No Vietnamese citizens onboard crashed Indonesian plane No Vietnamese citizens were marked as onboard the Lion Air passenger plane of Indonesia, which crashed into the sea on the morning of October 29, the country’s Vietnamese embassy confirmed. Indonesia’s Tribunsemsel.com and several other local websites have announced a list of the passengers aboard the plane, on which there are no Vietnamese nationals. The plane lost contact with air traffic control just 13 minutes after takeoff. The jet, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was en route from Jakarta to Pangkakpinang in Bangka Belitung province off Sumatra island. The plane had requested the air traffic control to return to base before disappearing from radar, stated Bambang Ervan, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Transport. According to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the total number of people on the plane was 189, including two pilots and six flight attendants. Indonesia has opened a search and … [Read more...] about Social News 31/10
Sky news business
Sky garden offers best view of Seoul
A glass floor area on the overpass, where passers-by can stop and have a look at traffic underneath. VNS Photo Lê Hương Viet Nam News by Lê Hương Thousands of locals cross it every day on their way home from work. Tourists visit it as suggested by the Seoul Tourism Organisation as a skypark, a sustainable traffic solution for the city. Yet more than that, one may see culture, lifestyle and even history from Seoullo 7017. Located in the middle of bustling Seoul, the elevated, linear park was built above a former highway overpass closed in 2015, which stands at 17m above street level. The 1km path lined by thousands of plants was based on New York City’s High Line. It begins at Malli-dong and continues northeast past Seoul Station near Namdemun at Hoehyeon Station to ease traffic on normal routes. Historic documents say that under the Joseon Dynasty, all people and goods that entered the city had used gates between the city walls. Sungnyemun … [Read more...] about Sky garden offers best view of Seoul
Foreign investment sky high in HCMC
People work at an automation factory in Saigon Hi-Tech Park, HCM City. This city is now home to 7,700 FDI projects worth US$44.87 billion. — VNA/VNS Photo Tien Luc For the last 30 years, foreign direct investment (FDI) has significantly contributed to HCM City’s economic-socio achievements. But how to continue attracting FDI and mitigating the problems related to the sector are moot questions for the city. Since the Law on Foreign Investment came into effect in 1988, HCM City has been the country’s leading destination for FDI. According to the latest report from the city’s People’s Committee, there are now 7,700 FDI projects worth US$44.87 billion, or 14 per cent of the total FDI in Viet Nam. Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said: “The city highly appreciates important contributions by foreign businesses to its socio-economic development.” In 1995 HCM City had accounted for 11.3 per cent of the … [Read more...] about Foreign investment sky high in HCMC
Walking street business boom frustrates walkers
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Two years after the walking street around the iconic Hoàn Kiếm (Returned Sword) Lake was first introduced to the Hanoians, the place has become a top destination for families and friends to hang out on weekends. But not everyone is happy with how the walking street has become a commercial centre and, some say, a big mess. The so-called walking street in the centre Hoàn Kiếm District is actually not a single street but rather comprised of 16 streets that run around and adjacent to the lake – the heart of the capital. Local authorities roughly estimate that 5,000-7,000 people flock to the walking zone during the day on weekends, and as many as 20,000 turn out at night. The largest number of people ever recorded at one time in the area was 200,000. Accompanying the crowds are activities and small businesses offering entertainment services to pedestrians, such as the toy electric cars for kids. From only a few people … [Read more...] about Walking street business boom frustrates walkers
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 5/8
VNR to keep divesting its subsidiaries Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) wants to continue the divestment of its subsidiaries, aiming to improve competitiveness and attract investors to enhance efficiency after three years on a downward spiral. A report on the results of the first six months of 2018 from VNR shows that all of its business indicators are on the rise, with revenue amounting to some VND4,000 billion, up 17.8% year-on-year, and with profit reaching VND106 billion. According to the report, the growth in revenue results from a series of renovation solutions for railway services, including replacing new cars, flexibly increasing and decreasing ticket prices depending on the market demand and linking to the tourism sector to attract passengers in groups. As railway transport models are still facing challenges, VNR has been forced to continue rearranging and restructuring its mechanisms and activities to sustain its operations and develop further. Besides this, the corporation … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 5/8
