Indigenous foreign tourist

US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink believes that the most important values and products of the PCI are not the rankings of localities, but rather the sharing of the lessons learned, along with models and technology reforms.

The past 16 years has seen the PCI play an important role in promoting transparency and accountability in provincial economic governance domestically whilst facilitating private economic development as a means of promoting the nation’s competitiveness within the international arena.

Informal fees have continued to decline in recent years due to positive results achieved in the fight against corruption. In addition, both domestic and foreign investors are applying modern technologies as part of efforts to develop a greener, more stable economy, the diplomat states.

According to Ambassador Kritenbrink, the country has yielded several positive results due to improved administrative procedures, especially in terms of customs procedures. Vietnamese success in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has also had a positive impact on the local business climate in recent times.

Despite a high proportion of firms being negatively impacted by COVID-19 last year, Vietnamese businesses were largely able to continue their operations. Overall, the PCI underscores the success in the country’s economic development strategy based on FDI attraction and domestic private sector development.

Along with these remarkable results there remains a number of areas of major concern, such as corruption control, procedural systems, regulations, infrastructure, and quality public services.

Despite significant improvements occurring in these areas, last year saw only 27% of FDI enterprises rate the level of corruption in Vietnam as less common than in China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Furthermore, only 32% of FDI enterprises believe that the Vietnamese system of procedures, regulations, and infrastructure is better than that of these countries, while roughly 42% of them state that the quality of Vietnamese public service delivery is better.

These figures are largely in line with the judgment of the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KORCHAM), who say that infrastructure and regulatory systems are two areas in which the nation can further improve in to attract new investors moving forward.

Foreign financiers also expect that the country will continue controlling corruption, whilst simultaneously improving the quality of public service delivery, revamping procedures, and greatly upgrading the quality of infrastructure facilities.

The highlight of these events will be art shows, street parades, and a fireworks display which will be held welcome the start of the tourism season for this year.

Hoang Nhat Nam, director of the art programme held at the Tuan Chau international tourist site, said a number of popular local artists, singers, and beauty queens will participate in a grand music programme and fashion shows during the occasion.

As part of the event, Ha Long City have asked the authorities to permit firework displays to be held at three locations, including the Tuan Chau international tourism site, 30-10 Square, and the FLC Ha Long eco-tourism complex.

Most notably, a number of new tourism products have been put into operation ahead of the occasion, including the opening of the Tuan Chau golf course featuring a lighting system at night, the inauguration of Hon Gai public beach, and free entry to a tourist site in the Ba Deo hill area.

Nguyen Ngoc Son, vice chairman of Ha Long City People’s Committee, noted that the participation of numerous corporations, tourism firms, and local authorities is anticipated to boost tourism demand and attract more tourists to Ha Long city, particularly amid complicated developments caused by the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This comes as the number of tourists who have booked tours to Da Nang city for Reunification Day on April 30 and Labour Day on May 1 has recovered by approximately 80% compared to the same period from last year.

Upon addressing the event, Nguyen The Manh, general director of the VSS, said it became the first dialogue of its kind to review the enforcement of laws regarding social and health insurance, thereby ensuring the rights and interests of workers.

Lee Jae-guk, an attaché in charge of labour and employment and a counsellor at the Korean Embassy in Vietnam, called for discussions to be held to solve business difficulties in the  near future.

A VSS representative also used the platform to present fresh points in social and health insurance policies, whilst reporting the implementation of these insurance policies among foreign and Korean firms. This is along with a Government Decree on compulsory social insurance for foreign workers in the country.

The representative also mentioned a plan aimed at signing a bilateral agreement on social insurance between the nation and the RoK.

As part of the occasion, Manh presented certificates of merit to eight businesses for their competent efforts in carrying out legal policies on social and health insurance last year.