Vietnam Morning News For December 4

Foreign investors pour US$145 billion into Vietnam’s industrial and economic zones
Vietnam`s industrial parks and economic zones remained the country`s magnet in attracting foreign investment.
— Hanoi Times

Seafood export earnings surge 6.8 percent in 11 months
Viet Nam’s seafood export turnover in November reached US$852 million, raising the total value for the first 11 months to $8.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.8 per cent.
— BIZHUB

Vietnam sees car import up 44% y/y in October
Cars from Thailand and Indonesia accounted for 93% of total cars imported to Vietnam over the last week.
— Hanoi Times

Veggie exports hit 3.5 billion US in 11 months
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export value hit 3.5 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2018, up 11.6 percent year-on-year, said the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority (AgroTrade) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
— Vietnam+

What are the prospects for 5G in Vietnam?
With significant technological improvements, a 5G network can help speed up connections, reduce signal latency, and increase the number of connected devices at the same time. It can also give a strong push to the digital economy.
— Viet Nam Net

China Fuels Vietnam’s Protest Movement – Analysis
The Vietnamese people, wary of Chinese expansionism, expect their leaders to control development, protecting culture and independence.
— Eurasia Review

Seaport service fees up 10%
The price for container loading and unloading services from ships to port yeard at Vietnamese seaports will be adjusted from January 1, 2019, according to new regulations of the Ministry of Transport.
— Bizhub

More work needed on VN tea exports
The Vietnamese tea sector should work harder to improve the quality of its exports in order to better tap the global market, including Russia, experts have said.
— Bizhub

Vietnam shares jump most in 7 months on Asia gains following Xi-Trump talks
Vietnamese stocks soared the most in seven months on the first trading day of December, tracking gains in Asian bourses after Washington and Beijing postponed tariff escalation last weekend, traders said.
— Hanoi Times

Water risk report for Vietnam’s garment sector launched
The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently launched in Ho Chi Minh City a water risk report for the country’s textile and garment industry and a tool for assessing water risks in the Mekong region.
— Fibre2Fashion

Vingroup to launch smartphone under Vsmart brand next week
These are the first products and part of Vingroup’s new development strategy with a focus on industry and technology.
— Hanoi Times

Dutch firm helps Binh Phuoc promote sustainable peppercorn production
Vice Chairman of the Binh Phuoc province People’s Committee Huynh Anh Minh had a working session with representatives from Nedspice Vietnam, a spice processing firm of the Netherlands, on enhancing cooperation in trade promotion and the sustainable production of the locality’s pepper products.
— VNA NET

HCM City companies ensure supply of goods for Tet
Most HCM City businesses have prepared more than enough goods at stable prices for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which falls on February 5.
— Bizhub

Vietnam Airlines receives two awards at World Travel Awards 2018
Vietnam Airlines was named the World’s Leading Cultural Airline and World’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class at this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards gala in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday.
— Viet Nam News

Local and foreign start-up have the same challenges and opportunities in Vietnam
Vietnam has an open policy for innovative foreign start-ups investing in the country, so both Vietnamese and foreign start-up businesses have the same challenges and opportunities. Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Prime Minister spoke at the High Level Policy Dialogue on start-up ecosystem development during TechFest 2018. He pointed out difficulties in the start-up business environment to foreign businesses and risk investment foundations seeking opportunities in the country.
— Vietnam Insider

Manufacturing sector’s output rises at near-record pace in November
Vietnam’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose from 53.9 points the previous month to reach 56.5 points in November, according to the latest survey from Nikkei’s IHS Markit, released on December 3.
— VNA NET

Court delays Vinasun lawsuit against Grab
The HCM City People’s Court on Friday adjourned trial proceedings brought against ride-hailing service Grab by Vinasun taxi company, which has accused Grab of unfair business practices and demanded compensation of VND41.2 billion (US$1.756 million) for losses it has suffered.
— Bizhub

Concerns for Vietnam amid rising Chinese investment inflow
Experts said that the government and domestic firms must take actions against Chinese firms, which ship their unfinished products to Vietnam and then export them to the US through a Vietnam-based firm as an intermediary to avoid tariffs.
— Hanoi Times

Dong Nai secures 1.76 billion USD in FDI
More than 1.76 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) landed in the southern province of Dong Nai during January-November, surpassing the yearly target of 76 percent.
— VNA NET

Thai naval vessels dock in Phu Quoc
Two Thai naval vessels, the H.T.M.S Rattanakonsin and the H.T.M.S Kamronsin, led by Colonel Papon Hanphaiboon, Deputy Chief of the Thai Maritime Enforcement, Zone 1, with 213 sailors docked at Phu Quoc port, the southern province of Kien Giang on December 3, beginning a friendly visit to Vietnam that will last through December 6.
— Vietnam+

