21 transportation construction contractors working in Vietnam have been classified as “average” in quality. Posco is one of many Korean contractors on MoT list RELATED CONTENTS: Hanoi wants Japan-built parking planning Chinese contractors cause long delay in multimillion-dollar project Quang Ninh to fund new highway after deciding against Chinese loan In Decision No. 1614/QD - BGTVT dated June 1, 2017, on ranking contractors in 2016, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) announced the assessment results of 474 contractors that have participated in transportation projects funded by state budget in the country. MoT's published results … [Read more...]

At its 2017 annual shareholders’ meeting, national carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) satisfied its shareholders by answering plenty of difficult questions and promising to focus on sustainable development.   VNA's focus in 2017 will be on safety, stability, and sustainable development, as well as protecting the rights of shareholders RELATED CONTENTS: Vietnam Airlines plans for stability Vietnam Airlines may open direct flights to US next year Vietnam Airlines completing petition for direct flight to US Vietnam Airlines launches huge 2017 flight sale Viet Nam Airlines partners with … [Read more...]

NDO – The International Music Festival will take place from 4:30pm to 11pm on June 24, at the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi (L’Espace), featuring the participation of numerous Vietnamese and international bands and artists. The festival will begin with three talented groups from Hanoi including HUB, Xanh 8+1 and B52, featuring original Vietnamese pop and rock compositions. After that, Puzzle, a well-known Franco-Vietnamese band, will delight music lovers with songs from the French-language repertoire that were orchestrated with a combination of classic and modern styles. In addition, lively performances, imbued with the festive atmosphere of the Caribbean, by the L’impossible band from Haiti, will be a highlight of the festival. Finally, a performance of electronic music by DJ Quan, one of the leading DJ’s and music producers in Vietnam, will conclude the International Music Festival. The festival will offer an opportunity for, both … [Read more...]

NDO – HSBC has affirmed in its latest report that operating conditions in the manufacturing sector - Vietnam’s bedrock - point to ongoing growth, with output, employment and new orders - both overall and overseas - continuing to expand. However, the bank is concerned that a lull may be around the corner, as the rate of growth in these key components has slipped to multi-month lows. In addition, the manufacturers’ confidence receded to its lowest level in nearly four years, the report noted. According to the HSBC, with headline PMI at 51.6 (down from 54.1 previously) in May, the rate of growth is at its weakest since March 2016. The underlying details are also less encouraging, as both output and new orders grew at a slower pace, and the decrease in growth of new export orders was particularly sharp. Similarly, even though hiring continued for the fourteenth straight month, the rate of employment growth is at its weakest since last July. In the context of … [Read more...]

NDO – President Tran Dai Quang has hailed the Vietnam revolutionary press for its great contributions to the struggle for the national independence and liberation, the cause of national construction and defence, as well as the country’s overall achievements. The State leader made the remark while addressing a grand meeting, held at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi on June 21, to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925-2017) and to present the eleventh National Press Awards for outstanding press works. The meeting also saw the presence of Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Politburo member and National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman; former NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung; as well as Politburo members: Nguyen Thien Nhan, President of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh Municipal Party’s Committee; Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary of Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of PCC Commission for … [Read more...]

Shares declined for the first time in the last three days as banks lost momentum on Wednesday on rising profit-taking pressure after a long rally. Bank shares fell on Wednesday, pushing the VN-Index down. – Photo shs.com.vn The benchmark VN-Index inched down 0.08 per cent to close at 767.41 points. The HCM Stock Exchange’s index rose nearly 1 per cent in the two previous sessions. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index was down 1.12 per cent to end at 98.68 points. The northern market index expanded 1.5 per cent in the last two trades. Bank stocks slumped with six of nine listed banks on the two exchanges losing value. Three largest listed lenders – Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), BIDV (BID) – slipped 3.2 per cent, 3.1 per cent and 1.2 per cent, respectively. Other … [Read more...]

The new price range for the calculation of the natural resource tax that will come into effect from July 1, 2017is found to be remarkably wide. Moreover, in specific cases, the highest price used to calculate the tax is 1.42 times as much as the minimum level. Still, Nguyen Huu Tan, deputy director of the Tax Policy Department under the General Department of Taxation, told VIR’s Manh Bon that illegal profiteering is simply not possible with this tax policy. Nguyen Huu Tan, deputy director of the Tax Policy Department, expresses confidence in the infallibility of the new natural resource tax regime The database for calculating natural resource tax rates (also known as royalty tax in Vietnam) shall be collected, summarised, and classified into new categories by tax offices. Would it possibly lead to illicit profit-making … [Read more...]

