VN wood and furniture firms eye Mexico, Canada Mexico and Canada will be promising markets for Viet Nam’s wood and furniture products when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) takes effect in early 2019, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Khanh said exports to Canada were worth over US$129 million last year and are expected to top $140 million this year. “The CPTPP will open opportunities for products such as wood flooring and bars to Canada because the market will immediately scrap the import tariff of 3.5 per cent when the agreement comes into effect. “Products such as plywood, picture frames, door frames and especially furniture will also have an opportunity because import tariffs of between 6 per cent and 9.5 per cent will be eliminated as soon as the agreement comes into effect. “Wooden handicrafts will also benefit when Canada agrees to abolish the 7 … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 19/12
Business traveler news
Hanoi, HCMC among top 10 Asia-Pacific business destinations
The southern metropolis received 1.2 million international business arrivals and Hanoi more than 1.2 million last year, compared to 900,000 for HCMC and one million for Hanoi in 2016, according to a recent report compiled by MasterCard. Last year saw 49.4 million business travelers, 14.8 percent of all overnight travelers, visiting Asia Pacific destinations. They stayed a total of 235 million nights and spent $41.4 billion. Their spending last year in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, was $385 million, and HCMC, the nation’s biggest city, $661 million. MasterCard ranks 160 destinations out of 23 markets in the Asia-Pacific and gets the data primarily from national tourism boards in each market. Shanghai topped the ranking, followed by Tokyo and Singapore. Of all international arrivals, HCMC ranked 17th in the Asia-Pacific with 4.6 million visitors in 2017 and Hanoi ranked 20th with 3.7 million visitors. Thailand's Bangkok topped the list, drawing 20.1 million foreign … [Read more...] about Hanoi, HCMC among top 10 Asia-Pacific business destinations
InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort honoured at World Travel Awards 2018
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Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort was honoured in three categories at the World Travel Awards 2018 which took place in Libson, Portugal on Saturday. Developed by BIM Land, a subsidiary of Vietnamese diversified conglomerate BIM Group, Intercontinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort received awards as the World’s Leading New Family Resort 2018, the World’s Leading New Luxury Resort 2018 and the World’s Leading New MICE Resort 2018. Piero Bellizzi, general manager of the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, said: “It’s our honour to receive three prestigious prizes presented by the World Travel Awards in our first year of operation. With heartfelt services, exceptional facilities for families, couples as well as business travelers, the resort promises to offer unforgettable memories for all of our guests. We will keep our motto of providing excellent services to bring the most wonderful holiday … [Read more...] about InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort honoured at World Travel Awards 2018
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – February 12
Here are today’s leading news stories: Society -- Competent authorities have prepared various measures to deal with traffic congestion along several expressways connecting Ho Chi Minh City with neighboring Long An, Tien Giang, and Dong Nai Provinces during the Lunar New Year holiday. -- Vietnam’s railway sector is set to continue its operation from February 15 to 18, which is during the Lunar New Year holiday, to meet the demand for transportation. -- Passengers will be able to take bus routes No. 109 and 152, which connect District 1 and Binh Chanh District with Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, free-of-charge from February 10 to 14 and from February 20 to 24. The program is aimed at reducing traffic jams in the southern metropolis before and after Tet. -- The tropical depression which formed east of the Philippines has developed into a storm, named Sanba, and is traveling toward the East Vietnam Sea with wind speed at 60 to 75km per hour. -- … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – February 12
Social News 15/1
Small-scale coffee farmer gets helping handLò Thị Phong from Chiềng Chung Commune in Mai Sơn District in the mountain province of Sơn La, has cultivated coffee for more than 10 years on 5,000 square metres of land, but she still finds life difficult.A decade seems long enough to improve farmining practices by trial-and-error, however, according to the middle-aged Thái woman, “even now, we still cannot keep proper financial accounts”.During discussions hosted by CARE International last week, stakeholders in the mountain coffee industry touched on deeper obstacles facing the industry.CARE has worked in Việt Nam since 1989, concentrating on supporting rights and sustainable development among vulnerable groups, particularly remote ethnic communities, poor women and girls and people vulnerable to climate change.Nguyễn Vĩnh Đức, deputy director of the Sơn La branch of the Minh Tiến Coffee Export Joint Stock … [Read more...] about Social News 15/1
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/1
