Other News

Ministry seeks to lower taxable prices of domestic carsThe Saigon Times Daily Cars and other vehicles are held up in a heavy traffic jam near downtown HCMC – PHOTO: TL HCMC – The Ministry of Finance is studying a plan to cut the prices for the calculation of special consumption tax on locally made cars with nine seats or below. However, this may raise the risk of violating international commitments, according to a report from the ministry to the prime minister. The report responds to the opinions of cabinet members on a draft Government decree that amends and supplements a number of articles of Decree 108/2015 on the Law on Special Consumption Tax. The ministry said in the report that special consumption tax on domestically produced commodities, including cars, are based on the selling prices of producers. To raise the ratio of local contents, lower product prices and enhance competitiveness among locally made and imported cars, the ministry has put forward a tax … [Read more...] about Ministry seeks to lower taxable prices of domestic cars

Many rush to buy gold on God of Wealth DayThe Saigon Times Daily Many customers buy gold at a Mi Hong gold shop in HCMC's Binh Thanh District - PHOTO: THANH HA HCMC - Numerous residents in Hanoi City have queued up in front of gold shops since early this morning, February 14, to buy gold to seek prosperity on God of Wealth Day, the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, the local media reported. Most of the gold shops on Tran Nhan Tong Street in Hanoi open at 6 a.m., but hundreds of local residents have lined up in front of these shops since 4 or 5 a.m., or even 1 a.m. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of Hanoi, said he came to a gold shop on Tran Nhan Tong Street at 1 a.m. to be the first one to buy gold today. He had bought a golden ring believing it would bring him good luck and prosperity. Dinh Thi Ngoc Quyen, another gold buyer, noted it was her family’s annual practice to buy gold on God of Wealth Day. Despite having to queue in long lines, gold buyers were still happy to wait … [Read more...] about Many rush to buy gold on God of Wealth Day

Nearly 100,000 mobile subscribers register for MNP serviceBy Van Ly Almost 100,000 mobile subscribers registered for the MNP service from November 16, 2018, to February 13 this year. In this file photo, two people are looking at a smartphone - PHOTO: THANH HOA HANOI – Some 100,000 subscribers of different mobile carriers have registered for the mobile number portability (MNP) service as of today, February 13, since the service took effect on November 16 last year, according to data from the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority at the Ministry of Information and Communications. MNP allows mobile subscribers to retain their phone numbers when switching to another carrier. During the given period, MobiFone saw its over 25,000 mobile subscribers registering for the MNP service, with nearly 7,000 successful cases (accounting for over 23%), while some 19,000 mobile subscribers out of over 28,000 VinaPhone subscribers registered successfully. Also, over 83% of Viettel mobile … [Read more...] about Nearly 100,000 mobile subscribers register for MNP service

Interior lifestyle expo slated for May in HCMCBy Hung Le Nguyen Chanh Phuong (L), HAWA vice chairman, and Nguyen Quoc Khanh (C), HAWA chairman, talk about preparations for an upcoming interior lifestyle expo, Vifa Gu, with local firms and the media on February 12 in HCMC – PHOTO: LE HOANG HCMC – Vifa Gu 2019, an exhibition on interior lifestyle, is scheduled to take place in May in HCMC, displaying the latest interior lifestyle trends and solutions for developing interior businesses in the local market. The Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCMC (HAWA) yesterday, February 12, held a meeting to announce the upcoming event, following the success of previous expos on furniture and home accessories, Vifa Expo and Vifa Home. Vifa Gu is expected to gather many interior stylists across the country to demonstrate the latest trends in interior design, Nguyen Chanh Phuong, vice chairman and general secretary of HAWA, told the meeting. In addition, it will attract … [Read more...] about Interior lifestyle expo slated for May in HCMC

SAV proposes sanctions over use of ODA capitalThe Saigon Times Daily Vo Van Kiet Boulevard in HCMC is one of infrastructure projects funded by ODA capital – PHOTO: LE ANH HANOI - After auditing the management and use of official development assistance (ODA) capital, the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) has proposed sanctions for irregularities in the use of over VND21.712 trillion from the fund, VietnamPlus quoted an SAV official as saying. At the working session with Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on February 12, Nguyen Quang Thanh, deputy auditor general at the SAV, said that audits revealed that ODA capital plans do not match the actual conditions and are not following regulations. According to Thanh, some proposed projects are not really necessary. Misuses of ODA loans at ministries, agencies and localities have also been noticed. In addition, assessment and approval of projects are not strict, and investment capital requirements are often revised upward. Among … [Read more...] about SAV proposes sanctions over use of ODA capital