LE BOURGET, France: Airbus and Boeing wheeled out the usual round of order announcements at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday (Jun 21), but alongside the big ticket purchases, the aerospace rivals are also eyeing the lucrative maintenance and servicing market as they seek to boost growth. Airbus and Boeing are both looking to target the lucrative maintenance market in the coming years. (AFP/ERIC PIERMONT) Boeing finalised an order for three 787 Dreamliners to Israeli carrier El Al and inked a memorandum of understanding with leasing company Air Lease Corporation for 12 737 MAXs, while Airbus announced US$1.5 billion in orders for Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air and Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly. Away from the order books, Airbus and Boeing are targeting the service and maintenance market as a means of boosting business, … [Read more...]

With decisive majority, the National Assembly (NA) has passed the resolution on dividing Long Thanh International Airport’s resettlement and site clearance compensation into different component projects. A possible design for Long Thanh International Airport RELATED CONTENTS: Government urges site clearance for Long Thanh Airport South Korea interested in Long Thanh airport development ACV picks coconut leaf design for Long Thanh International Airport A careful consideration At the June 19 meeting, the National Assembly Standing Committee said that the Long Thanh International Airport project has been seriously considered by the … [Read more...]

North Korea on Thursday called U.S. President Donald Trump a "psychopath" as tensions soar following the death of American student Otto Warmbier, who was evacuated in a coma from North Korean detention last week. Pyongyang's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the U.S. president was in a "tough situation" at home and claimed he was toying with the idea of a preemptive strike on North Korea to divert attention from a domestic political crisis. "South Korea must realize that following psychopath Trump...will only lead to disaster," an editorial carried by the paper said. A series of atomic tests and missile launches since last year have ratcheted up tensions on the Korean peninsula, and Warmbier's death has further strained relations between Pyongyang and Washington. Trump slammed the "brutal regime" in Pyongyang, and said he was determined to "prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law or basic … [Read more...]

PARIS: Two more ministers from the centrist party that helped bring French President Emmanuel Macron to power quit the government on Wednesday (Jun 21) as he prepared to unveil a new cabinet. French Justice Minister Francois Bayrou played a key role in sweeping Marcon to the presidency. (Photo: AFP/Iroz Gaizka) Justice Minister Francois Bayrou, leader of the small MoDem party and a key ally of Macron's in the presidential campaign, told AFP: "I have taken a decision not to be part of the next government." European Affairs Minister Marielle de Sarnez is also set to resign, meaning all three MoDem ministers are leaving the cabinet after just over one month in office. Defence Minister Sylvie Goulard stood down on Tuesday, saying she could not carry on while MoDem was facing an investigation into claims it broke … [Read more...]

HCM City in the first half of the year sold 1,000 state-owned houses and apartment buildings, far short of its plan to sell 5,000 of the buildings by the end of the year. HCM City targets selling 5,000 state-owned residential houses and apartment buildings this year. - Photo chinhphu.vn Land-use fees and housing ownership duration have not been fixed, leading to sluggish sales, according to the Department of Construction. The city has 10,000 state-owned residential houses and buildings that have not been sold, but instead have been rented out, said Đỗ Phi Hùng, deputy director of the department. Many tenants are not paying rent because of financial difficulties, he added, with outstanding rental debt now standing at VNĐ45.2 billion (US$1.99 million). Hùng said that the city … [Read more...]

As many as 13,422 Facebook account holders are conducting trading activities through this social network, the Ha Noi Taxation Department announced on June 20. Two customers are shopping online via Facebook. - Photo vietnamnet.vn Vien Viet Hung, deputy director of Ha Noi Taxation Department, said that the agency had drawn up a tax administration project for e-commerce businesses in the city. The tax department has clarified and collected information on the identity and telephone numbers of the 13,422 Facebook account holders. Of this estimate, there are some 1,950 individuals and organisations that have registered and are using tax identification numbers to declare and pay taxes, Hung said. Regarding the remaining account holders, the tax department has sent SMS messages to their phone numbers to instruct them to … [Read more...]

(CPV) - Vietnam Medical Equipment Corporation (VINAMED) received certificate of investment decision acceptance for high-quality medical services center at Thanh Hoa General Hospital during the Thanh Hoa Investment Promotion Conference 2017. The VND739 billion-project will be executed under a socialization investment method with the joint venture between Thanh Hoa General Hospital and VINAMED as the investor. It is among the most important contents in the scheme of restructure and development of Thanh Hoa province service by 2020 with a orientation to 2025, and matches up with the comprehensive planning for healthcare sector adjustment by 2020 with a vision to 2030. According to Mr. Pham Quang Huy, Chairman of the Board of Director of VINAMED, investment in hospital and clinic infrastructure is one of meaningful social activities VINAMED always nurtures, and is committed to doing its best for public healthcare with most practical activities. That is the second healthcare unit where … [Read more...]

