Vietnam Morning News For April 3

Vietnam’s E-visas – Eligibility and Application Process Explained
Vietnam recently extended its electronic visa (e-visa) policy until February 2021 and expanded the list of countries that are eligible to participate. An e-visa is typically applied for online, linked to a passport number, and stored on a computer – with no stamp or label delivered before travel.
— Vietnam Briefing

Hanoi’s exports estimated to grow 11.3 percent in Q1
Hanoi is estimated to ship more than 3.3 billion USD worth of products overseas in the first three months of 2019, an annual increase of 11.3 percent.
— VNA NET

Petrol prices hiked in latest review
The retail prices of oil and petrol rose sharply on Tuesday following adjustments made by the ministries of finance and industry and trade.
— Bizhub

Hanoi city leads FDI attraction in first quarter of 2019
Hanoi has been the country’s top attractor of foreign direct investment (FDI) this year, luring more than than 4.05 billion USD in FDI projects as of March 20, 10 times higher than the same period last year.
— VNA NET

Ho Chi Minh City to launch first human milk bank at top maternity hospital
A leading maternity hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is set to launch the city’s first international standard human milk bank next week as a solution to a shortage of biological milk for premature newborns.
— Vietnam Insider

VN to lack 400,000 IT workers by 2020
Vi?t Nam will need an additional 400,000 information technology (IT) personnel by 2020, heard a forum on information and communications technology (ICT) human resources held in Hà N?i on Saturday.
— Viet Nam News

Exports help push up trade surplus in first quarter
Improved exports in March helped Viet Nam gain a trade surplus of US$536 million in the first quarter after running deficits in the first two months, the latest update from the General Statistics Office (GSO) revealed.
— Bizhub

More than 400 tonnes of rice supplied for poor people in Yen Bai
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to provide 404 tonnes of rice from national reserves for the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai during this year’s between-crop period.
— VNA NET

Costs cause seafood firms to sink
Rising production costs are harming the competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood products, according to experts. These include the prices of feed, material input, electricity and labour.
— Bizhub

Hanoi works to lift up competitive index in 2019
The Hanoi People’s Committee has issued a plan to improve the municipal business climate and competitiveness index (PCI) this year.
— VNA NET

Robust production fueling economic growth
NDO – The Vietnamese economy’s first-three-month growth rate has hit 6.79% year-on-year, reflecting good performance of enterprises, with impetus expected to come from big investment projects. However, to ensure sustainable growth, growth quality must receive due attention. Thu Ha reports.
— Nhan Dan Online

742,100 foreign tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City in March
Ho Chi Minh City welcomed more than 742,100 foreign tourists in March, up 10 percent against March 2018, the municipal Tourism Department announced on April 1.
— VNA NET

Tax reform crucial for State budget sustainability
Taxes and duties are a very important source of State budget revenue and provide major finance for the Government’s socio-economic development programmes. In Vi?t Nam, tax revenue is starting to decline while expenditure continues to rise, threatening budget sustainability.
— Viet Nam News

Forestry product exports pick up 18 percent in Q1
The export value of forestry products edged up 18 percent year on year to 2.4 billion USD in the first three months of 2019, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry announced on April 1.
— VNA NET

Fisheries sector urged to build brand
Deputy Prime Minister Tr?nh Ðình Dung has urged the fisheries sector to build a brand with food safety and high quality for seafood products.
— Viet Nam News

Indian patrol vessel’s Vietnam visit enhances defence, maritime ties
SINGAPORE: An Indian Coast Guard ship has docked at the Vietnamese port of Danang, signalling growing defence and maritime cooperation between the two countries.
— Economic Times

Credit growth rate estimated at 2.28 per cent in Q1
Total outstanding loans of the banking system rose 2.28 per cent as of March 25 and the total means of payment grew by 2.67 per cent compared to late 2018.
— Viet Nam News

HCM City’s population growth stands at 2.15 percent in 10 years
Ho Chi Minh City announced on April 1 that its average population growth rate during 2009-2019 is 2.15 percent per annum, which means the city has an addition of 170,000 people each year, equivalent to the population of a small district in the southern hub.
— VNA NET

Exports help push up trade surplus in first quarter
Improved exports in March helped Vi?t Nam gain a trade surplus of US$536 million in the first quarter after running deficits in the first two months, the latest update from the General Statistics Office (GSO) revealed.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam raises over 14.2 trillion VND from G-bonds in March
The State Treasury of Vietnam mobilised more than 14.2 trillion VND (612.56 million USD) via 16 Government bond (G-bond) auctions on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) in March.
— VNA NET

UK-Vietnam Military Ties in Focus with Defense Meeting
A recent engagement highlighted ongoing activity in defense ties amid gains in recent years.
— The Diplomat

Government urged to help local banks lure foreign capital
The Government should help Vietnamese banks lure capital and experience from prestigious foreign banks so as to help local firms develop sustainably, experts said.
— VNA NET

HNX collects over $75 million in March auctions
The Hà N?i Stock Exchange (HNX) organised six auctions in March with total transaction value of nearly VNÐ1.76 trillion (US$75.45 million).
— Viet Nam News

Digital content firms propose ‘virtual special zone’
Believing that they are at a disadvantage, digital content firms have proposed establishing a special zone.
— Vietnam Insider

CPTPP countries – potential markets for Vietnamese wood industry
Countries joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are potential markets for Vietnamese wood firms, said Nguyen Ton Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association.
— VNA NET

HCM City to host Analytica Vietnam 2019
The sixth International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis, Biotechnology and Diagnostics (Analytica Vietnam 2019) will return to HCM City on Wednesday.
— Viet Nam News

Bamboo Airways denies adding seats next to emergency exits
Bamboo Airways, the latest player in Vietnam’s domestic aviation market, has officially rebuffed allegations widely spread on the Internet last weekend that it had added seats next to the emergency exits on one of its planes against the aircraft’s original design.
— Vietnam Insider

Ministries urged to remove difficulties for enterprises
NDO – The Prime Minister’s Working Group, led by Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung, held a working session with a number of ministries in Hanoi on April 1 in a bid to eliminate administrative procedures that are hindering agricultural business activities.
— Nhan Dan Online

Time for environmentally-friendly building materials
The increasing amount of smart urban areas and green buildings has triggered demand for environmentally-friendly building materials in Vietnam, experts said.
— VNA NET

Sacombank offers summer vacation deals on credit cards
Sacombank has announced promotions for international credit cards holders when they book air tickets, hotels and sightseeing services or spend when travelling under programmes it has launched for the summer holidays.
— Viet Nam News

Feature photo Mekong Commons

This week’s Vietnam morning news photo features International Mine Awareness Day, April 4.

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.