The sadness of heritage

Three new accident-prone sites have been included in a list of sites in HCMC that have witnessed frequent traffic accidents, taking the total number to 19, the local media reported, citing the HCMC Department of Transport. Vehicles travel on a road approaching Saigon 2 Bridge, one of the new accident-prone sites in HCMC  The department on March 19 said that as of the end of 2018, 16 accident-prone sites in the city were in need of handling. However, within the first two months of 2019, three more sites appeared in the list. comprising the Ton Duc Thang-Ham Nghi crossroads in District 1, Saigon 2 Bridge in Binh Thanh District, and the Nguyen Van Linh-Quan Trong Linh crossroads in the outlying district of Binh Chanh. Meanwhile, a report from the HCMC Police Department showed that 568 traffic accidents took place in the city over the first two months of 2019, killing 110 people and injuring 385 others. Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam noted … [Read more...] about HCM City announces three more accident-prone sites

Processing, packaging exhibition opens in Ho Chi Minh City The ProPak Vietnam 2019 attracts 540 exhibitors. (Photo: thegioitiepthi.vn) The 14th International Processing and Packaging Exhibition and Conference (ProPak Vietnam 2019) kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on March 19. The three-day event attracts the participation of 540 exhibitors from 31 countries and territories, including first-timers such as Vietnam’s Dai Chinh Quang and Thien An Loc companies, China’s Beijing Omori Packing Machinery , and Sidel India. BT Tee, General Manager of UBM VES – the exhibition’s organiser, stated that the processing and packaging sector is facing several difficulties, including the overuse of plastics in production and the lack of orientations on environmental protection. Therefore, Propak 2019 wants to introduce new technologies that can solve these challenges. Paolo Lemma, Italian Trade Counselor in Vietnam, said that Propak … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 20/3

VietNamNet Bridge – Professor Tran Dinh Thien, former director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, talks to Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper about the role transparency could play in the country’s unobserved economy. Professor Tran Dinh Thien What should Vietnam do to observe and calculate the amount of corrupt assets in the unobserved economy? First of all, there is a need for Vietnam to observe its informal economic performance. We’ll face big challenges as it is not easy, particularly with corruption cases. However, corruption is one cause leading to smuggling, drug addiction and prostitution. These issues have caused big losses to our national economy. As a result, it is imperative for us to develop open and transparent institutions. With such institutions in place, I’m sure that we’ll be able to bring the ‘dark side’ of society to light. With a society operated on the principles of transparency and … [Read more...] about Transparency and accountability help to deter corruption

VietNamNet Bridge - E-commerce in the near future could be controlled globally by several powerful multinational groups, analysts say. Adayroi.com belonging to Vingroup, and small sites such as Muabannhanh.com, 5giay.vn and chodientu.vn are the only Vietnamese e-commerce sites that are now operating. In order to satisfy the requirements of a specific business field such as online retail, businesses need to have huge capital and solid technology for long term investment. However, Vietnam’s businesses do not have enough money as required. In order to satisfy the requirements of a specific business field such as online retail, businesses need to have huge capital and solid technology for long term investment. However, Vietnam’s businesses do not have enough money as required. RELATED NEWS E-commerce: the major battle is in their warehouses, delivery services Foreign players eye Vietnam's e-commerce Mai Lan … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s online sales face uphill battle against foreign e-commerce giants

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s catfish farmers have been warned of difficulties ahead as the country is no longer the only big catfish exporter. Catfish industry 2018 was the most successful year of the catfish industry in terms of both export value and profit for farmers. The price of exports to the US reached $5-7 per kilogram, the highest ever price level. The prices recovered later, reaching a record high of VND36,000 in 2017-2018 which brought huge profits of VND6,000-10,000 per kilogram. The catfish industry regained its strength with 5,400 hectares of farming area in 2018 and $2.26 billion in export turnover.Future RELATED NEWS US to investigate catfish production in VN Catfish and shrimp farmers struggle as markets shrink Kim Chi … [Read more...] about Catfish industry faces new rivals

