Vietnam Morning News For November 30

Cambodia and Vietnam agree to boost trade
Cambodia and Vietnam has agreed on a speedy implementation of mechanisms to facilitate trade, achieve faster transport connectivity, and apply one-stop services at border gates to help achieve a US$5 billion (165 billion baht) bilateral trade target.
— Bangkok Post

Mobile Vietnamese: Singles’ Day 2018 sales rise 240 %, but sales via PC plummet
Recent figures show nearly two-and-a-half times as many online shoppers in Vietnam made purchases on Singles’ Day 2018 compared to last year.
— AEC News Today

Micro SME and individual households fall short of policies to support them
During the process of global economic integration and growing protectionism, the fierce competition and lack of support from the legal system have put pressure on Vietnamese enterprises in general, and micro enterprises and individual households in particular.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnamese rice exports up, China biggest market
HANOI: Vietnam’s rice exports are expected to rise 5.7% this year to 6.15 million metric tonnes, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Thursday.
— Bangkok Post

Vietnam Oil and Gas Group tops Profit500 Ranking
The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) topped the Profit500 Ranking, which listed the 500 most profitable companies in Vietnam in 2018.
— VNA NET

VIB became the first Vietnam’s private commercial bank formally apply Basel II
This approval followed SBV’s Circular No 41/2016/TT-NHNN on regulating capital adequacy ratio for banks, branches of foreign banks, effective from January 1, 2019.
— Vietnam Insider

Ministry speeds up installation of fishing boat-tracking devices
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has urged authorities in Vietnam’s coastal localities to speed up the installation of satellite-positioning Movimar devices to monitor fishing boats.
— VNA NET

Former banking tycoon Tran Bac Ha arrested
Ha was accused of violating regulations on lending, guaranteeing, and debt managing, including a loand worth VND4.7 trillion (US$200 million) to violating Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB).
— The Hanoi Times

GMS biodiversity conservation corridors to operate from 2019
The Greater Mekong Subregion biodiversity conservation corridors and project management plans will be put into operation from 2019, said Vice Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Environment Nguyen The Dong.
— VNA NET

Asian cities to attract US$20 trillion in climate-related investments by 2030: WB
The Asia Pacific region has the highest climate smart investment potential of any region in the world, representing by far the biggest opportunity in green buildings, estimated at a US$17.8 trillion opportunity by 2030.
— The Hanoi Times

Former chairman of top Vietnam bank arrested in massive fraud case
Tran Bac Ha, former chairman of Vietnam’s second largest listed bank, has been arrested for allegedly violating banking regulations.
— VN Express

Việt Nam records 8,319 network attacks in first nine months
The VNCERT’s statistics showed there had been 8,319 network attacks in Việt Nam as of the end of the third quarter of this year, including 1,575 malware cases, 4,829 deface cases and 1,915 phishing attacks.
— Viet Nam News

VN’s food safety demand a chance for producers
Increasing demand for safe and traceable foods is throwing up plenty of opportunities for food producers, the 7th IFC International Food Safety Forum heard in HCM City on Wednesday.
— Bizhub

International tourist arrivals pass 14 million in 11 months
The number of foreign tourists visiting Việt Nam so far this year is estimated at 14.2 million, up 21.3 per cent against the same period last year, the General Statistics Office said on Thursday.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam top gold miner Bong Mieu goes bankrupt
Fourteen out of 24 creditors voted on filing Bong Mieu’s bankruptcy process.
— The Hanoi Times

Vietnam shows off “pho,” “nem ran” at ASEAN Culinary Festival
Vietnam has joined nine other ASEAN countries to showcase its best traditional dishes at the ASEAN Culinary Festival 2018 which is currently underway at the COEX Convention Centre in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, from November 29 to December 1.
— VNA NET

State budget collection hit over VNĐ1.1 quadrillion by mid-November
Total State budget collection from the beginning of the year till November 15 was estimated at VNĐ1.16 quadrillion (US$49.57 billion), up 16.1 per cent year-on-year.
— Viet Nam News

VN’s start-ups have ambitious plans, but is red tape holding back development?
Banking on solid economic growth, a young population and strong internet coverage, Viet Nam has been making efforts to become a start-up nation.
— Bizhub

Việt Nam to open IoT Innovation Hub
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Ericsson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday in Hà Nội to establish an Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation Hub.
— Viet Nam News

