Vietnam Morning News For May 2

Vietnam trade surplus narrows to US$711 million in Jan-Apr
Vietnam`s trade turnover reached US$156.8 billion in the first four months of 2019, up 8% year-on-year.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam’s Improving Business Environment: 2018 Provincial Competitive Index
Vietnam’s business environment continues to improve according to the recently released 2018 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) report. FDI remains strong, with high technology sub-sectors such as electronics accounting for an increasing part of foreign investment.
— Vietnam Briefing

Vietnam sees stronger mPOS payment
Vietnam had 27,500 places accepting payment via mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) in 2018, posting a year-on-year increase of 99 percent, according to the Vietnam Bank Card Association.
— Xinhua

VCCI suggests central bank reconsider cash loan proposal
The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has suggested the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) reconsider a proposal on limiting unsecured personal loans in cash by consumer finance companies.
— VietnamPlus

A proactive approach to ensuring cybersecurity
New technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing are transforming all aspects of life but also presenting new security challenges to countries in the world, particularly in Vietnam.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam to get its first fully regulated crypto exchange soon
Bcnex is in active talks with the Vietnamese government and awaiting its regulator license. Once it receives it, it will become the first and only cryptocurrency exchange of its kind in the country.
— The Crypto Updates

Here’s why some people in Vietnam still use the endangered rhino horn
VIETNAM is one of the world’s largest consumers of rhino horn, contributing to the continued poaching of rhinos in the wild. Last year in Africa 1,100 rhinos were killed by poachers. And today there are only about 29,500 left in the world.
— Asian Correspondent

Investing opportunities in Vietnam
Vietnam has sparked growing interest among investors in recent years. As China’s southern neighbor, it is ‘a big beneficiary of Chinese economy growth’, says Gavin Serkin, emerging markets (EMs) expert at consulting firm New Markets Media & Intelligence.
— IG

TikTok, Facebook take on Youtube for eyeballs in Vietnam
While YouTube has an overwhelming market share of video ads in Vietnam, Facebook and TikTok are trying to get a piece of the action.
— VnExpress

Heat wave sends Saigon power consumption to 10-year high
The ongoing heat wave has pushed electricity consumption in Ho Chi Minh City to its highest in 10 years.
— VnExpress

Spain largest recipient of outbound Vietnamese investment
Spain was the largest among 23 recipients of outbound Vietnamese investment in the first four months of 2019, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
— Nhan Dan Online

Hanoi takes initiative in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Hanoi will implement more environmental projects, keep the current 104 lakes clean and build more wastewater treatment plants.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam annually needs at least $85.9 million spending on Thalassemia treatment
Director of National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Dr. Bach Quoc Khanh said that Vietnam needs to spend at least VND2,000 billion ($85.9 million) treating people living with Thalassemia.
— Sggp News

Solutions employed to fulfil fishing targets
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has asked relevant agencies and coastal localities to employ solutions to fulfill targets set for the fishing season from April through September.
— Nhan Dan Online

Vietnam demands Indonesia release fishermen arrested in delimitation area
Vietnam has asked Indonesia to release a group of Vietnamese fishermen arrested in the two countries’ EEZ delimitation area.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s business formations in April hit highest YTD
In the first four months of 2019, Vietnam has seen a total of 43,305 enterprises registered for new establishment with registered capital of a combined VND542.4 trillion (US$23.3 billion), up 4.9% in quantity and 31.7% in registered capital year-on-year, respectively.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam greatly increases pellet exports to Japan in first quarter
Vietnam has soared 253.6% y-o-y pellet exports to Japan in first quarter of 2019 to 192.5 thousand tones with exports value has jumped 253,6% to $32.5 million. The share of Vietnam in Japan’s pellet imports has increased 25.5 pp to 53.1% while Canada’s share has fallen 26.4 pp to 39.5%.
— Lesprom

