Vietnam Morning News For November 27

Vietnam is scheduled to export milk products to China in 2019
Three leading Vietnamese dairy producers, including Vinamilk, TH True Milk and Moc Chau Milk, are the first to tap in the Chinese market, local media reported.
— Hanoi Times

Foreign investors pour nearly US$ 31 billion into Vietnam
As of late November 2018, Viet Nam absorbed US 30.8 billion of FDI, equivalent to 93.2% against the same period last year.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam wins big at international math competition
All 36 Vietnamese students won prizes when competing in the World of Mathematics Team Competition (WMTC) held in Varna, Bulgaria from November 19 -26.
— VNA NET

Vietnam makes positive changes in work permit for foreign workers: PwC
From December 1, 2018, social insurance contribution is applicable to foreign workers instead of only Vietnamese individuals before.
— Viet Nam Net

Property firms wary of bubble, set sights low
Chu Anh Tuan, deputy general director of property developer Hà Ðô Group, said recently his company expects consolidated profit after tax to be VNÐ700 billion (over US$30.43 million) this year.
— Vietnam Insider

Wood exports expected to hit US$8.85 billion this year
Vietnam’s export of wood and wood-based products is projected to reach US$8.85 billion in 2018, up over US$1 billion from the 2017 record of US$7.7 billion.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam cultivates 125,000 hectares of tea
This year, Vietnam has cultivated about 125,000 hectares of tea, including 110,000 hectares for commercial purpose which produced 8.5 tonnes of tea per hectare, according to the Vietnam Tea Association (VITAS).
— Vietnam+

Prices of cashew in Vietnam on decline by 30% to low of $3.20-3.40 FOB
Cashew prices have come down significantly since the beginning of this year – a decline of about 30 per cent from a range of $4.75-5 free on board (FOB) in January/February 2018 to a low of $3.20-3.40 FOB from Vietnam in September 2018.
— FnBnews

Central bank announces first forward exchange sales in 2018
The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) has introduced forward sales of US dollars to commercials banks for the first time this year to better manage the country’s foreign exchange market.
— Viet Nam News

“Organic” meat sold in shops is not officially certified
Numerous shops sell “organic” meat in the market, but the origin of the products is unclear and they are not certified as organic.
— Vietnam Insider

Contracts worth US$2 billion expected to be signed at Vietnam’s first tourism summit
Hanoi People’s Committee and leaders from CNN will sign a cooperation agreement on promoting Hanoi and Vietnam on this channel.
— Hanoi Times

Slow equitisation and divestment cause difficulties for attracting private investment
In a bid to attract more investment capital and improve the competitiveness of many state-owned enterprises, the government has been speeding up the equitisation of these enterprises. However, the process still remains at a snail’s pace, making it difficult for private investors and businesses to engage in. Thu Ha reports.
— Nhan Dan Online

Thailand’s TCP Group to invest US$120 million in Vietnam in next 3 years
The group aims to increase market share in Vietnam to more than 50% in the next five years.
— Hanoi Times

Food safety still a problem in school canteens
Several food poisoning cases reported at public canteens, including a number in schools, across the country in recent months have raised concerns among parents and the public about food safety.
— Viet Nam Net

What’s behind VinFast’s pricing strategy?
Nguyen Thanh Hai, dubbed ‘Hai Kar’, who was formerly in charge of marketing for Bentley and Lamborghini, was present with others at the launch of VinFast cars at Thong Nhat Park in mid-November.
— Viet Nam Net

South Korean banks race into Vietnam, drawn by deregulation
South Korean banks are scrambling to expand their presence in Vietnam, betting on the emerging country’s growth potential and its intent to loosen foreign ownership limits.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

‘Makeover’ of handicraft product designs
From simple and rudimentary shapes, Vietnamese handicraft products in many trade villages have been given a makeover with eye-catching designs, becoming fashionable items for sale at higher prices.
— Nhan Dan Online

Demand for food spikes in city
Some traditional markets in HCM City on Monday morning were still flooded and closed after storm No 9 pounded the city all day on Sunday.
— Viet Nam News

Party chief commits support to defence ties with Cuba
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong has committed all possible support to defence ties with Cuba, contributing to further deepening the special friendship between the two parties, States, and armies.
— Nhan Dan online

Illegal transport of ores checked
The northern mountainous province of Lào Cai has been carrying out inspections to manage the transportation of ore and minerals in border areas.
— Viet Nam News

Can Vietnam achieve its vision of a ‘green transformation’?
VIETNAM is facing a number of environmental pitfalls and policy hurdles on its path towards a sustainable energy sector, Frauke Urban, Giuseppina Siciliano, Linda Wallbott, Markus Lederer and Dang Nguyen Anh write.
— Asian Correspondent

Vietnam-based edtech startup Topica raises US$50M in Series D
Vietnam-based edtech startup Topica Edtech Group has raised US$50 million in a Series D round led by Northstar Group, in what is one of the most significant investments in the sector regionally.
— Yahoo News

Quang Ninh promotes travelling through Van Don airport
The northeastern province of Quang Ninh is considering reduction in transportation costs for buses from Van Don International Airport to the centre of Ha Long city.
— VNA NET

