Vietnam News and Discussions

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

Lotte Group to build eco smart city, logistics center in Vietnam

Sept 4, 2022 - 17:01

South Korean retail giant Lotte Group said Sunday it will build an eco-friendly smart city complex and smart logistics center in Vietnam, as part of its expansion plan to cement a strong foothold in Southeast Asia.

Under the $900 million Thu Tiem Eco Smart City project, the company plans to construct a 60-story building, with another five floors underground, comprising a shopping mall, cinema, office space, hotel, residences and apartments in Ho Chi Minh City.

For the residential area, a big data and artificial intelligence-based system will provide convenient and safe smart home solutions as well as digital health care services, including remote medical examination, the group said.

For sustainable and efficient energy management inside the building, the group will adopt an “ice storage” air conditioning system, which freezes ice at night and converts it to cool air in the day.

According to Lotte's plan, the shopping mall and cinema will offer smart payment options and robot and drone delivery, with the hotel providing smart concierge and robot catering services. Office spaces will adopt facial recognition and an AI-based reservation system as well.

Read more: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220904000119


More details on the project:

https://lotte-ecosmartcity.vn/

https://lotte--ecosmartcity-vn.translat ... _tr_pto=sc

[Nanotechandmorefuture]

So that's why Singapore was in the news recently. Maybe the Asian sector is probably ahead of the USA in this regard if China is any indication. Should be interesting to see how that pans out once it starts making its way over here. And by that I mean the actual full on Smart City because right now here its just barely started.

[caltrek]

Militancy for an Existential Cause: Environmental Protection in Vietnam
by Mark Ashwill
February 9, 2023

Introduction:

(Counterpunch) While most people use Facebook, the third most popular website in Vietnam, to post photos of themselves and their exploits, often depicting an idealized reality, there is an expat in Dalat in the Central Highlands who uses it for an entirely different, more meaningful, and less glamorous purpose.

He has posted thousands of photos of what he calls Dirty Dalat, liberally sprinkled with warnings about climate change, the use of pesticides and antibiotics in farm animals, and memes such as “Humans are true weapons of mass destruction,” which most of his posts confirm. The content is not fun, entertaining, or amusing; no hearts or laughing emojis. But it is important, real, and never ceases to appall those of us who are deeply concerned about these issues.

During his long nightly runs in the city he calls home, this man documents the countless crimes against nature occurring in and around Dalat that also happen to be violations of Vietnam’s legal code, crimes committed with impunity. He uses his virtual megaphone to illustrate to whomever has the eyes to see that ecocide is occurring every day in their Central Highlands community.

Everything our man in Dalat shares and writes makes perfect sense but is being played out against a backdrop of inaction and apathy. While he appears to be a voice crying out in the wilderness, the good news is that he is not a lone wolf. There are growing numbers of people, both Vietnamese and expats, who agree on what must be done to solve the problems he highlights, all of which revolve around developing a truly sustainable economy.

One of his primary subjects are the fish caught in the highly contaminated Xuan Huong Lake. This man-made body of water, one of the city’s iconic landmarks, has become a cesspool in recent years with a never-ending stream of human waste and agricultural run-off flowing into it. Fishing is illegal but the law is not enforced, which is why there are fishermen busy every night catching poisoned fish via electrocution and other more conventional means.

Read more here: https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/02/0 ... -vietnam/

[caltrek]

Quanta Group Pours 120 Million USD Into Computer Manufacturing Project in Nam Dinh
April 21, 2023

Introduction:

Nam Dinh (Viet Nam+) – The People’s Committee of Nam Dinh province and Quanta Computer Inc. of Taiwan (China) signed on April 21 an agreement to develop a large-scale computer production project at My Thuan Industrial Park in My Loc district.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Nam Dinh provincial People's Committee Pham Dinh Nghi said that this is the first project of Quanta in Vietnam and also the first investment project in My Thuan Industrial Park which has a favourable position in connecting transport and logistics infrastructure.

He suggested Dai Phong JSC, an investor of the park’s infrastructure, mobilise resources to complete infrastructure and related procedures so that the project will be carried out soon.

Nghi pledged to create the most favourable conditions and accompany investors in dealing with issues related to legal procedures in the construction and operation of the project.

Quanta wishes to invest in a computer production project with a total investment of 120 million USD and establish an export processing enterprise to implement the project in My Thuan Industrial Park, said the group's representative./.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/quanta-group ... 1988.vnp

[caltrek]

Vietnam-China Trade Exchange Opens in Can Tho
April 21, 2023

Introduction:

(Viet Nam+) – Can Tho (VNA) – The Vietnam-China trade exchange programme opened in Can Tho city on April 21, with 150 Mekong Delta and 13 Chinese firms taking part.

The event enables agro-forestry-fisheries suppliers to boost exports and meet with export-import and logistics companies of China’s Yunnan province. It is also meant to realise a memorandum of understanding on trade cooperation between the Lao Cai provincial Department of Industry and Trade and the trade bureau of Yunnan province signed in China’s Hekou district in January 2023.

Director of the Lao Cai department Hoang Chi Hien said despite COVID-19 last year, the total export-import value at Vietnam's border gates still surpassed 2.2 billion USD, with nearly 800,000 tonnes of farm produce passing through Lao Cai border gate.

Export-import goods through Lao Cai-Hekou international border gate are complementary to each other, with Vietnam exporting farm produce, fruits, and seafood while importing fertilizers, chemicals, and coking coal from China to serve domestic production.