Enterprises lack workers trained in the newest digital technologies
Companies have been slow in reforming their operations because of the shortage of qualified personnel experienced in advanced technologies
— Viet Nam Net

HCM City steps up smart city development
Building smart urban areas is urgent for Ho Chi Minh City to maintain sustainable economic growth, promote the digital and knowledge-based economy and raise locals’ living standards.
— VNA NET

Vietnam has expressed concerns over interest rates charged by China for its loans
Interest rates from Chinese official development assistance (ODA) loans are nearly double those of other countries, coupled with less attractive loan terms. Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has expressed concern over ODA loans from China, according to reports in local media.
— Vietnam Insider

Nike and Levi’s partner Song Hong Garment lists shares on stock market
With market capitalization of nearly VND2.15 trillion (US$92.98 million), Song Hong Garment has become Vietnam’s second largest garment company in terms of market capitalization.
— The Hanoi Times

State Treasury raises over VNĐ3.6 trillion via G-bonds
The State Treasury of Việt Nam mobilised VNĐ3.656 trillion (US$156.24 million) through Government bond auctions on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange (HNX) on Wednesday.
— Viet Nam News

Connectivity essential for businesses when joining CPTPP: seminar
Vietnamese enterprises will benefit little from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) if they lack connectivity, heard a seminar themed “CPTPP: Opportunities and Challenges for Vietnamese Businesses” held in Hanoi on November 28.
— Nhan Dan online

Water risk report for garment industry launched
The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association and the World Wildlife Fund launched a water risk report for Vietnam’s textile and garment industry and a tool for assessing water risks in the Mekong region in HCMC on November 28
— Viet Nam Net

New HIV infections among VN’s gay population increasing
Reports of new cases of HIV among homosexual groups have increased by 25 per cent in the first ten month this year, said La Thi Loan, vice director of Hanoi’s Disease Control Centre
— Viet Nam Net

HCM City launches busses to raise awareness about sexual harassment
HCM City has launched 26 orange buses with the aim of raising public awareness about the sexual harassment of women and children.
— Viet Nam News

Global innovation centre coming to Vietnam
The Ministry of Science and Technology and Xinova signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a global innovation centre in VN to connect Vietnamese innovators with the global innovative network for greater creative ideas.
— Viet Nam Net

Nha Trang City’s deputy chairman investigated
Police of central Khanh Hoa Province yesterday started criminal proceedings against Le Huy Toan, deputy chairman of Nha Trang City’s People’s Committee, for lacking responsibilities and causing serious consequences related to
— Viet Nam Net

Farm produce: ‘rescue campaigns’ still needed, even as exports rise
Reports show that Vietnam’s farm produce exports have been increasing steadily year after year, but many farmers cannot sell all of their produce.
— Viet Nam Net

VN’s food safety demand an opportunity
Increasing demand for safe and traceable foods is throwing up plenty of opportunities for food producers, the 7th IFC International Food Safety Forum heard in HCM City on November 28.
— Viet Nam News

25th meeting of Mekong Council reviews work on river
The 25th meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council was convened in Ha Long City, the northern province of Quang Ninh, yesterday.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam may face power shortage in 2019 due to thin coal supply: EVN
If Vinacomin continues to supply coal less than the volume signed with power generators, the power shortage might happen in 2019, EVN warned.
— Hanoi Times

Vietnam acts to eliminate hunger by 2025
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong has called on all ministries, sectors, international organisations, domestic and foreign businesses, experts, and volunteers to join hands in working towards a Vietnam free of hunger by 2025.
— VNA NET

Transgender law to be discussed by 2020
The National Assembly (NA) is expected to discuss a draft law protecting the legal status and rights of transgenader people, both those who have undertaken sex reassignment surgery and who have not, by 2020.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam needs policy on recycling thermopower slag: experts
Thermopower ash and slag is considered normal solid waste, suitable to be used in the construction industry. However, no state management agency has been assigned to provide certification that ash and slag is not hazardous waste.
— Viet Nam Net

City hosts cyber security conference
Experts shared their experiences and discussed solutions to strengthen information and cyber security at a conference in HCM City on Wednesday.
— Viet Nam News

How high are logistics costs in Vietnam?
The Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA) says that logistics costs in Vietnam are 16-17 percent of GDP, not 20.9 percent as reported before by several institutions.
— Viet Nam Net

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.