Vietnam Morning News For December 31, 2018

State budget collection estimated to hit 60.2 billion USD
State budget collection was estimated to reach almost 1.4 quadrillion VND ND (60.2 billion USD) this year, 6 percent higher than the estimate, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung told a teleconference between the government and localities cities in Hanoi on December 28.
— VNA

Vietnam Airlines earns pre-tax profit of nearly 2 trillion VND
The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has reported that its revenues in 2018 are estimated to hit 73.3 trillion VND (over 3.1 billion USD), meeting 99.8 percent of its set plan.
— VNA

Footwear, bag exports estimated at US$19.5 billion this year
According to LEFASO Secretary General, Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, from January to November, the country earned US$14.61 billion from footwear shipments and US$3.07 billion from the export of suitcases and bags, up 10.9% and 3% from a year earlier.
— Nhan Dan online

Unexploded steel-pellet bomb unearthed in Hai Duong province
As many as 550 pieces of a steel-pellet bomb used by the US army during the war in Vietnam have been safely removed from the land plot of a family in the northern province of Hai Duong.
— VNA

Grab to pay Vinasun $210,300
The HCM City court on Friday ordered ride-hailing firm Grab to pay VNĐ4.8 billion (US$210,300) worth of compensation to local taxi firm Vinasun.
— Viet Nam News

Scrap management tough as firms unwilling to cooperate
Local authorities are facing mounting difficulties in managing imported scrap as many scrap importers have refused to cooperate in dealing with the numerous scrap containers piling up at ports, said a General Department of Vietnam Customs official.
— Viet Nam Net

Thermal power plant dumps slag, but city officials punish locals
Thousands of tons of ash and slag from Mong Duong 1 Thermal power Plant in Cam Pha City of Quang Ninh province was dumped into the environment early this month.
— Viet Nam Net

IAEA helps Vietnam plan for new reactor
The new 15-MW reactor may be located in Lam Dong or Dong Nai provinces.
— Hanoi Times

Vietnam’s exports more sophisticated: World Bank
Vietnam’s exports have become more sophisticated with an impressive diversification of exports and increases in higher-value manufacturing exports, according to a recent World Bank (WB) report.
— VNA

New Vietnam international airport welcomes first passenger flight
A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 carrying Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and government officials made the first touchdown at the Van Don International Airport near the world-famous Ha Long Bay on Sunday morning, marking the opening of the first private airport in Vietnam.
— VN Express

HCM City steps up patrols to reduce traffic congestions
Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Transport has added more patrols to handle traffic congestions during the holiday season.
— VNA

CPTPP trade deal officially takes effect
The 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) officially came into force on December 30, creating a free trade area covering more than a tenth of the global economy.
— VNA

Man prosecuted for crafting large amount of ivory products
The People’s Procuracy of Hanoi city has completed the indictment to prosecute Nguyen Huu Tien, born in 1983, residing in Thuong Tin district, for the charge of violating regulations on the protection of endangered and rare animals under Article 244 of the Criminal Code 2015.
— Vietnam Plus

Bomb attack in Egypt: Eight Vietnamese recover and could return home
Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Tran Thanh Cong has affirmed that eight out of 12 Vietnamese people who were injured in the recent bomb attack in Cairo have completely recovered and could return home.
— Viet Nam Net

Home solar power systems shine in HCM City
Hundreds of households in Ho Chi Minh City have been benefiting from homegrown solar power systems.
— VNA

PM launches major infrastructural facilities in Quang Ninh
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the launch of the Van Don International Airport, Ha Long International Passenger Terminal, and Ha Long-Van Don Expressway in the northern province of Quang Ninh on December 30.
— Nhan Dan online

Marble Mountains recognised as national special relic
Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) landscape site in the central city of Da Nang has been recognised as a national Special Relic, one of the 16 approved by the Prime Minister recently.
— VNA

Discovering one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia
Safe hands: Trưởng Thị Gạch, 82, a Cham artisan, has been making pottery for 70 years in Bàu Trúc Village in Ninh Thuận Province. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Châu
— Viet Nam News

Strong year for insurance industry
Viet Nam’s insurance industry achieved high year-on-year growth of 24 per cent in 2018, the fifth consecutive year the industry posted annual growth of more than 20 per cent.
— Viet Nam Net

Phu Quoc island’s pearl-breeding project a success
A oyster breeding project in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang which is part of larger effort to preserve and regenerate natural aquatic resources on Phu Quoc island has seen positive results, according to the Phu Quoc Reserve Management Board.
— VNA

Six arrested for slaughtering, eating endangered monkey in Vietnam
Six men in Vietnam were busted this week for killing and eating an endangered monkey — and livestreaming the gruesome event on Facebook, according to a report.
— New York Post

Việt Nam remembers just war against genocidal Khmer Rouge
Vietnamese defense officials have reaffirmed Việt Nam was forced to use its just right of self defence in the war against the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
— Viet Nam News

Feature photo i Tour Vietnam

This week’s morning news photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.

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).

Vietnam morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Vietnam news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies, not politics.