Vietnam Morning News For February 26

Vietnam Air may buy up to 100 Boeing 737 Max jets
VIETNAM Airlines is considering an order of 50 to 100 Boeing Co 737 Max planes this year to replace its ageing fleet of Airbus SE single-aisle aircraft and may also buy long-range jets in preparation for flights to California.
— Business Times

New mechanisms to keep maritime transport sector afloat
Although there have been some positive signs in recent years, Việt Nam’s sea transport sector still face difficulties with many enterprises suffering heavy losses. The maritime industry is proposing support mechanisms to help the sector out of its stagnant state.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam: New food safety measures in agricultural sector
Under Vietnam’s action plan to ensure food safety in the agricultural sector, large-scale production areas for key national products will be expanded this year.
— Fresh Plaza

Small businesses reap rewards from Trump-Kim summit
Many businesses in Hà Nội have created unique products related to the upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un as a way to attract customers.
— Viet Nam News

Agribank named among strongest banks in Asia-Pacific
The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) has been recently named in the top 500 strongest banks (AB500) in Asia-Pacific by the Asian Banker.
— VNA NET

HCM City among top five destinations for solo travellers
Ho Chi Minh City has joined Bangkok and Bali in a new list of best places for solo travel, according to Airbnb, an accommodation service that allows people to list their homes and hotels for holiday rentals.
— VNA NET

Tuna exports likely to reach $1b this year
Tuna exports are expected to top US$1 billion this year, up $350 million from last year, according to the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.
— Viet Nam News

Bamboo Airways to open RoK, Taiwan routes
Bamboo Airways has submitted a proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam on the opening of flight routes from Hanoi and HCM City to the Republic of Korea and Taiwan in 2019.
— VietnamPlus

Laos, Vietnam seek funding for Vientiane-Vung Ang railway
The governments of Laos and Vietnam have vowed to seek financing to build a railway connecting Vientiane with the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam’s central Ha Tinh province.
— Vientiane Times

AEON wants to invest in Vietnam’s financial sector
The AEON Financial Service (AFS) Co. Ltd., the owner of Japan’s AEON retail chain, wants to expand its financial services in Vietnam through merge and acquisition activities, said AFS Chairman Masaki Suzuki.
— VNA NET

Prohibited goods on Lazada and Shopee
Lawyers believe Lazada and Shopee could be fined for VND30-40 million ($1,300-1,740) for the loose administration of goods sold on their websites, causing serious consequences.
— Vietnam Insider

Summit to help Vietnam’s tourism put best foot forward
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) introduced a diverse range of activities from the tourism sector on the occasion of the upcoming DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnam at a press conference in Hanoi on February 25.
— VNA NET

Vietnam train station on lockdown ahead of Kim’s expected arrival
The train station on the Vietnam-China border where Kim Jong-un is expected to arrive by rail was closed to the public and surrounded by armed guards yesterday, days ahead of the North Korean leader’s summit with Donald Trump.
— Borneo Bulletin

Dust particles threaten life in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
The increasing amount of airborne fine dust has been posing public health risks to urbanites in Vietnam’s southern and northern metropolises of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in recent times, experts have warned.
— Vietnam Insider

Gold prices to climb as investors seek safe haven
Gold prices have room to grow this year as economic and geographical uncertainties around the world may lure investors into gold as “safe haven”.
— Bizhub

US-DPRK Summit 2019: Vietnam – symbol of peace aspiration, reconciliation
When hosting the second DPRK-USA summit, Vietnam provides not only a venue with good logistics and security, but also encouragement for the two sides to leave the past behind, overcome their differences and look towards the future, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc.
— VNA NET

Credit limit to double for the poor
The Government will double the credit limit for poor people seeking loans without collateral, as part of efforts to reduce poverty and prevent loan sharks.
— Viet Nam News

Japanese retailer MUJI to set foot in Vietnam
After the landfall of AEON, Takashimaya, 7-Eleven, and FujiMart, Vietnam’s retail market will welcome a new Japanese player called MUJI from Japan, which promises to heat up the race in this high-potential sector.
— Vietnam Insider

State visit to help build new vision for Vietnam-Cambodia ties
Vietnam and Cambodia expect the State visit by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong will help build a new vision for bilateral cooperation towards 2030 and beyond, said Ambassador Vu Quang Minh.
— VNA NET

Việt Nam raises over $2b via G-bond channel in first months of 2019
The State Treasury of Việt Nam raised more than VNĐ51.24 trillion (US$2.19 billion) via Government bond (G-bond) auctions on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange (HNX) in the first two months of 2019.
— Viet Nam News

Over 1.55 bln USD to be poured into 19 tourism projects in central region
Over 36.1 trillion VND (more than 1.55 billion USD) will be invested in 19 tourism projects in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Thua Thien – Hue, Binh Dinh and Ninh Thuan, and Da Nang city in the near future.
— VNA NET

Viettel pioneers narrowband internet of things technology
Viettel is among only 50 telecom companies in the world to successfully deploy the narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), a technology developed for devices supporting IoT connectivity.
— Viet Nam News

Vietnam-Cambodia ties to develop robustly in future: official
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An has highlighted the significance of the state visit by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, voicing her belief for the strengthened development of the two countries’ relations.
— VNA NET

South Korean metro operator proposes $3 billion Da Nang urban railway
South Korea’s Seoul Metro Corporation has proposed a Da Nang rail network with 2 metro and 8 tramway lines.
— VnExpress

Vietnam’s images promoted at culture festival in Mexico
Vietnam’s handicrafts such as Non la (conical hats), ao dai (traditional long dress), films and posters displayed at a festival in Mexico City have helped Mexican people get an insight into Vietnam’s culture and history.
— VNA NET

Dong Nai records three-fold surge in FDI
Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the southern province of Dong Nai hit 186.4 million USD in the first two months of this year, surging three times against the same period last year, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.
— VietnamPlus

Ho Chi Minh City leader hosts Russian Foreign Minister
Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan hosted a reception for visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on February 25.
— VNA NET

10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition of Quan ho singing marked
A programme has been held in Bac Ninh city, the northern province of Bac Ninh to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Quan ho (love duet) singing being recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
— VNA NET

Feature photo World Vision

This week’s Vietnam morning news feature photo acknowledges Zero Discrimination Day, March 1.

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).

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