Stock dividends keep shareholders happy, enable banks to increase capital
In the third quarter of this year Techcombank decided to pay stock dividends for 2017 to its shareholders at a ratio of two shares for each share held.
— Viet Nam Net

More foreign capital flowing into Vietnam through M&As
Foreign direct investment (FDI) keeps flowing to Vietnam, but investors are increasingly pouring more capital through M&As.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam’s wind power tariffs attractive, but grid capacity a major concern
Vietnam’s new feed-in tariffs are attracting great interest in wind power, but investors are concerned about grid connection and purchase agreements.
— VN Express

An Phát Plastic Green Environment JSC wins US$60 million contract
An Phát Plastic & Green Environment JSC, a member of An Phát Holdings, has signed a contract to supply thin film packaging worth VNĐ1.4 trillion (US$60 million) to a Japanese partner.
— Viet Nam News

Da Nang city attracts Japanese enterprises
The central city of Da Nang always appreciates the contributions of Japanese enterprises to its socio-economic achievements in 30 years attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam.
— Vietnam+

Vietnam Oil And Gas Market Research Report: Ken Research
Gas demand is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 2.1% per year in the period 2018-2020. World oil supplies have increased by nearly 1.5 million barrels per day to about xx million barrels a day in the first quarter of 2018. The Middle East is the main global oil supplier, accounting for 34.5% of total production. Oil prices in the first quarter of 2018 continued to show positive growth of about xx.x USD/barrel, up 24% over last year.
— Vietnam Insider

HCM city smart city development still lags behind region
HCM City has great potential for smart-city development but lags far behind other Asian smart cities, according to a study issued by the HCM City-based University of Economics.
— Viet Nam News

King Tran Nhan Tong’s entry into Nirvana to be marked this week
Various ceremonial activities will take place in the northern province of Quang Ninh on December 6 and 7 to commemorate the 710th anniversary of the death of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, the founder of Vietnam Zen Buddhism.
— Vietnam+

Shares rise sharply on easing trade tension
Vietnamese shares posted a strong comeback on Monday following last Friday’s slump, thanks to hopes US-China trade tensions will ease.
— Viet Nam News

Hue students receive scholarships from Japan
Twenty disadvantaged students with outstanding academic results of the Hue University received Japanese-funded scholarships worth 300 USD each at a ceremony held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on December 3.
— Vietnam+

Anti-corruption hotline launched by Ministry of Public Security
The Ministry of Public Security has opened a hotline to receive complaints relating to corruption and wrongdoings committed by police officers.
— Viet Nam News

Saigon police crack down on football fans for traffic violations
Traffic police fined 55 traffic violations Sunday night as Saigon residents stormed the streets to celebrate a Vietnamese football victory.
— VN Express

Hanoi hosts Bytecoin Gala Tech 2018
Experts, investors and hundreds of technology lovers gathered at the “Bytecoin gala tech 2018” held in Hà Nội yesterday to discuss and analyse the applicability of blockchain technology in Việt Nam.
— Viet Nam News

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort honoured at World Travel Awards 2018
InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort were honoured at three categories of the World Travel Awards 2018 which took place in Libson, Portugal on Saturday.
— Viet Nam News

Inspirational Business Events by Vietnam Startup Network in Europe to Check Out this December
A series of events, which introduced by Vietnam Startup Network in Europe (VSNE) and Startup Vietnam Foundation (SVF) can help get your idea off the ground.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam rolls out national program on HIV prevention drug
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout one’s body and is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed, said the U.S. government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
— VN Express

Vietnam’s Vingroup to launch smartphones next week as part of tech push
Vingroup, Vietnam’ biggest listed firm by market value, will launch its first smartphones on Dec. 14, as part of its transformation into a technology and industrial group.
— Reuters

Vietnam suspends foreign pilots of VietJet plane in troubled landing
Two foreign pilots of the VietJet plane whose nose wheels flew off as it landed last week have been suspended, pending investigations.
— Straits Times

Central Highland Gong Culture festival wraps up
The highlight of the closing ceremony was an art programmehonouring the gong culture as well as the unique cultural values of the Central Highlands, including Gia Lai province.
— Nhan Dan online

MicroDragon satellite set for 2019 lift-off
MicroDragon, a made-in-Việt Nam earth observation satellite, will be launched into space early next year.
— Viet Nam News

Local agencies respond differently to wildlife trafficking cases
In early November, the Kon Tum provincial police discovered a large amount of wildlife carried on a bus that went through the province. The wildlife seized included crocodiles and turtles of different species.
— Viet Nam Net

Vietnam to open first direct flights to Israel
National carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to launch two flights weekly between Hanoi and Israel’s coastal Tel Aviv City and test its economical viability.
— news.google.com

Feature photo manhhai

This week’s Vietnam morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Vietnam morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Vietnam news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies, not politics.