Vietnam Morning News For July 20

‘Good Morning Vietnam’ broadcaster dies
Adrian Cronauer, the man whose military radio antics inspired a character played by Robin Williams in the film Good Morning, Vietnam, has died. He was 79.
— Bangkok Post

The State Bank of Vietnam Suspends Import of Crypto Mining Hardware
The Vietnamese central bank, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) announced it will suspend the import of cryptocurrency mining hardware, according to local news agency Viet Nam News July 19.
— Coin Telegraph

US citizen faces Vietnam protest trial
William Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American who was arrested during an anti-Chinese demonstration in Vietnam, faces his first trial in Hanoi for disturbing public order.
— Asean Economists

Vietnam says controversial cybersecurity law aims to protect online rights
Vietnam’s new cybersecurity law is designed to protect online rights and create a “safe and healthy cyberspace,” the foreign ministry said on Thursday, although critics have warned it gives the Communist-ruled state more power to crack down on dissent.
— Reuters

Vietnam to prosecute former senior cops in multimillion dollar gambling case
Phu Tho provincial police have recommended criminal prosecution of two former police officials and 90 others involved in a transnational online gambling ring.
— VnExpress

Industry 4.0 requires Government adaptation
The Government needs to adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in order to be able to govern the country in the digital age, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
— Bizhub

Rice export sees huge opportunities from traditional markets
Vietnam’s rice export has posted remarkable figures in the first half of 2018, and the sector expects business to get better in the remaining months of the year as the country’s traditional rice markets are increasing import.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam ready to receive South Korean investment in textile & garment sector
A new investment wave is expected to hit Vietnam’s textile & garment industry in the time to come, triggered by the Vietnam-South Korea FTA.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Efficiency and transparency are key for SOE governance
Inefficient monitoring and supervising of state representative are some of the key reasons behind violations in managing and utilizing state capital and assets in SOEs, stated a recent conclusion of the National Assembly Supervisory Delegation.
— The Hanoi Times

SMEs upbeat on export prospects
Up to 57 percent of surveyed small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam believe they will continue to enjoy growing export, according to a research recently conducted by market research company Harris Interactive on behalf of FedEx Express.
— VietnamNet Bridge

PM urges policies for stable growth in H2
The implementation of financial and monetary policies must assure that the country’s economic growth is stable and protected from strong volatility in the second half of 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Wednesday.
— Bizhub

Vietnam gets foreign investment inflows veering from China
China’s rising labor costs, the looming US trade war and Vietnam’s high growth are accelerating an already strong trend of foreign firms driving away from China to the Southeast Asian country.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam advised to apply flexible policies on exchange rate
The US-China trade war and the fall in the Chinese Yuan post big impacts for the world economy, including Vietnam. Some experts have said Vietnam should employ flexible exchange rate policies in response.
— VietnamNet Bridge

Standard Chartered ups VN growth forecast
Standard Chartered Bank expects Viet Nam to achieve growth of 7 per cent in 2018, higher than its previous forecast of 6.8 per cent, with all domestic engines firing together.
— Bizhub

VIETNAM’S VINFAST GETS ITALIAN DESIGN, GERMAN ENGINEERING
Vietnamese automaker VinFast will use the Paris auto show to raise its global profile by unveiling Italian-designed first production cars.
— Auto Week

Vietnam moves to ratify CPTPP by end-2018: Spokesperson
The country is in process to ratify the trade deal, in line with current regulations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— The Hanoi Times

Old ferry terminals transformed into tourist attractions in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
A few old ferry terminals which once dotted major routes in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have been turned into tourist attractions, jolting the local economy with new jobs and a renewed vitality.
— Tuoi Tre

High rents hamper retail growth
Retail companies are racing to expand but are challenged by high rental costs in major cities.
— Bizhub

Vietnam’s 400-year-old town rated among world’s 15 best tourism cities
U.S. travel site Travel + Leisure names Hoi An in list of tourism cities around the world to explore this year.
— VnExpress

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