Data compiled by Savills Vietnam, a global property services provider, shows transactions for apartments priced under VND20 million ($860) per square meter surged 38 percent year-on-year in the second quarter to 2000. However supply in this segment dropped 8 percent during the same period. CBRE Vietnam, a commercial real estate services and investment firm, said more than 6,100 new apartments were put on sale in the city in the second quarter, down 36 percent year-on-year. The strongest decrease of 62 percent was recorded in the mid-range segment -- apartments ranging between VND18.6-34.9 million per square meter (as defined by CBRE Vietnam). Explaining the supply shortage, CBRE Vietnam cited the deadly fire at the Carina apartment complex last March that killed 13 people, which prompted authorities to tighten their management of all such development projects, leading to more complicated and longer procedures. The fire also caused property investors to be more cautious in launching … [Read more...] about In Saigon, supply fails to meet demand for mid-range apartments
Fail safe investing
Safe fruit & vegetables struggling to find favor
Producers of safe fruit and vegetables are still up against it in trying to eke out a respectable market share. Nearly 100 km from Hanoi, the safe tomato farm of the Green Technology JSC in Yen Khanh district, northern Ninh Binh province, regularly disposes of rotten tomatoes it has failed to sell. According to Chairwoman Ms. Le Thi Dung, the quantity of tomatoes produced often exceeds demand from distributors, with those being left over rotting after a few days. The issue not only faces Green Technology, as farmers in nearby Hai Duong province and Me Linh district in Hanoi also see large quantities of cauliflower and carrots go to waste, with oversupply also pushing prices down sharply. Increasing numbers of Vietnamese people are now willing to buy safe organic food but supply and demand is significantly out of balance at times, creating serious challenges for enterprises involved in safe agriculture. Ongoing difficulties The greatest difficulty for Ms. Dung … [Read more...] about Safe fruit & vegetables struggling to find favor
Alternative investment opportunities in Việt Nam
Viet Nam News by Brian Spence This week, we take a look beyond shares and bonds at some of the more unusual and potentially lucrative alternative investment opportunities. “Alternative” investments is a catch-all term for anything that is not shares, bonds, mainstream property or cash. Beyond these traditional asset classes, Vietnamese investors can invest in everything from stamps and fine wine. Of course, the fact that alternative investment opportunities exist does not mean these investments are safe or advisable. Before you even consider an alternative investment opportunity, you need to understand the risks. When you’ve understood some of the dangers, take a look at some of the alternative investment ideas below. All of them are available to Vietnamese investors, although not all are Việt Nam-based. We’ve put them roughly in order of risk, starting with the “safest” and ending with those you should definitely steer clear of. This is … [Read more...] about Alternative investment opportunities in Việt Nam
Social News 30/3
Fire threat stalks Bình Dương wood workshops Many woodwork plants in Bình Dương Province face a high risk of fire since they lack proper prevention equipment. —Photo: thanhnien.vn With the year just three months old there have already been fires at many wood processing workshops in Bình Dương Province, which have caused injuries to people and damaged properties. Recently there have been several fires in Tân Uyên town that caused serious damage with thousand of square metres of workshops burnt down and several businesses going bankrupt as a result. In February a fire destroyed a 1000sq.m facility belonging to Mỹ Nghệ wood processing workshop in Thuận An town. The province has more than 600 woodwork facilities, but only 10 per cent of them have effective fire prevention equipment. Though losses caused by fire are huge, most businesses, with an eye on cost, fail to invest in fire prevention equipment. … [Read more...] about Social News 30/3
SBV gold policy fails to restore market: expert
SBV gold policy fails to restore market: expertBy Thanh Thuong - The Saigon Times DailyHCMC – A policy tentatively set up by the State Bank of Vietnam to regulate the local gold market has not paid off, as locals still have to buy the precious metal at some VND3 million per tael higher than the global price, an expert said.Nguyen The Hung, general director of Vietnam Gold Investment and Trading Corporation (VGC), said the central bank’s moves had failed to make local and international gold prices match but the gap has increasingly swollen. Previously, the central bank in a draft decree that has been published widely aimed to narrow the gap to VND400,000 a tael. Saigon Jewelry Holding Co., (SJC) and other lenders have sold out a large volume of the safe-haven asset to cool down the rising demand among the public over the past few days. Regardless of this effort, the purchasing power by local buyers is so strong that the local price has found no way to fall in sync with the … [Read more...] about SBV gold policy fails to restore market: expert
How you became a master of investments
