Spotify arrives in Vietnam more than two years later than its competitor Sweden-based music, podcast, and video streaming service Spotify has become available to users in Vietnam since Monday, in its expansion to 64 markets worldwide. Limited songs and features are available for free with advertisements, while additional features such as improved streaming quality and downloads are offered via paid subscriptions. In Vietnam, customers can upgrade to a premium account for VND59,000 (US$2.60) a month, after a 30-day free trial. Vietnam was among three countries involved in Spotify’s market expansion on Monday, which also saw the Swedish company expanding its reach to South Africa and Israel. The combined population of the three countries is approximately 160 million, making it Spotify’s biggest international expansion since it became available in Thailand in August last year, Music Business Worldwide reported. Monthly premium subscriptions in … [Read more...] about Spotify challenges Apple Music in Vietnam’s streaming market
End year holidays
Vietnamese man visits 50 countries, and counting, on motorbike
A Vietnamese man from southern Vietnam is living his dream, or everyone’s dream: traveling the world by motorbike. On the 794th day of his journey, Tran Dang Dang Khoa reached Sydney - the two-third mark on his seven-continent motorbike journey. “Suddenly I opened my eyes and I saw Sydney, an important milestone which marks two-thirds of my world journey on ‘The Memo’ and over two years since my departure,” Khoa shared with his 237,500 Facebook followers on August 3. A picture capturing nature in a rural area in Australia taken by Khoa has received positive feedback from his Facebook followers. “The Memo” is the name of the motorbike he has used for the trip, which began in June 2017, and the vehicle has so far taken him through around 50 countries. After Australia, the Tien Giang Province native expects to travel to Africa and the South Pole before heading home to Asia. In the middle of his journey, Khoa met with a Tuoi Tre News … [Read more...] about Vietnamese man visits 50 countries, and counting, on motorbike
APEC member economies pledge to enhance cooperation
Illustrative photo (Source: internet) Hanoi (VNA) – Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have pledged to boost their cooperation at the APEC Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting (CSOM) held in Singapore on December 7. Convened by Chile, the host of APEC 2019, the CSOM summarised achievements of APEC Chile year in 2019 and rolled out orientations for APEC’s operation in the time to come. During the CSOM, Chile issued the 2019 APEC Host Economy Leader's Statement, which officially marks the end of the APEC Chile year. The statement highlighted the achievements that APEC has made over the past 30 years since its establishment. It also reiterated that APEC member economies are committed to promoting free and open trade and investment, strengthening multilateral cooperation and rules-based international trade, and continuously advancing cooperation on connectivity, digital economy, regional economic integration, and the Free Trade Area of the … [Read more...] about APEC member economies pledge to enhance cooperation
Filipino singers in Vietnam – P3: The whole singing family
Stardust and P4 are two different bands, but members of each come from a single family with a 21 year legacy of performing in Vietnam At the recommendation of several Filipino singers, Tuoi Tre correspondents traveled to the south-central coastal town of Mui Ne to see Stardust, a band which has been performing at a local resort for the past 10 years, perform. Six nights a week, Louell Yamba and his family band entertain guests at Pandanus resort with a set list comprised of western hits and well-known classics. Louell plays guitar, drums, cajón, and saxophone while his wife Lolita, sister-in-law Zeny, and son Richard all sing. The youngest member of the family, Ronaldo who marries a Vietnamese wife, plays keyboard and sings backup. Every time a guest steps into the lounge, the band waves, smiles, and gently asks where they’re from and what songs they’d like to hear. “Many European guests are surprised when we ask what they us to play, because they … [Read more...] about Filipino singers in Vietnam – P3: The whole singing family
Delta provinces take steps to control saltwater intrusion
A sluice in a coastal commune in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang prevents saltwater intrusion. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Authorities in provinces in the Mekong Delta and Can Tho city are dredging irrigation works and storing fresh water to cope with saltwater intrusion during the dry season. Saltwater intrusion is expected to be more severe this year because of low flooding levels and lower than usual rainfall during the rainy season, according to local authorities. During the dry season, saline intrusion will occur earlier than usual, causing a shortage of fresh water for agricultural production, according to the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research. Kien Giang province's People’s Committee has told agencies to dredge irrigation canals to improve water storage and to build temporary dams to prevent saline intrusion. The province plans to … [Read more...] about Delta provinces take steps to control saltwater intrusion