Leather, footwear sector targets 20 bln USD in export earningsVietnam sets a target of earning between 19.5 - 20 billion USD from leather and footwear exports in 2018, up 10 percent from 2017, heard a conference in January 12.According to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), the leather and footwear industry is expected to grow 5 percent from last year, with the localisation rate reaching 55 percent. Footwear and handbags will remain Vietnam’s top four and 10 exports, respectively.Addressing the event, LEFASO Vice President Phan Thi Thanh Xuan highlighted positive signs in the world’s economy and increasing consumption demand, saying that these create both favourable conditions and challenges to Vietnam in exports and investment.In order to help Vietnamese exporters realise the target, the association will actively participate in relevant policy making while luring foreign and domestic investment in support industry, thus increasing the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/1
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – January 11
Read what is in the news today, January 11: Politics -- Leaders of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China agreed on Wednesday to reinforce security, trade and environmental cooperation as they met in the Cambodian capital of Phom Penh for the second Lancang Mekong Cooperation (MLC). Society -- The southern cities of Can Tho and Vung Tau will soon have their own book streets where readers can find their favorite books while attending regular cultural events, according to recent proposals by the local governments. -- Six brand-new trains with a combined 90 carriages have been put to use by the Vietnam Railways Corporation at a cost of around VND957 billion (US$42.16 million) to improve railroad capacity during the upcoming travel season in February. -- A fire that broke out at solar farm in south-central Khanh Hoa Province on Wednesday afternoon led to the complete destruction of 32,000 solar panels, with damages amounting to VND30 … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – January 11
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1
Vingroup, T&T to develop urban railway projects in HanoiThe government of Hanoi City has proposed the Prime Minister allow Vingroup and T&T Group to develop three urban railway projects which the city plans to complete by 2025, Tuoi Tre newspaper reports.The two domestic investors will use their capital to make pre-feasibility studies for these projects.When the projects were announced, many investors expressed interest in Hanoi. However, only Vingroup and T&T Group have registered to take part.Both of them proposed implementing the projects in the build-transfer (BT) format. Particularly, Vingroup registered to build the 38.4-kilometer metro line No. 5 which connects Van Cao and Hoa Lac and metro line No. 2 from Tran Hung Dao to Thuong Dinh with a length of 5.9 kilometers. Meanwhile, T&T Group is keen on metro line No. 4 connecting Me Linh, Sai Dong and Lien Ha, and measuring 54 kilometers in length.The two investors said they would use their own finances to study the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – January 7
Have a nice Sunday! Society -- Pundits have urged transport officials face inevitable clashes between transport policies and motorcyclists and drivers in Ho Chi Minh City to better tackle chronic congestion. -- Representatives of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and sponsors have handed over VND372 million (US$16,335) as relief and Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts to Vietnamese naval soldiers stationed at maritime platform DK1/15 in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, which was ravaged by Typhoon Tembin as it swept through the cluster of islands in late December 2017. -- Internet connection from Vietnam via the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) has been restored earlier than expected, a local network operator confirmed on Saturday. The APG connecting the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang with the U.S., Japan and Hong Kong had been disrupted by work to expand Singapore’s Changi Airport. -- Police in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa revealed on Saturday they … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – January 7
Social News 5/1
Quang Binh one of the top ten destinations in Vietnam: Trip AdvisorIn 2017, Central Quang Binh Province ranks fourth among the top ten Vietnamese destinations after Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An, according to the travel website Trip Advisor.Dang Dong Ha, vice director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said Quang Binh is known as the kingdom of caves and is a paradise waiting to be discovered on interesting tours of fascinating locations like Son Doong, Tu Lan cave system, Da Nhay beach, Thien Duong cave, Phong Nha-Tien Son, Chay River, and Toi cave.Quang Binh welcomed 100,000 foreign visitors for the first time in 2017, a year-on-year rise of 120%.Mr Ha attributed such a rise in popularity to the localities’ efforts in improving service quality and new tourism products, organizing a variety of promotional programs for local tourism like Quang Binh cave festival, and hosting Miss Grand International, all of which lured more visitors to the province. 21 explosions … [Read more...] about Social News 5/1