Social News 21/7
US volunteer doctors offer free health checkups to Cao Bang’s poor US volunteer doctors from the Good Samaritan Medical Dental Ministry provide free medical checkups to poor people in Tra Linh district, Cao Bang. A team of American volunteer doctors provided free medical examinations for about 2,570 poor people in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang from July 9 – 19. The medical aid workers from the Good Samaritan Medical Dental Ministry (GSMDM) also offered free medicine to people from the district of Bao Lam, Bao Lac, Ha Quang, Tra Linh and Hoa An. After the medical screening, 53 people who needed acute hospital care were admitted to Cao Bang General Hospital. Twenty six of them received surgeries from the US doctors at the provincial health care facility while four others were transferred to central hospitals. In addition, the team presented 500 gift packages to pre-school children and elementary school students in the communes of Quang Thanh (Nguyen … [Read more...] about Social News 21/7
Car crash victim Degenkolb back in business on Tour
Viet Nam News Cycling ROUBAIX — John Degenkolb won the Arras-Roubaix ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday ahead of Greg Van Avermaet as dozens of falls and multiple withdrawals made for a slapstick spectacle amidst clouds of dust on its famed cobbled sections. The win marks a return to form for the German, a former winner of Paris-Roubaix, who was knocked down by a car in Mallorca two years ago. "I love Roubaix," said Degenkolb, who was one of six riders badly injured when knocked down by a British tourist. Van Avermaet kept hold of the overall leader’s yellow jersey on a day when his team captain Richie Porte withdrew after a fall and the main contenders all finished more or less together. The lead trio broke with 15km to go and quickly agreed to cooperate taking turns at the head of the group to distance the peloton. Degenkolb was always the more likely of the trio to win the stage due to his sprinting skills while the Belgian Van Avermaet was keen to take … [Read more...] about Car crash victim Degenkolb back in business on Tour
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/4
Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City recently held a meeting with foreign-invested (FDI) businesses, calling on them to work side by side with the southern metropolis of Vietnam toward the goal of fast and sustainable development. The event on April 21 drew representatives of foreign businesses’ associations and nearly 200 FDI companies in HCM City. Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan said over the past years, HCM City has made efforts to improve investment climate, step up administrative reforms, streamline procedures, increase transparency and boost IT application in the settlement of administrative procedures to enhance the attractiveness to foreign investment. As a result, the city attracted 6.6 billion USD in FDI in 2017, surging over 90 percent from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2018 alone, the figure stood at 1.37 billion USD, compared to 5.8 billion USD of the entire country. However, he said, HCM City is also facing an array of challenges … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/4
Fireworks to light up sky in 21 provinces, municipalities in Vietnam during Tet
Five municipalities and 16 provinces will host fireworks displays on Lunar New Year’s Eve (midnight on February 16) to celebrate the transition between the Year of the Rooster and the Year of the Dog. Many of the pyrotechnic displays are locally funded by businesses and enterprises. These shows signal a major shift in governmental attitude toward firework displays on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Colorful fireworks are expected to light up the night sky of Vietnam, from the northernmost province of Ha Giang, to the southernmost province of Ca Mau, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The displays in Hanoi will last 15 minutes, from midnight until 00:15 am on February 16. There are 31 launching sites in 30 locations in the capital, the highest in the entire country. High-range fireworks are to be launched from Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Khanh Lake (Ba Dinh District), Hoang Cau Lake (Dong Da District), Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung District), Lac Long Quan Flower Garden (Tay Ho … [Read more...] about Fireworks to light up sky in 21 provinces, municipalities in Vietnam during Tet
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