U.S. to give green light to direct flights from VietnamThe Saigon Times Daily Passengers disembark from a Vietnam Airlines aircraft. The air carrier expects to be able to operate direct flights to the United States soon - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to soon grant a Category 1 rating to Vietnam, paving the way for local airlines to open direct air routes to the United States, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported, citing Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). To get the Category 1 rating, CAAV must meet the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the FAA. CAAV Deputy Head Vo Huy Cuong noted that the FAA has conducted many technical safety assessments in Vietnam, with the last one being held in July last year, and has recognized the safety of Vietnam's aviation sector. Thus, the rating is not only helpful to local airlines seeking to operate … [Read more...] about U.S. to give green light to direct flights from Vietnam

HCMC's purchasing power rises during TetThe Saigon Times Daily Consumers select packs of Chinese-style sausage for Tet at a Co.opmart supermarket in HCMC. The city’s purchasing power rose 12%-15% during the Tet holiday – PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Purchases recorded during the Tet holiday at supermarkets and traditional markets in HCMC rose in value by 12%-15% versus those recorded during last year's holiday. Local residents mainly bought essential items for Tet, such as meat, processed foods, confectionery and jams, according to the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. From the 23rd to the 30th of the final lunar month, consumption at local supermarkets in the city increased strongly over regular days. In particular, the number of consumers flocking to supermarkets rose threefold between the 28th and the 30th versus other days, with revenues up some 20% year-on-year, VietnamPlus reported. Meanwhile, consumption surged by 30%-50% from the 28th to the 30th of the … [Read more...] about HCMC’s purchasing power rises during Tet

Deputy PM visits North KoreaThe Saigon Times Daily Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (R) shakes hands with North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho at a meeting in Hanoi on November 30 last year - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh today, February 12, begins a three-day visit to North Korea at the invitation of North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho, the local media reported. The visit comes ahead of the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which is planned to take place in Hanoi on February 27 and 28, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, at a press briefing of the ministry on February 6, said Vietnam welcomes the second summit between the United States and North Korea and would strongly support dialogues to maintain peace, security and stability … [Read more...] about Deputy PM visits North Korea

New policies to take effect in FebruaryBy Thanh Thom A military officer provides technical guidance on planting forest trees for a local resident – PHOTO: CONG THUONG NEWSPAPER HCMC – The Government has released a host of policies that have come into effect this month, including policies related to the combination of national defense and socioeconomic development, the issuance of corporate bonds, e-transactions in financial operations, and lending requirements for offshore investment. Combining national defense with socioeconomic development Since February 10, the Government has adopted Decree 164/2018 on combining national defense with socioeconomic affairs. The combination includes integrating national defense activities into the development and execution of socioeconomic development strategies, plans and projects among ministries and local governments and ensuring a stable environment for the country’s socioeconomic development. The decree regulates … [Read more...] about New policies to take effect in February

Heavy traffic congestion triggered by post-Tet commuteThe Saigon Times Daily Huge numbers of road users on the way back to HCMC and neighboring provinces are held up in a heavy traffic jam in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long – PHOTO: CONGAN.COM.VN HCMC – Throngs of revellers are returning from home in the Mekong Delta to HCMC as the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) is ending, causing severe traffic congestion along the way today, February 10. Rach Mieu, a 2.8-kilometer cable-stayed bridge linking the Mekong Delta provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang and a key route leading to HCMC and other southeastern provinces, was heavily congested today, forcing the operator of the Rach Mieu BOT bridge tollgate to let automobiles pass at no charge to ease the congestion. Thousands of cars and motorbikes had been caught in a heavy traffic jam around the Rach Mieu area on the way from the Mekong Delta to the southeastern provinces since the morning of the day. Colonel Vo Van … [Read more...] about Heavy traffic congestion triggered by post-Tet commute