When introducing a familiar idea of ‘AuP – automatic parking search engine’, student Nguyen Phuong Linh of the University of Finance – Marketing did not expect much except the wish to pursue her own interest to help the city where she was learning and living. Her idea did not much impress the organizing board. What is more, there are many similar solutions on the market like Pakme, iParking, Park.vn. Therefore, when AuP was chosen as the winner of the whole contest, many people were left speechless. However, to Phuong Linh, the result was her deserved achievement after a lot of effort. Phuong Linh shared that “AuP has addressed the weaknesses of existing software on the market, which are unreasonable parking fee in many parking lots or irrational user ecosystems. Thanks to the advice of many experts, I have remake the development plan of AuP by integrating the process of charging parking fee into user accounts and increase the revenue for parking lots … [Read more...] about Final round of ‘Young startups for our dear city’ launched
Young state park
Coach Park Hang Seo: Vietnam’s football potential yet to be fully tapped
Vietnam’s football potential has yet to be fully tapped and the freshly-concluded 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship where Vietnam claimed the silver medal is just a beginning, said U23 Vietnam’s head coach Park Hang Seo. Coach Park Hang SeoSpeaking at a press conference held by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in Hanoi on January 29, Park said following the AFC U23 Championship, the squad’s coaching panel and the VFF will prepare for other tournaments such as Asian Games (ASIAD), ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and 2019 AFC Championship. He used the occasion to thank the Party, State and relevant units for their support, as well as football lovers for their sentiments towards the squad. Asked about factors leading to the team’s success, the coach said apart from physical strength and tactics, solidarity, discipline and high determination contributed to the result, stressing that the players competed with the … [Read more...] about Coach Park Hang Seo: Vietnam’s football potential yet to be fully tapped
Teen swims his way to success
Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn is a successful young swimmer. He did very well in the SEA Games this year. Next year he hopes to swim in the Youth Olympics in Argentina. Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn’s grandfather encouraged him to swim when he was young. At the age of 15, HCM City’s native swimmer Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn won an individual medley gold at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Malaysia this year, setting a new Games record. He also won 14 gold medals on his own to help Việt Nam top the medal tally at the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships in Brunei. He tells Thanh Nga that his stupendous feats thus far have whetted his appetite for doing even better. Inner Sanctum: What do you think about your achievements gained in the SEA Games and the SEA Age Group Swimming Championship? When I triumphed at the SEA Games this year in the men’s 400m medley with a time of … [Read more...] about Teen swims his way to success
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
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/12
Measures sought to increase added value of coffeeMeasures were sought to promote coffee processing to enhance coffee export value to 6 billion USD by 2030 at a workshop in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 9.The event was organised by the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).Addressing the event, MARD Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong underlined the development of the coffee sector.Vietnam made up less than one percent of the world’s coffee output 30 years ago. In 2016, Vietnam became the world’s second biggest coffee producer, with 645,000 hectares producing 1.6 million tonnes of beans. The sector earned 3.4 billion USD in export value and provided jobs for some 600,000 people in the year.Coffee plants have made significant contribution to the nation’s development and the wellbeing of Vietnamese farmers, Cuong said.By 2030, Vietnam aims to reduce coffee growing area … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/12
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12
Vietnam, Cambodia to develop cashew farming areaThe Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) is working with the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to establish a cashew farming area in Cambodia that is able to produce 1 million tonnes of material cashew annually.VINACAS President Nguyen Duc Thanh unveiled the information at the association’s seminar in HCM City on December 7 to seek ways to support foreign trade of cashew between 2018 and 2019.Addressing the event, Thanh said Vietnam has remained the world’s largest exporter of cashew and seen a robust growth of the cashew processing industry in recent years. However, the domestic supplies of cashew nuts have only satisfied about 20-35 percent of the firms’ demand for materials while imports of cashew face risks from quality control and payment, he noted.Cambodia is able to produce high-quality cashew nuts thanks to good varieties and favourable weather conditions, Thanh stated, adding that … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12
Local property welcomes Japanese investors
Local property welcomes Japanese investorsBy Dinh Dung - The Saigon Times DailyHCMC – After the period of exploration, the presence of Japanese investors has become bolder in the local realty market via the investment in office buildings, residential areas and the industrial property segment.Wave of arrivalsJapanese investors used to be absent in Vietnam’s property market, especially in the housing and commercial apartment segments. Singaporean and South Korean investors outshine those from other countries as they engage in developing the apartment building projects in the nation’s two biggest cities Hanoi and HCMC.However, Japanese investors have started to step into the local real estate market, besides other sectors such as finance, communication and consumption. Notably, the Tokyu Binh Duong Garden City project worth US$1.2 billion got off the ground last week.Japan’s Tokyu Corporation has made their way into the Vietnamese property market through the … [Read more...] about Local property welcomes Japanese investors
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
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12
Investments in drugstore chains turn activeFPT Retail has recently confirmed its investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain, thus lengthening the list of tech retailers that are venturing into drugstore business.The Gioi Di Dong and Digiworld that have long been known as retailers of tech products have invested into drugstore chains as well.At a meeting on business operations at the Hochiminh Stock Exchange earlier this month, FPT Retail general director Nguyen Bach Diep said the company started injecting capital into Long Chau drugstores early this year on a pilot basis and would expand its investment in this sector next year.Revenue from drugstore business operations would be included in FPT Retail’s revenue as from 2019, Diep added.News about FPT Retail’s investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain broke early this year. But when reached by the media, the company said negotiations were ongoing and that there was no official information.Some of the well-known drugstore … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12
Young swimmer shine at age 15
At the age of 15, HCM City’s native swimmer Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn won an individual medley gold at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Malaysia this year, setting a new Games record. He also won 14 gold medals on his own to help Việt Nam top the medal tally at the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships in Brunei. He tells Thanh Nga that his stupendous feats thus far have whetted his appetite for doing even better. Inner Sanctum: What do you think about your achievements gained in the SEA Games and the SEA Age Group Swimming Championship? When I triumphed at the SEA Games this year in the men’s 400m medley with a time of 4:22.12 and broke the Games record of 4:23.20 held by Ratapong Sirisanont of Thailand since 2003, I was very happy since I made it in the first attempt taking part in the biggest regional sports tournament. I thanked my mentors, especially coach Đặng Anh Tuấn who always stays close to me at each … [Read more...] about Young swimmer shine at age 15