Indochina Telecom becomes first MVNO in Vietnam
Indochina Telecom has become the first mobile virtual network operator in Vietnam, reports The Leader. The company is using the VinaPhone network and 087 number series.
— Telecompaper

Vietnam consumer prices up 0.31% m/m in April
The country`s CPI increased 2.71% year-on-year in the first four months of 2019, the lowest growth rate for a four-month period over the last three years.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam, Cuba share experience in policymaking
Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has met with Vice President of the State Council and Comptroller General of Cuba Gladys Bejerano Portela and Vice President of the Council of Ministers Marino Murillo as part his working visit to the Caribbean nation.
— Nhan Dan Online

Feature: City, countryside weddings undergo changes in Vietnam
The wedding of Ngoc Quang, a specialist at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, has recently been held in both the city and the countryside.
— Xinhua

Vietnam top leadership to attend major private sector forum
Top Party, government and legislature officials will attend an important private sector forum that opens Thursday.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s fiscal surplus jumps 3-fold y/y
State budget revenues as of April 15 reached VND421 trillion (US$18.09 billion), equivalent to 29.8% of the year`s estimate.
— The Hanoitimes

ASEAN+3 remains resilient but needs to transition to a new economy
The economy of the ASEAN+3 region is expected to remain resilient despite heightened global risks and stronger external headwinds, said the annual regional economic outlook report released on Wednesday by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam to teach good touch, bad touch in elementary school
First graders are set to be taught the “underwear rule” about not allowing strangers to touch them and how to react and seek help.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s richest man steps up to grab a share of the domestic smartphone market
Vietnam’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, is stepping up his efforts to grab a share of the domestic smartphone market from foreign rivals such as South Korea’s Samsung.
— Vietnam Insider

5 Tips for choosing multilayer PCB Manufacturer
These days the demand for the multilayer printed circuit board is at height. The drive for the electronics to be tiny, faster and more powerful has made the multilayer printed circuit board much more popular.
— Vietnam Insider

Citi has forged a partnership with Vietnamese FinTech – Payoo
Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions has entered a partnership with Vietnam’s intermediary payment service provider Payoo to facilitate last-mile consumer-to-business collections for corporate clients in the country.
— Vietnam Insider

US Begins Largest Ever Agent Orange Cleanup in Vietnam
The US government compensates American veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. It does not compensate Vietnamese civilians.
— Warhistoryonline

Tips for Traveling to Vietnam
As you know, I am one of those who looks a bit and flows a lot, but I also like to gather good information about the goals I visit to help my readers. And that’s the purpose of this article with tips for traveling to Vietnam.
— Prague Post

Vietnam tourist spots turn crowd-pullers during extended weekend
The 5-day break saw some popular vacation spots across Vietnam overflow with people.
— VnExpress

Over 45,000 people pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh
The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum welcomed 45,615 visitors, including 4,658 foreigners during the holidays in celebration of the 44th National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day, according to the mausoleum’s management board.
— VietnamPlus

New directive issued to fight ‘black lending’
The Prime Minister has released a directive to fight loan sharks who are targeting vulnerable people.
— Viet Nam News

Commuter bus system would link to Metro Line No.1
Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Transport wants to develop a commuter bus system to link to stations on Metro Line No1, which is still under construction.
— VietnamPlus

Trade potential attracts CP investment in Vietnam
Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has attributed its recently announced expansion in Vietnam to the expected benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and CP Group’s long-time chairman has resigned.
— Wattagnet

Programme helps fight wildlife violations in Vietnam
The Nature Education Centre recently announced the findings of a programme on the assessment of the spread of wildlife violations in 42 districts of nine provinces and cities with the involvement of 12,840 trading establishments, in an effort to ease the phenomenon.
— VietnamPlus

Book-building method available in June for State divestment
The Ministry of Finance has released a circular to instruct State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to use book-building to sell shares owned by the State.
— Viet Nam News

Feature photo WWF Seafood Sustainability

This week’s Vietnam morning news photo features World Tuna Day, May 2.

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.