Hanoi (VNA) – Prices of oil and petrol products continued to decrease from 3:00pm on May 20, according to the latest adjustment of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance the same day. The prices of RON 92 slightly dropped by 211 VND per litre, while that of E5 bio-petrol and diesel oil declined by 197 VND and 343 VND per litre, respectively. Following a joint decision by the ministries, RON 92 and E5 bio-petrol is sold at no more than 17,063 VND (0.75 USD) and 16,871 VND (0.74 USD) per litre, respectively. Meanwhile, the new ceiling prices of diesel 0.05S and kerosene are 13,260 VND (0.58 USD) and 11,792 VND (0.52 USD) per litre. The average global price of RON 92 during the last 15 days to May 20 was at 61,084 USD per barrel, down 1 USD compared to the previous price adjustment. The prices of petrol and oil are adjusted every 15 days by the two ministries depending on changes in the world market.-VNA … [Read more...]

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s economic growth in the first quarter of 2017 reached 5.6 percent, higher than the 4.1-percent rise in the same time last year and the highest rate in the recent two years, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). The result was higher than Bloomberg’s earlier forecast of 4.8 percent, marking the third quarter of growth at fastest pace of the third largest Southeast Asian economy since 2015. The bank also predicted that the growth will remain stable throughout this year as the global economy is recovering and the domestic demand is still high. The country’s export is also forecast to be benefited from the world economic recovery. Experts held that Malaysia will enjoy growth of 4.3-4.8 percent this year. However, in March 2017, the BNM warned of risks due to the increase of protectism. Last year, Malaysia recorded an economic growth of 4.3 percent in comparison to 5 percent in 2015 and 6 percent in 2014 as the slumped oil price and … [Read more...]

Yen Bai (VNA) – The Yen Bai Tourism Year kicked off with art performances and cultural activities on May 19 in the northern mountainous province. More than 300 professional artists including singer Trong Tan, Minh Tuyet, Dang Duong and Tung Duong joined the performance themed Lung Linh Sac Mau Yen Bai (Glamourous Yen Bai). The event also features Inh La Oi, a traditional folk melody of the Thai ethnic group in Yen Bai province, performed by American singer Kyo York. Along with music and art, the characteristic images of Yen Bai – rice terraces, ban flower (orchid tree flower – the signature flower of the region) and stilt houses were also featured to bring audiences a sense of Yen Bai and the northwest region. The event also gathered Miss Tourism winners from previous years to showcase a fashion collection named Colours of Northwest of designer Viet Hung. The collection depicts the unique beauty of 30 different ethnic minorities and the landscapes of northwestern … [Read more...]

Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi’s leader has promised to solve all issues in the daily lives of all workers in the city soon, including shortages of housing, cultural activities, kindergartens and medical centres at industrial zones. Speaking at a dialogue between the city and nearly 1,000 workers representing more than 150,000 workers from industrial zones (IZ) and processing zones in the city at Noi Bai Industrial Zone on May 19, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said he would direct sectors and agencies to work on the issues right after the meeting. At the dialogue, Chung talked to workers and listened to their questions and comments on lifestyle, insurance, healthcare and education. He affirmed that the city serves the people and businesses to the utmost in line with the Government’s instructions. He added that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has … [Read more...]

Pham Huy, the inventor of a prosthetic arm for disabled people, was denied twice and almost missed his trip to Los Angeles. After two visa rejections that almost killed his dream trip, a Vietnamese high school student finally made it to the U.S.-based Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and claimed a third award for his robotic arm. Pham Huy, an 11th grader from Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam, was named among four third-award winners $1,000 in the robotics and intelligent machines category. Huy has created a prosthetic arm controlled by legs’ transmitter for disabled people. He spent four years of research to make the arm, which can perform 31 motions such as holding a spoon or lifting an object of up to 11 kilograms (24 pounds). The invention has been picked for the international contest after it won first prize at a national qualifying round in March. But his journey to the United States was not smooth and he barely reached the fair in time. The … [Read more...]

The only survivor in a recent truck accident that claimed two lives in the northern province of Hoa Binh was left speechless seeing locals rush out to loot products on the vehicle, instead of helping them. The only survivor in a recent truck accident that claimed two lives in the northern province of Hoa Binh was left speechless seeing locals rush out to loot products on the vehicle, instead of helping them. A truck was transporting rice bran on the National Highway 6 in Quy Hau Commune in Tan Lac District at around 1:45 am on Thursday when the driver lost control and crashed into a mountain. Only one of the three people in the cabin survived the crash, albeit with multiple injuries. The sole survivor immediately called for help, only to see dozens of local residents and passers-by jostle to the street to loot the bran bags scattered around the road, he recalled. Some of the looters even deployed cargo motorbikes to take home as much of the rice bran as they could. A police team … [Read more...]