How you became a master of investments In the pre-internet age, investors formed an elite: a small, quiet bunch, reluctant to talk about their investments. They gave the impression they knew the secret formula to make money with money. In the investors’ world, strategic information was vital, sources were carefully hidden. The internet rapidly changed everything. Information that used to be known to a few is now shared by many across the planet. In the 21st century, everyone can become an investor. But, are all these new investors successful? When did they master the art of investing? How did they keep up their mastery? Investors or Gamblers? Not so long ago, investing was done by the very wealthy. They would buy stocks or put money in a promising start-up or project. Nowadays, you don’t have to be a U.S. dollar millionaire. Those fortunate to have more money than they need for their living can also play the investor’s game. Some confuse investing with gambling. Most … [Read more...] about How you became a master of investments
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – December 27
Read what’s in the news today, December 27: Society -- The administration of Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is seeking an investment of VND3.9 trillion (US$171.81 million) to revive a railway route connecting its capital of Da Lat with the south-central city of Phan Rang, which was established more than a hundred years ago under French colonial rule but has fallen into disuse for decades. -- Vietnam’s central food safety watchdog has just listed 44 batches of imported baby formula produced by French dairy giant Lactalis as prone to salmonella contamination and requested that they be halted from sales and use for further investigation. -- Dinh La Thang, former chairman of the board of members of state-run oil and gas giant PetroVietnam (PVN) who was arrested on December 8 for investigation into two economic scandals, is facing between ten and 20 years behind bars on charges of deliberately violating the … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – December 27
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/12
Customs signs agreement with banks for e-tax payment The General Department of Customs (GDC) on Tuesday signed a co-operation agreement with six commercial banks to implement a 24/7 e-tax payment scheme.The five local banks are Sacombank, VPBank, HDBank, LienvietpostBank, SCB and the foreign bank is Mizuho Bank Ltd. The e-tax payment through the six banks will be implemented from December 15.Speaking at the signing ceremony, GDC’s Deputy General Director Nguyen Duong Thai said the customs sector was required to upgrade its e-payment portal for the purpose of administrative reform.The e-tax payment would facilitate tax payment anywhere, anytime, reduce time and ensure immediate goods clearance. The customs authority will directly support enterprises to make payment documents from the original data and minimise errors in money transfer procedures.This could help shorten time to complete customs procedures for import-export activities to the average level of ASEAN-4 countries … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/12
Hygiene, Safety Win Consumer Trust
Hygiene, Safety Win Consumer TrustBy Tam NguyenHealth conscious consumers favor clean, safe foods with known brands and shun those of unclear originFoods with clear origin and known brands are winning over those of unclear origin and suppliers during the Tet (Lunar New Year holiday) shopping season, as consumers are more aware of food hygiene and safety following news about harmful effects on human health caused by poorly processed, sub-standard foods.According to traders at major markets in HCM City like Tan Dinh and Binh Tay, sales of watermelon seeds and jams are falling markedly compared with Tet of the previous years. “Last year, we suffered poor sales following the media reports on sweets produced at dirty establishments. The situation this year has not improved much, possibly because consumers are still haunted by the past experience,” says a wholesaler at Binh Tay, the biggest wholesale market of jams for Tet.Sales of watermelon seeds, a typical snack for Tet, are … [Read more...] about Hygiene, Safety Win Consumer Trust
Social News 11/12
"Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions" about to beginA series of events on sustainable city solutions will be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from December 12 to 17 within an initiative of the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and co-organized by the National University of Civil Engineering in Hanoi (NUCE) and the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), with support from local authorities, organizations, and enterprises from Vietnam and Denmark.“Denmark is among the world leaders in green technology, and Green Growth is an important area of Vietnam and Denmark’s Comprehensive Partnership Agreement,” said Danish Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Laursen. “With this campaign we hope to create opportunities to exchange inspiration and knowledge with Vietnam on how to build green and sustainable cities.”With the theme “Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions”, the campaign includes exhibitions, seminars, film screenings, masterclasses, and a … [Read more...] about Social News 11/12