Vietnam Morning News For April 1

Over 910 million VND saved during Earth Hour in Vietnam
About 492,000kWh of electricity, equivalent to 917 million VND (over 39,500 USD), was saved in Vietnam during the Earth Hour, when lights were turned off for one hour from 8:30pm on March 30.
— VNA NET

Steel exports edge up 5.8 percent in Q1
Vietnam’s total steel export value in the first quarter this year rose 5.8 percent year-on-year to 744 million USD, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said on March 27.
— VietnamPlus

Viet Nam to build policies for ageing population
As the world sets out an inspirational new development agenda and commits to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, Vietnam should envision a new model that addresses demographic ageing with economic and social growth and protects the elderly population’s rights.
— Eleven Myanmar

HCM City’s GRDP grows 7.64 percent in first quarter
Ho Chi Minh City recorded a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate of 7.64 percent in the first quarter of 2019, equivalent to the pace during same period last year.
— VietnamPlus

Hanoi office market to likely to lack supply
The office market in Hanoi was expected to face a shortage of supply with competition between offices for lease and co-working spaces likely to rise in the future, but was performing well at present, according to experts.
— VNA NET

(Updated) GOJEK’s Vietnam CEO steps down, to take on advisory role
The CEO and chief growth officer (CGO) of GOJEK’s Vietnam affiliate Go-Viet have stepped down from their positions to take on new advisory roles, the company said on Friday in a statement.
— DealStreetAsia

Vietnam’s trade surplus reaches US$536 million in first quarter
Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of US$536 million in the first quarter of 2019, according to the General Statistics Office.
— Nhan Dan Online

U.S. firm begins construction of $170 mln aerospace parts factory in Vietnam
The U.S.’s Universal Alloy Corporation began construction of its $170 million Sunshine aerospace components factory in Da Nang Friday.
— VnExpress

Viet Nam’s economic growth impressive in Q1
Viet Nam’s economic growth was impressive in the first quarter of this year in the context of a global slowdown, Nguyen Bich Lam, General Director of the General Statistics Office (GSO) of Viet Nam said at a press conference on Friday.
— Bizhub

Where is Vietnam on the world’s economic map?
The Vietnam Communist Party saw the risk of lagging behind 30 years ago. In the Resolution of the 7th Communist Party Congress and the resolutions of the next congresses, lagging behind was mentioned as a ‘risk’
— Vietnam Net

Vietnam wins gold medal at Ju-Jitsu Thailand Open
Martial artist Dao Hong Son bagged one gold medal for Vietnam at the 2019 Ju-Jitsu Thailand Championship, which took place on March 30 and 31 at Rangsit University in Bangkok.
— Nhan Dhan

Q1 witnesses high increase in number of newly-established enterprises
The first quarter of 2019 saw a peak in the number of newly-registered enterprises and those returning to operations, according to the latest data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO).
— Nhan Dan Online

Forming value chains to enhance competitiveness for pig farmers
The pig industry plays an important role in the Asia Pacific, but, like other sectors, is facing challenges such as price volatility, food safety concerns and recently reported outbreaks of African swine fever. Therefore, solutions are needed to promote smallholder pig production in a sustainable way, experts said.
— VNA NET

Vietnam factories are winning the trade war: S&P Global Market Intelligence
Vietnam could be scooping up factory and trade opportunities from the US-China trade war, one supply chain research analyst believes.
— Vietnam Insider

New university recruitment regulation raises concerns
A new regulation concerning recruitment quotas for public tertiary education institutions in Vietnam has been at the centre of debate among educators and lawmakers.
— VNA NET

Time for environmentally-friendly building materials
The increasing amount of smart urban areas and green buildings has triggered demand for environmentally-friendly building materials in Viet Nam, experts said.
— Bizhub

Vietnam Global Leaders Forum held in Paris
The Vietnam Global Leaders Forum (VLGF) was held in Paris, France, on March 30-31 by the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE) and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, gathering more than 200 delegates from 25 countries.
— VNA NET

Vietnam’s economy gains as companies flee China in trade war
The U.S. trade war with Beijing continues to boost the Vietnamese economy as companies dodge tariffs by relocating production here from mainland China, fueling a sharp increase in exports to America.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Vietnam’s Hanoi Attractions: Bach Ma Temple
In the heart of the Old Quarter, the small Bach Ma Temple is said to be the oldest temple in the city, though much of the current structure dates from the 18th century and a shrine to Confucius was added in 1839.
— Vietnam Insider

Ba Ria-Vung Tau releases breeding shrimp, fish into nature
The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on March 31 released breeding shrimps and fish into waters underneath of Co May bridge in Vung Tau city and Song Ray bridge in Xuyen Moc district.
— VietnamPlus

Regional trade fair highlights products of Northwest provinces
The International Trade Fair of the Northwest Region opened in Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien province, on March 30, by the People’s Committee of Dien Bien province in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
— Nhan Dan Online

Ministry auctions 15 pct stake in construction giant Viglacera
Over $68 million worth of construction materials producer Viglacera’s shares auctioned by the Construction Ministry has been bought by three private entities.
— VnExpress

Over 100 firms join International Trade Fair of Northwest Region
More than 100 organisations and businesses of Vietnam, China, Laos and Thailand have joined the International Trade Fair of the Northwest Region 2019 that was opened in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on March 30.
— VNA NET

Vietjet wins “The Best Service Foreign Low-Cost Carrier” award
Award presented at “South Korea Prestige Brand Awards 2019” ceremony in Seoul on March 28.
— Vietnam Insider

Culture, tourism week invites visitors to Phu Yen province
A range of activities introducing the quintessence of central Phu Yen province are awaiting visitors at a culture and tourism week that opened in Tuy Hoa city on March 30.
— VNA NET

Monthly report on flight cancelations in Vietnam, the worst airlines that people should know
Budget carrier Jetstar Pacific scored the lowest rate of on-time flights among Vietnamese airlines in March, the country’s aviation watchdog said in a report released on Monday.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam’s traditional dish, tourist destinations introduced in Canada
Nem ran (crispy spring rolls), which has been listed among the top 10 best dishes by CNN Travel, has been introduced to foreign friends during the ASEAN Happy Hour programme as part of the Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show in Canada.
— VNA NET

Over 7.3 trillion VND for power grid in central, Central Highlands regions
The Electricity Vietnam’s Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC) has announced that it plans to invest over 7.3 trillion VND (317 million USD) in a power grid in the central and Central Highland provinces this year.
— VietnamPlus

Vietnam students invent air cleaning bicycle
A group of students in Vietnam have invented an air-filtering device for bicycles, to save them having to wear anti-pollution face masks on their journey to school, reports Viet Nam News.
— BBC

Ba Ria-Vung Tau releases breeding shrimp, fish into nature
The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on March 31 released breeding shrimps and fish into waters underneath of Co May bridge in Vung Tau city and Song Ray bridge in Xuyen Moc district.
— VNA NET

Eximbank stock stays positive despite internal conflicts
While the benchmark VN-Index dropped by 2.22 points to close at 980.76 points, the stock of Vietnam Export Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank (EIB) is one of 11 stocks added into the VN30 basket.
— Vietnam Insider

Programme supports residents in Dong Thap province
“Thang Ba bien gioi” (The border in March) – a programme to support needy local residents in border areas – was held in Hong Ngu district of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on March 31.
— VNA NET

Vietnam is economically lagging behind other countries, here is why
One of the topics discussed at the first Vietnam Reform and Development Forum (VRDF), a meeting between the government and donors held recently, was the lag of Vietnam’s economy behind other countries.
— Vietnam Insider

Ceremony looks to promote people’s mine awareness
A ceremony was held in Quy Nhon city, the central province of Binh Dinh, on March 31 in response to International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (April 4).
— VNA NET

Vietnamese chess players fail to win title at Sharjah championship
Vietnamese Grandmaster Le Quang Liem beat his Indian rival Raunak Sadhwani after 58 moves in the final round of the 2019 Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship in the UAE.
— VNA NET

Feature photo Mekong Commons

This week’s Vietnam morning news photo features International Mine Awareness Day, April 4.

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.