Auto

Loc Yen old village, a country retreat

March 2, 2021 by e.vnexpress.net

The hamlet situated in Tien Canh Commune, Tien Phuoc District, 40 kilometers to the southwest of Quang Nam Province’s central town was established between the 15th and 16th century with a total seven generations living in harmony. The sparsely populated area of 279 hectares is mostly covered with greenery of the paddy fields, mountain ranges, fruit trees and dotted with well-preserved old houses. During special occasions like national holidays, Loc Yen typically welcomes thousands of visitors who yearn for peace and fresh air offered by this hamlet. In September 2019, the village was recognized as a national relic and one of the most beautiful ancient villages in Vietnam.

The village, located in Tien Canh Commune, the central province’s Tien Phuoc District, was established between the 15th and 16th century with a total seven generations living in harmony.

Around an old house complex are fruit trees that not only produce a variety of fruit but provide ample shade for the dwellings.

Around the old house complex are fruit trees that not only produce a variety of fruits but provide ample shade for the dwellings.

There are eight old houses left in Loc Yen built 80 to 150 years ago. Their structures are typical of a houses called nha ruong, made of solid jackfruit wood pillars and beams. Their cultural value is critically acclaimed and deemed worthy of preservation.

There are eight old houses left in Loc Yen, built 80 to 150 years ago. Their structures are typical of a house called “nha ruong”, made of solid jackfruit wood pillars and beams. Their cultural value is critically acclaimed and deemed worthy of preservation.

The well-preserved interior of 82-year-old Dong Viet Mao’s home.

A pumpkin-shaped rafter carving in the middle of Mao’s house signifies prosperity. All carvings and reliefs were skillfully produced by craftsmen from Van Ha carpentry village, Tam Thanh Commune of neighboring Phu Ninh District.

A mysterious “auto rotating” table made by Van Ha Village carpenters.

Stone stairs leading to an old house appear wet and slippery in the rain but create a nostalgic feel and smell induced by a green moss layer.

Large stone-paved steps with tea fences and fruit tree gardens on both sides.

Stone footpaths skirting lush green paddy fields are ideal for a pleasure walk.

In 2017, Quang Nam People’s Committee approved Tien Phuoc‘s ecotourism development, with plain concrete roads now decorated with stone fences and colorful petite flowers.

Bon bon fruit trees, which are native to Southeast Asia can be seen in almost every garden here. The fruit turns ripe in the eighth lunar month with a translucent sweet flesh under its skin.

This type of fruit belongs to the same family as bon bon fruit, except that it turns red when ripe.

Car prices in Vietnam set to be cheaper

March 2, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – With the Covid-19 impacts still looming on local economy, domestic car prices have gone down but remained nearly double the prices of vehicles sold in Thailand and Indonesia, mainly due to high fees and taxes for locally made cars.

Rising domestic production capacity and existing government’s support policies to cut fees and taxes for locally made cars are expected to be major factors dragging down car prices in Vietnam in the coming time.

Car production at Hyundai Thanh Cong manufacturing plant. Photo: Hoang Giang

A representative from the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco), one of Vietnam’s leading car manufacturers, expected the country’s participation in free trade agreements (FTAs) with major partners, including the EU, Japan, UK and South Korea, would help further abate costs for importing car parts with import duty at 0%.

With the Covid-19 impacts still looming on local economy, domestic car prices have gone down but remain nearly double the prices of vehicles sold in Thailand and Indonesia, mainly due to high fees and taxes for locally made cars.

“High product quality and low base cost are essential for Vietnam cars to compete with their foreign peers,” said auto expert Nguyen Minh Dong, adding only a bigger market size could attract more investors to come in to produce cars in the country and enhance localization rate.

Director of Hien Toyota noted while car manufacturers can streamline operation to drive down the production cost, taxes and fees are dependent on state policies.

“Lowering taxes and fees for cars will no doubt reduce prices and bring more benefits for customers,” she said.

Booming market demand

A recent report from the SSI Securities Corporation suggested Vietnam’s income per capita is on the rise and set to grow at an average of 8-10% in the next decade.

“Compared to regional countries, the current income per capita is fast approaching to a point of bursting demand for cars,” asserted the SSI, adding cars would soon move from the luxury category with a passenger vehicle density of 34 per 1,000 to a more ordinary one with a density level comparable to countries in the region.

The SSI also pointed to a key factor that the domestic car market is big enough for car manufacturers to shift from importing cars to assembling/manufacturing domestically.

At present, six major car manufacturers of Thaco, Huyndai, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Ford and Honda account for 90% of the market share in Vietnam with a combined production capacity of 30,000-60,000 units per year, exceeding the break-even point for domestically-produced cars of 30,000-40,000 cars per year for an assembling plant, or 10,000-20,000 units for each car model.

According to the SSI, domestic car production capacity is increasing rapidly to meet customers demand, a key step to lower car prices.

With more cars manufacturing and assembling plants scheduled to complete in the 2022-23 period, the SSI expects a heating up car markets with steep discount policies would drive up domestic car demands.

Along with existing Vietnam’s support policies for the automobile industry, the National Assembly is currently discussing a possibility of reducing the excise tax rate for locally made cars, in which the specific reduced rate would be in line with the localization rate, aiming to boost sales of affordable car models.

HCMC puts daily State budget collections at VND2.9 trillion

March 2, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

HCMC puts daily State budget collections at VND2.9 trillion

The Saigon Times

HCMC Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan. HCMC collected some VND2.9 trillion per day for the State budget between January and February – PHOTO: THE HCMC MEDIA CENTER

HCMC – HCMC collected some VND2.9 trillion per day for the State budget between January and February, nearly double the number given by the Government.

Speaking at the Government’s online meeting with provinces and cities on socioeconomic performance this morning, March 2, HCMC Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan said that the central Government set a target for HCMC to collect some VND365 trillion for the State budget this year, equivalent to some VND1.5 trillion per day.

In the first two months of the year, the city’s budget collections amounted to an average of some VND2.9 trillion per day.

Up to now, the city has collected VND74.5 trillion, meeting 20.5% of the target and rising by 10.5% year-on-year, Hoan said, adding that HCMC might fulfill the target set by the Government.

HCMC’s budget collections in 2019 reached some VND410 trillion, while the city’s budget revenues reached a mere VND371 trillion in 2020, meeting 91.5% of the estimates due to the impact of Covid-19.

In recent years, the city’s collections have accounted for 25%-27% of the country’s total, the local media reported.

In the first two months of 2021, the city saw more positive achievements in socio-economic development than during the same period last year, according to the representative of the HCMC government.

In the two-month period, the city’s total retail sales of goods and services inched up 4.7%, while its export revenue amounted to US$8 billion, up 25% year-on-year, backed by the exports of fertilizer, plastic materials and auto components.

The city also attained industrial manufacturing index growth of 6% and saw over 3,800 firms return to the market, up 3% year-on-year, and 700 companies complete dissolution procedures, down 14.5%.

However, Hoan said that its tourism sector had been heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Between January and February, the sales of travel services plunged by 70%, while the value of lodging services dropped by 14% year-on-year.