From expansive caves to towering waterfalls, the countries of Southeast Asia truly demonstrate the power of Mother Nature. Ha Long Bay, Sapa, Phong Nha Cave, Son Doong Cave, the Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, Thac Ba Waterfalls have been named among 25 natural wonders in Southeast Asia you have to experience to believe, according to Fodors, a publisher of English language travel and tourism information and the first relatively professional producer of travel guidebooks. With around 2,000 islets sprawling across an indescribable landscape of almost 600 square miles, there’s no wonder Ha Long Bay was named one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Located in the northern coastal region of Vietnam, there are several junk-boats that offer daily and multi-day sails in Ha Long Bay with included excursions such as kayaking, cave expeditions, and in-depth tours through some of the last remaining fishing villages inside the bay, Fodors wrote. Sapa is home to the highest mountain in … [Read more...] about Vietnam destinations among Southest Asia’s natural wonders

VietNamNet Bridge – A total VND30 billion (US$1.30 million) will be invested to help prepare 27 head coaches and 66 athletes for key international contests in the next few years, according to deputy head of Viet Nam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan. Defending champion of ASIAD 2018 in long jump Bui Thi Thu Thao. - Photo dantri.com.vn With the SEA Games in the Philippines by the end of this year and qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, SEA Games 2021 and ASIAD 2022 on the horizon, Vietnam’s sports sector is entering a crucial period. The money will be mainly focused on athletics, swimming, weightlifting, shooting and gymnastics. Top names like champion of the 2018 ASIAD long jump Bui Thi Thu Thao and swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien are set to receive the sponsorship. Vuong Bich Thang, head of the administration, said if selected coaches and athletes cannot remain their form, achievements and morals, they will lose funding and other athletes will get … [Read more...] about More than $1 million invested in Vietnamese athletes

Stars under the national senior football team, who are over the age of 22, are having a great change to join the men's football at the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2019 in the Philippines later this year. Vietnam U22s will have a chance to select a maximum of two players over 22 years old to join the squad competing in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games. (Photo: VFF)  According to the new rules announced by the organisers, the men's football at the 30th SEA Games will be the arena for the regional U22 teams. However, a new feature is that each team is allowed to register up to two players over 22 years of age in their squad. A source from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said that Article 3.3 under the Games’ Charter and Rules stipulates that only players age 22 and under (born on January 1, 1997 and below) and up to two players born before January 1, 1997 are eligible to attend the men’s football event at the Games. With this new regulation, … [Read more...] about Football: Stars of national squad eligible to join Southeast Asian Games

Cyclone Idai may have killed more than 1,000 people in Mozambique, President Filipe Nyusi said in an address on national radio Monday. "Officially, we have a record of more than 84 dead but everything indicates that we can have a record of more than 1,000 dead," Nyusi said, adding that "100,000 people are in danger." Nyusi was speaking after taking a flight over affected areas to view the destruction and rescue efforts. He called the situation a "real humanitarian disaster of large proportions." "Waters from the rivers Pungue and Buzi have broken their banks, wiping out entire villages, isolating communities and we could see, as we flew above, bodies floating," the President said. Cyclone Idai made landfall near Beira around midnight Thursday and moved through neighboring Zimbabwe and parts of Malawi. Initial assessments in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique suggested that more than 150 people have been killed in those three countries, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red … [Read more...] about Cyclone Idai may have killed more than 1,000 in Mozambique, President says

Ho Chi Minh City has been named among the top eco-tourism tips and destinations for digital nomads in 2019 to shoeborn your work around them, according to the Blue & Green Tomorrow, the magazine for Ethical Investment, Socially Responsible Investors, Green Investment. No digital nomad eco-tourism list would be complete without mentioning Vietnam. Blue & Green Tomorrow told travelers that Ho Chi Minh City’s usually the first place for beginners in the nomadic life to cut their digital nomadic teeth, as the cost of living is low yet still have exotic solid facilities. In line with the mobile trading technology age, the city offers well-prized and plenty of collaborative spaces, meeting rooms and social rooms with decent internet speeds and power-points. Buenos Aires in Argentina tops the list, followed by Canggu in Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai in Thailand, Mexico City in Mexico, Krakow in Poland, Lisbon in Portugal, etc. Earlier, Vietnam has been named among the best … [Read more...] about HCM City among world’s eco-tourism destinations for digital nomads in 2019