Tran Thi Huy, 28, of Dien Chau District in the north central Nghe An Province, is the wife of 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc, who has been confirmed dead in a mill fire in Oldham, Manchester back in May. On Saturday, Huy received a phone call from the U.K. The person on the other side was a representative of the Manchester police, informing her fingerprint analyses of a body found in the aftermath of the fire showed that it belonged to Uoc, one of four Vietnamese nationals reported missing last month. They said a DNA analysis would be done next to confirm the fingerprint analysis. A month ago, hair and nail samples of Uoc’s family members were sent to the U.K. police by a Vietnamese citizen living in the U.K. who came back home to collect them. "We have been praying hard at the altar, hoping a miracle would happen for Uoc. But that hope is gone," Huy said. At the end of 2016, just months after the couple had welcomed their second child, Uoc left his wife and family and went to … [Read more...] about Crushed: family mourns husband, son killed in UK fire
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UK deal offers gateways to regional trade
Trade in goods between Vietnam and the UK has grown rapidly According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, two-way trade between the UK and Vietnam reached US$6.6 billion in 2021, an increase of 17.2 percent compared to 2020. The expected recovery of the British economy from the pandemic and growing consumer demand in the UK will offer more opportunities for Vietnam’s exports in the years to come. The UK is currently Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in Europe after Germany and the Netherlands. The UK and Vietnam established a strategic partnership in 2010. The signing of the trade deal was of great significance, preventing an interruption of bilateral trade at the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31, 2020 and promoting post-pandemic economic recovery. In addition, the contents of the UKVFTA are similar to those of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), shortening negotiations. Embracing globalization has been one of Vietnam’s core strategies to … [Read more...] about UK deal offers gateways to regional trade
Phu Quoc welcomes increasing investment in urban development
A corner of Phu Quoc (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Attracting large capital for urban development is essential for Phu Quoc city, which houses Phu Quoc island – Vietnam's largest off the southern province of Kien Giang, serving its diverse and sustainable growth after years of investing in the entertainment-resort tourism industry. A survey by the Vietnam Institute of Real Estate Studies ( VIRES ) showed that, in the past 3-5 years, over 90% of investors participated in the market’s tourism-resort realty segment. However, at the moment, the focus of investment has shifted to urban projects boasting transparent legality, with over 60% of investors interested in this segment. The vast majority of them chose long-term investment, expecting that the projects’ prices will increase many times in the coming years. Vice president of VIRES Pham Nguyen Toan noted Phu Quoc is gradually transforming itself into a profitable investment and settlement destination. He also singled out … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc welcomes increasing investment in urban development
Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings
Thu, 61, is a housewife and completely dependent on her husband. He is 66 and works as a construction worker. They struggle to make ends meet and their healthcare expenses take up much of their income. Thu says: "My daughter has no problem giving us money, but her husband does not seem too pleased to support us. So I don’t feel happy taking it. Sometimes my son-in-law asks my daughter behind our back why we keep borrowing money from them." In order not to bother their daughter and her family, the old couple ask other people in their circle. But who can lend them money constantly? Growing up during the war, Thu used to be a farmer and then ran a small business. Neither she nor her husband has pensions, and their savings are not enough for retirement. "When I was in my 30s, I saved hundreds of millions of dong. But suddenly I became sick and my situation became serious. I spent most of my savings at that time. Now I have less than 20 million left. Our life is so unstable now." … [Read more...] about Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings