Museums aim to attract int’l visitors

Representatives from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Vietnam Women’s Museum have met in Hanoi to seek cooperative opportunities with travel agencies to attract international visitors to museums.

Investors in agriculture cannot enjoy the promised incentives

The government--in an effort to attract investment to the agricultural production, offers a lot of incentives to the investors in the sector. However, many businesses said they cannot enjoy the incentives.

Hue residents sell traditional houses

While many nha ruong owners in the city of Hue are becoming tired of preserving their traditional houses without financial support, collectors are snapping up the wooden houses for billions of dong.

High fees to force many people to sell their cars

VietNamNet Bridge – Several types of fees on personal cars will be applied in the near future. The new fees have become big concerns of car users.

Ex-Vinashin execs get up to 20 years in prison

On March 30 the People’s Court in the northern port city of Hai Phong handed out prison sentences to nine former executives of the National Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin). 

Relations with China see positive developments

Viet Nam and China acknowledged recent positive developments in bilateral relations, especially those made after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China last October and Vice President Xi Jinping's trip to Viet Nam last December.

Vietnam’s plan for Asian Games 2019 finalized

VietNamNet Bridge – Secretary General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang has submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Vietnam’s plan to host the Asian Games 18 (ASIAD 2019).

The country-like leader of Hoi An

Considering himself a “countryman,” Mr. Nguyen Su, 55, has been living with and has been exerting efforts to maintain the soul of Hoi An ancient town for 30 years. Many of his “strange” decisions have brought about unexpected successes.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/4

Foreign firms drive export growth; Garment sector faces rough road ahead; Banks unable to save insolvent businesses; Shipping costs to decrease; Many agriculture firms in the red; Mini-apartment owners face legal hurdles     

M&As to fuel investments

A research team for the annual M&A Vietnam Forum, to take place in June with Vietnam Investment Review (VIR) the organiser, puts Vietnam’s foreign-related M&A activities and prospects in 2012 under the microscope.

Cong Tri’s colorful designs for summer 2012

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s famous fashion designer Cong Tri has launched his latest collection for summer 2012, which is very colorful and sexy.

Interest rates on the decline

The recent moves taken recently by the State Bank of Vietnam and the market performance, all show that the interest rate reductions would take place soon.

Highest number of poor households in northern mountainous region

VietNamNet Bridge – According to the latest survey of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), Vietnam has nearly 2.6 million of poor households, over 1.5 million others that approach the poverty threshold.

New trend: students get married and go to school at the same time

VietNamNet Bridge – It is a growing tendency that university students get married when they still have to go to school.

Gasoline quality to be inspected nationwide

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Science and Technology will conduct a nationwide inspection of gasoline quality from June to August.

What to gain from a Ramsar site?

Tram Chim National Park has been recognized as the 2,000th Ramsar site of the world and the fourth of Vietnam. Nguyen Huu Thien, an ecologist with over 20 years of experience in conserving wetlands in the Mekong Delta, talks about the tittle.

Demand high, but 3D video player market quiets

VietNamNet Bridge – The 3D video content market now offers more choices than ever with the availability of hundreds of videos. However, high technology product distributors have all said that the demand for 3D video playing devices is weak.

Ministry ready to submit housing saving fund scheme

The Ministry of Construction will submit to the Government the scheme on housing saving fund this April, aiming to start the pilot operation in Hanoi and HCMC late this year or early 2013.

Beauty queens to showcase Ao dai at Hue Festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Misses Vietnam Mai Phuong Thuy, Ngoc Han, Thuy Dung and Miss Vietnam World Diem Huong will perform ao dai designed by talented young designers of Vietnam at the Hue Festival 2012.

Vietnam’s volleyball still needs foreign players

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) has worked out a roadmap to reduce the number of foreign players in the volleyball season this year, and to completely ban foreign athletes next year. However, this plan is not backed.

More needs to be done to spur cruise tourism

Vietnam has natural conditions to attract yachts and cruise ships but authorities should make concerted efforts to allow this kind of luxury tourism to thrive, said Singaporean experts in a report on sea tourism prospects.

Chinese businessmen set up warehouses in HCM City

Chinese businessmen have brought their goods closer to Vietnamese consumers by setting up warehouses to distribute goods in HCM City. Experts have warned that a new wave of Chinese goods flocking to Vietnam would be seen in the near future.

All for the home country

VietNamNet Bridge – They are an overseas Vietnamese couple – Prof. Le Kim Ngoc and Prof. Tran Thanh Van – who have devoted themselves to science and to their home country – Vietnam.

EVENTS SCHEDULED ON APRIL 1-15 (daily updated)

Concert with Trio Smooth; Screening of “Little Nicolas”; African Reggae Music with Naby; Concert and Classical Ballet “Swan Lake”; Music Night with The Zudrangma; Hue – Lacquer Painting Exhibition; Schedule of Festival of Ideas and Writing in April

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 31/3

Bibica leader reassures shareholders; Agri-firms bemoan hardship; High insurance coverage for luxury outbound tour buyers; Bigger wave of investment from Japan; US to impose countervailing duty on Vietnam’s steel pipe