TCP plans big for Vietnam
Group to invest bt4 bn to whet the country’s growing appetite for beverages.
— The Nation

Mekong Delta should forsake unsustainable third rice crop
Developing flood-based agriculture models, ditching intensive shrimp farming for integrated farming could be key for the Mekong Delta to cope with the threat of climate change.
— Viet Nam News

Horasis Asia Meeting: Vietnam pledges to improve business environment
The Vietnamese government is strongly committed to improving the business climate, said Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung at the Horasis Asia Meeting, which opened on November 26 in Binh Duong province.
— Nhan Dan Online

Top legislator affirms Party, State’s strict stance on corruption
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has affirmed the strict stance of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State on corruption during a meeting with voters in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 26.
— VNA NET

Taxis, ride-hailing firms leave residents high and dry in flood-hit Saigon
Even for prices several times the normal, Saigon residents could not get a taxi, Grab or Go Viet car.
— VnExpress

Letter contest launched to engage youths in efforts to save bears
The Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV), on the occasion of Vietnam Bear Day (November 26), launched a letter writing contest with the aim of engaging young people in bear protection efforts.
— VNA NET

Typhoon Usagi kills 1 in southern Vietnam
Typhoon Usagi, which made landfall in Vietnam’s southern region, has killed one person and damaged many houses, boats and roads, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Monday.
— Xinhua

HCM City needs new laws to protect heritage buildings
HCM City needs to develop new laws to protect and preserve its old buildings, especially villas, experts have recommended.
— VNA NET

First northern specialities week begins at Big C
The first ‘Northwest and Northern Mountainous Provinces Specialties Week’ began on Friday at Big C An Lac in HCM City’s Binh Tan District and the supermarket’s 15 stores in the north.
— Bizhub

Vina T&T builds fresh coconut plant in Ben Tre
Vina T&T Import – Export Service Trading Co Ltd (Vina T&T Group) began the construction of a fresh coconut processing plant in Chau Thanh district, the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, on November 25.
— VNA NET

North-South railway reopens after storm
Trains resumed operations on the North-South railway on Monday morning after Storm Usagi disrupted services on Saturday afternoon.
— Viet Nam News

VN, India eye textile co-operation
Trade between India and Viet Nam in textiles has grown significantly, but there is still huge untapped potential, the Indian consul general in the city has said.
— Bizhub

HCM City deluged as Storm No. 9 dumps record rain
Many streets and alleys in HCM City were severely flooded as heavy rains and high tides caused a double whammy. People pushing their stalled vehicles was a common sight.
— Viet Nam News

Defence Minister holds talks with Cuban counterpart
Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich – Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister – on November 26 held talks with Sen. Lieut. Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Politburo member, member of the State Council and Council of Ministers, and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) of Cuba.
— VNA NET

Air carriers’ busy holiday season begins
Swiss Edelweiss is one of the foreign air carriers that have opened new air routes to Vietnam. The airline last week began providing two flights a week between Zurich and HCMC.
— Viet Nam Net

Hưng Yên revokes licenses from 14 delayed projects
Hưng Yên’s Department of Planning and Investment has asked the provincial People’s Committee to revoke the investment licences from 14 projects due to excessive delays.
— Viet Nam News

Cool invention makes waves for fisheries
A machine that makes ice from sea water has been introduced into Việt Nam for the first time.
— Viet Nam News

Land rental rate in Binh Duong’s IPs tops 80 percent
The rate of land rental in the industrial parks (IPs) and industrial clusters in the southern province of Binh Duong has reached 80.8 percent and 70.6 percent, respectively.
— VNA NET

Project strengthens community’s engagement in natural resource management
A water resource management project has been underway in Dak Rong commune, K’Bang district of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, aiming to preserve the local biodiversity, improve the livelihood of communities in the basins of Srepok and Sesan rivers sustainably, and encourage the engagement of parties in managing natural resources.
— VNA NET

Vietnam holds unique position in global supply chain: Deputy PM
The country participates in 12 free trade agreements (FTAs), including six FTAs between ASEAN and major trading partners including China, India, Japan, and South Korea, the governmental portal reported.
— Hanoi Times

China could use Vietnam to avoid US tariffs: experts
Experts said the U.S.-China trade war puts Vietnam at risk of fraud as capital moves into the country to avoid U.S. sanctions.
— VnExpress

Expert suggests using scrap tires to fight landslides
In Vietnam and the Mekong Delta in particular, landslides along rivers and coastal areas are becoming more serious and more frequent
— Viet Nam Net

VN border ‘largely’ marked
Cambodia and Vietnam have largely completed border demarcation in Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri provinces at locations agreed by the two parties. But disputed areas were left untouched pending France’s assistance, according to border committee officials.
— Phnom Penh Post

Businesses in Vietnam pledge to fight illegal wildlife consumption
Danang, along with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Can Tho, is a key city for USAID Wildlife Asia program activities.
— Hanoi Times

19 Places To Visit In Vietnam In 2019
Not only is Vietnam a convenient and affordable travel destination for Filipinos—it is also rich in natural beauty, culture, and history.
— Cosmopolitan

Feature photo James Offer

This week’s Vietnam morning news feature photo acknowledges Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, November 30.

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.