Vietnam Morning News For May 1

Vietnam’s rice export prices rise for first time in six weeks
Rice export prices in Vietnam rose for the first time in six weeks as domestic buying picked up and fears of water scarcity in the country’s rice bowl grew, while weaker local currencies weighed on rates in other top Asian exporting hubs. In Vietnam, rates for 5 percent broken rice rose to $360-$370 a tonne on Thursday from $360 last week.
— Business Recorder

Low-cost housing projects face big losses
Investors in low-cost housing projects in some southern localities are complaining about big losses due to unfair regulations.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam’s four-month industrial production rises 9.2%: GSO
In the first four months of 2019, 59/63 provinces and cities in Vietnam had an increase in IIP over the same period last year.
— The Hanoitimes

Vietnam airports operator to stop charging for drop-off, pickup cars
Cars entering airports for a short time to pick up or drop off passengers will not be charged a fee from next year.
— VnExpress

Vietnam ranks 94th among the happiest countries in the world 2019
The happiest countries in the world 2019 have been ranked in the latest World Happiness Report. This year, Vietnam ranks 94/156 countries.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam-China relations continue to be cultivated and developed
At the invitation of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the high-Level International Cooperation Forum “The Belt and the Road “(BRI) for the second time in China, from April 25 – April 27, 2019.
— Khmer Times

Vietnam ‘on the edge’ of becoming a mid-tier cybercrime hub
Vietnam has the potential to become a mid-level cybercrime hub, according to sociologist Dr Jonathan Lusthaus, who’s been studying cybercrime globally for more than seven years.
— Zdnet

Thailand tops growth in tourist arrivals to Vietnam
The number of Thai tourists visiting Vietnam posted the highest growth in the January-April period.
— VnExpress

AC Energy to start Vietnam wind projects in 2020
AC Energy, Inc. expects to break ground early next year on several wind projects in Vietnam with its three existing partners in the regional neighbor in time for the feed-in tariff deadline in November 2021, its top official said.
— Business World Online

Fireworks sparkle in Saigon marking the 44th anniversary of Vietnam’s Reunification Day
The performances take place from 9:00 pm to 9:15 pm on April 30, marking the 44th anniversary of the nation’s Reunification Day.
— Vietnam Insider

Vietnam: Egroup to invest $2.4m more in F&B company Soya Garden
Vietnamese education company Egroup has committed to invest an additional sum of 55 billion dong ($2.4 million) in beverage brand Soya Garden. With this, Egroup’s total commitment in the F&B player stands at 100 billion dong ($4.5 million).
— DealStreetAsia

Rescued ‘bile bears’ find sanctuary in Vietnam
A total of 17 bears that were rescued after being held captive in Vietnam for the harvesting of their bile are now living in a conservation sanctuary in country’s north.
— Menafn

French firm to develop Hanoi airport masterplan
French consulting firm ADP Ingénierie and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam have entered a memorandum of understanding related to the planned expansion of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.
— Flight Global

Indonesia, Vietnam clash again at sea
Indonesia’s diplomatic ties with Vietnam have been strained again after a collision between an Indonesian Navy ship and a Vietnamese patrol vessel in waters contested by both sides.
— The Jakarta Post

HCM City focuses on State-owned firm restructuring
Ho Chi Minh City is exerting every effort to fulfil State-owned enterprise (SOE) equitisation goals during 2019-2020 as regulated in a plan to rearrange and reform SOEs approved by the Prime Minister.
— VietnamPlus

Audiences in Danang excited with first balloon ride service
The city’s residents and visitors can experience of riding the hot-air balloon at a certain height to have a bird`s-eye view of Danang city with a price of VND150,000 (US$6.45) per person.
— The Hanoitimes

Indonesia-Vietnam urged to make rules in cases of conflict
Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia (UI) Hikmahanto Juwana said there should be rules that the Indonesian and Vietnamese governments must follow in case of clashes.
— Antara News

MSI schedule changes to accommodate Vietnam mourning period
The schedule for the upcoming League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational was altered Monday to account for two national days of mourning following the death of a former Vietnamese president.
— Espn

Seaplane helps reduce travel time on Da Nang-Hue route to 40 minutes
The new air route will help to reduce travel time from 2 hours to 40 minutes between Da Nang and Hue.
— Viet Nam Net

Hanwha buys 90% stake in Hanoi-based HFT Securities
Seoul-based brokerage house Hanwha Investment & Securities said on April 29 that it has bought a 90.05 percent stake in Hanoi-based online stock brokerage company HFT Securities for some 5 billion won ($4.3 million).
— The Investor

Automated customs management system to be fully deployed
The deployment of the Vietnam Automated System for Seaport Customs Management (VASSCM) will be completed in 2019, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
— VietnamPlus

Bus passengers suffer from overloading during holiday
Many passengers buses have been reported to overload during the Reunification and Labour Day holiday as travel demand has surged.
— Vietnam Insider

Visit Puts the Prospects of EU-Vietnam Security Ties Into Focus
A recent interaction spotlighted some of the ongoing activity within the defense aspect of the relationship.
— The diplomat

What’s in Russia’s New Military Facility in Vietnam?
A new maintenance center spotlights some of the ongoing defense collaboration by the two sides and Moscow’s desire to strengthen its security footprint in the wider region.
— The Diplomat

U.S. Gets Green Light for Blueberry Exports to Vietnam
Vietnam will allow the import of fresh blueberries from the world’s biggest producer, the U.S., making way for the first shipments to come in mid-May, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
— Bloomberg Tax

Vietnam’s Jan-April coffee exports at 629,000 tonnes, down 13.5 pct y/y
Vietnam’s coffee exports in the first four months of this year are expected to fall 13.5 percent from a year earlier to 629,000 tonnes, while rice exports will likely decline 7.9 percent, government data showed on Friday.
— Business Recorder

Savills: Da Nang hospitality property slowing down
Central tourist destination seeing slower growth in condotels due to legal factors, according to latest Savills report.
— Vietnam Insider

Nha Trang hosts first-ever coffee festival
The event is an opportunity for coffee producers to promote their products to coffee lovers, gradually bringing Vietnamese coffee products to the world, its organizer – the Central Group Vietnam – said in a statement.
— Viet Nam News

Tickets for Hanoi Formula One officially on sale
The tickets for the Formula One’s Hanoi leg are now officially on sale by Vietnam Grand Prix LLC, a subsidiary of Vingroup.
— Vietnam Insider

Book-building method available in June for State divestment
The Ministry of Finance has released a circular to instruct State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to use book-building to sell shares owned by the State.
— Viet Nam News

Two arrested for trading 4kg of meth, 4,000 synthetic drug pills in Vietnam
Police have nabbed two men for transporting and trading nearly four kilograms of crystal meth and 4,000 synthetic drug tablets in northern Vietnam.
— Vietnam Insider

Hanoi flooded after heavy downpours
The heavy downpours submerged many streets in Hanoi and turned life up-side-down, haunting the capital’s residents with the dreaded images of stuck vehicles and streets under water.
— The Hanoitimes

Hanoi metro inauguration delayed yet again
Hanoi’s first metro service failed to roll at the end of April as planned since construction is still not complete.
— VnExpress

Feature photo WWF Seafood Sustainability

This week’s Vietnam morning news photo features World Tuna Day, May 2.

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.