improved in recent years, but local authorities hope new electricity generation technology and projects will help resolve waste problems more sustainably and effectively.
— Viet Nam Net

Visit Vietnam Year- launching pad for Quang Ninh’s tourism sector
The northern province of Quang Ninh enjoyed a bustling year with some 50 cultural, sports and tourism events and around 12.2 million visitors when it hosted the Visit Vietnam Year 2018.
— VNA NET

17 new bridges open to traffic in Long An
Seventeen bridges were officially open to traffic in the southern provice of Long An’s Moc Hoa District and Kien Tuong Town on Tuesday under the presence of former President Truong Tan Sang.
— BIZHUB

Six more solar power projects licensed in Binh Phuoc
The Government has approved an additional six solar power projects with a combined capacity of 850 MWp in Binh Phuoc, raising the total solar energy capacity of the southern province to the highest in the country.
— VNA NET

Prime Minister welcomes Holy See delegation
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 18 received a delegation from the Holy See, led by Under-Secretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri, who are in Vietnam to attend the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group.
— Vietnam+

VCSC’s Power Sector Update – Temporary gas shortage for power plants over 2020-2021
We assume a temporary gas shortage in 2020 and 2021 due to a one-year delay of Sao Vang-Dai Nguyet gas field. Recently, GAS’s management shared that the operator of Sao Vang-Dai Nguyet (SV- DN) gas field has faced difficulties in executing the project and therefore the expected operation date could be delayed from Q4 2020 to Q4 2021 (early 2022).
— Vietnam Insider

Vietcombank and American Express launch Premium Unlimited Cashback Card
Vietcombank and American Express on Tuesday introduced the Vietcombank Cashplus Platinum American Express Card, offering customers unlimited cash rebates as well as lifestyle benefits.
— Viet Nam News

Deputy PM urges construction of 500kV transmission lines
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung laid stress on the urgent need to build 500kV transmission lines running through Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum and Gia Lai to meet increasing power demand, especially in the south.
— VNA NET

Ho Chi Minh City Creative Awards launched
The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City launched the Ho Chi Minh City Creative Awards 2019 on December 18 in the presence of Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.
— Nhan Dan online

City seeks clean-food suppliers
Authorities in HCM City have been monitoring food safety violations more closely but challenges remain, including finding more suppliers of clean, high-quality products.
— Viet Nam News

Ben Tre attracts investment in high-tech agriculture
The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre is striving to attract more investment in high-tech agriculture, given that it boasts nearly 100,000ha of coconut trees, specialty fruits and nearly 10 million ornamental plants.
— VNA NET

Bình Thuận clarifies responsibilities of those involved in illegal tourism site
The People’s Committee of southern Bình Thuận Province has asked relevant departments and sectors to clarify the responsibilities of organisations and individuals involved in the illegal construction and operation of the Muine Hill Tourism Site in Phan Thiết City.
— Viet Nam News

Many bright spots seen in Vietnam’s economy this year: experts
The likely gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.8 percent and improved business climate are among the highlights of Vietnam’s economy in 2018, experts said.
— VNA NET

South Korean visitors to rise to 3.3 million
The number of South Korean tourists to Việt Nam is expected to rise by 30 per cent this year to reach more than 3.3 million, the second largest tourist market in the country behind China, according to the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism.
— Viet Nam News

VIB relocates headquarters from Hanoi to Saigon
VIB’s headquarters located in Pasteur Street, District 1 – the heart of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), an area which will allow it to better meet customers’ requirements, the bank said in a press release.
— Vietnam Insider

Electric motorbike market heats up
Electric motorbike are becoming more popular in Vietnam.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam moves to develop responsible fishery industry
Considerable efforts have been made by the entire political system, sectors and localities to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as required by the European Commission.
— VNA NET

Programme encourages children to wear helmets
The Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security and Japanese-invested Honda Vietnam have launched a communication programme to encourage children to wear helmets.
— VNA NET

Binh Thuan struggles with untreated coal ash
Over four million tons of untreated coal ash and slag, discharged from thermal power plants in the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan, pose serious risks to the environment, said a local official.
— Viet Nam Net

ACV welcomes 100 millionth passenger at Phu Quoc International Airport
The Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) hit a milestone last weekend as it welcomed the 100 millionth passenger arriving at its network of airport across the country this year.
— VNA NET

Vietnam’s PV Power to list entire shares worth over US$1.6 billion
With a par value of VND10,000 (US$0.43), the total value of the share amount in subject is VND23.41 trillion (US$1 billion).
— Hanoi Times

Hai Phong has 89 new-style rural communes
An additional 15 communes in the northern port city of Hai Phong have been recognised as completing all criteria of the new-style rural area building programme so far this year, raising the total number to 89.
— VNA NET

Vietnam urged to take actions for seizing investment from China
The Vietnamese business environment can be improved by increasing productivity as well as reducing costs and business risks.
— Hanoi Times

Vietnamese woman arrested for smuggling 22 kilos of elephant tusks into Thailand
– A Vietnamese woman was arrested for allegedly smuggling more than 22 kilogrammes of endangered elephant tusks in Thailand on Sunday,
— Viet Nam Net

Da Nang greenlights 606 million USD logistics plan
The central city of Da Nang has approved a master plan for the development of its logistics infrastructure by 2030 with total investment of 13.7 trillion VND (606 million USD).
— VNA NET

Trade deals to bring investment
In 2019 foreign direct investment in Việt Nam will be significant thanks to new-generation free trade agreements that have already been signed or are under discussion with various partners.
— Viet Nam News

First Vietnamese beauty selected among Miss Universe’s top 5
H’Hen Niê has appeared as a confident, dynamic, sexy and graceful contestant throughout a series of activities during the three-week competition.
— Hanoi Times

Saigon streets sparkle in the buildup to Christmas
With only days left before Santa Claus hits Ho Chi Minh City, the festive atmosphere is starting to warm up the city’s streets.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnamese war veterans in Czech contribute to homeland
Vietnamese war veterans in the Czech Republic recently gathered in Prague on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22).
— VNA NET

Can Vietnam say ‘no’ to coal-fired thermal power?
Though coal-fired thermopower causes pollution, it remains a solution to the rapidly rising indeed for power.
— Viet Nam Net

Workshop on President Ho Chi Minh held in India
A workshop on President Ho Chi Minh was organised on December 17 in New Delhi by the Vietnamese Embassy in India and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
— VNA NET

A bright future for Việt Nam’s consumer finance market
Consumer financing is thriving in Việt Nam, driven by a rise in demand for goods and favourable demographics, which offers opportunity for investors.
— Viet Nam News

Feature photo Vietnam Manpower

This week’s Vietnam morning news feature photo acknowledges International Migrants Day, December 18.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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