Hien said the event also affords Yunnan firms a chance to evaluate the potential of farm produce production in Can Tho and adjacent localities via fact-finding trips and working sessions with local businesses and production facilities.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnamchina ... 51987.vnp

[caltrek]

Vietnam Bans ‘Barbie’ Movie Over South China Sea Map
July 3, 2023

Introduction:

(CNN) Vietnam has banned Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated film “Barbie” from domestic distribution over a scene featuring a map that shows China’s unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday. (Warner Bros’, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.)

The U-shaped “nine-dash line” is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast areas of the South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam considers its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions.

“Barbie” is the latest movie to be banned in Vietnam for depicting China’s controversial nine-dash line, which was repudiated in an international arbitration ruling by a court in The Hague in 2016. China refuses to recognize the ruling.

In 2019, the Vietnamese government pulled DreamWorks’ animated film “Abominable,” and last year it banned Sony’s action movie “Unchartered” for the same reason. Netflix also removed an Australian spy drama, “Pine Gap,” in 2021.

“Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was originally slated to open in Vietnam on July 21, the same date as in the United States, according to state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Read more here: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/03/enterta ... ex.html

[caltrek]

Vietnam Economic Growth Report
July 4, 2023

Introduction:

(Vietnam+) Hai Phong (VNA) - The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee and the Government have agreed to propose to the NA to keep this year's growth target unchanged, and Vietnam will strive to realise the set targets, however difficult it may be, said NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

He made the remarks while joining other NA deputies of the northern city of Hai Phong at a meeting with voters in Vinh Bao district on July 4.

Chairman Hue said that despite complex, fast, and unpredictable developments of the world situation last year, Vietnam still succeeded in maintaining macro-economic stability, recording an economic growth rate of over 8%, and containing inflation at 3.15% while many other countries posted a low growth rate but high inflation.

Since the start of 2023, the world situation remains complicated, but Vietnam has managed to maintain macro-economic stability and keep inflation under control. The NA Standing Committee has agreed with the Government to propose the parliament keep this year's growth target unchanged, he went on.

The top legislator noted that if localities, ministries, and sectors effectively implement their public investment plans, it will help raise GDP growth by about 2%. He also expected that the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Foreigners' Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam, approved at the fifth session, will create favourable conditions for the tourism and aviation sectors to thrive.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-pers ... 55738.vnp

[caltrek]

SABECO Honoured as Outstanding Taxpayer in Vietnam in 2020-2022
October 23, 2023

Introduction:

HCM City (VNS/VNA via Vietnam+) - Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (SABECO) was honoured for its efforts to overcome difficulties and make great contributions to the State budget during the 2020-2022 period.

The General Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Finance last week organised a conference praising "Outstanding taxpayers for the period 2020-2022" to honour 138 businesses with great contributions to the State budget revenue amid global economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to ensuring the “dual goal” of maintaining production and business during the pandemic towards sustainable development, SABECO contributed 11 trillion VND (445.5 million USD) to the State budget in the reviewed period, one of the highest in the group of beverage manufacturers.

According to a representative of the General Department of Taxation, the criteria to consider and commend typical taxpayers include good compliance with tax laws; making significant contributions to the State budget and good implementation of digital transformation programmes.

At the conference, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc appreciated SABECO and other businesses for their positive contributions to the state budget during the period 2020–2022, especially their realistic, effective, and timely support in preventing the spread of the pandemic, contributing to the socio-economic development.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/sabeco-honou ... 0069.vnp

[caltrek]

Government Proposes National Assembly Continue 2% Interest Rate Support Policy
October 23, 2023

Introduction:

Hanoi (VNA via Vietnam+) – The Government has proposed the National Assembly (NA) to allow it to continue the 2% interest rate support policy for enterprises, cooperatives, and business households.

Presenting the results of the implementation of the NA’s Resolution 43/2022/QH15 (Resolution 43) on fiscal and monetary policies to support Vietnam’s post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development at the NA's 6th session on October 23, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that after nearly two years of performance, Resolution 43 has proved to be a correct and timely decision of the NA as Vietnam's socio-economic situation faced many difficulties and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementing the resolution, the Government in May 2022 issued Decree 31/2022/ND-CP on a 2% interest rate reduction in loans of enterprises, cooperatives, and business households.

By the end of August 2023, the amount of interest rate support was equivalent to about 1.95% of the resources approved by the NA, with outstanding loans reaching nearly 57 trillion VND (2.31 billion USD) for more than 2,100 customers.

In addition, by the end of September 2023, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies disbursed preferential credit of more than 21 trillion VND to more than 366,000 customers, disbursed about 3.679 trillion in rental support for 128,746 employers and nearly 5.2 million employees.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/government- ... 70066.vnp

[caltrek]

Vietnam ‘Ramps Up’ Island Building In South China Sea
November 18, 2023

Introduction:

(Eurasia Review) Vietnam has actively pursued its major expansion plan in the disputed South China Sea, nearly doubling newly-reclaimed areas in one year, a new report said.

Since December 2022, “Vietnam has created another 330 acres [133.5 hectares] of land” on rocks and reefs within the Spratly archipelago, according to the report by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, or AMTI, at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS, think tank.

That was in addition to the 420 acres (170 hectares) reclaimed in 2022.

“By contrast, Vietnam had created just 120 acres [48 hectares] of land in the Spratlys between 2012 and 2022,” the report said.

“This all adds up to about a quarter of the more than 3,200 acres [1,295 hectares] of land created by China from 2013 to 2016, but it is far more island expansion than any other claimant besides China has undertaken.”

Read more here: https://www.eurasiareview.com/18112023 ... ina-sea/

[caltrek]

Advancing Reproductive Health in Vietnam: GENOLIFE and BGI Genomics Join Forces
December 27, 2023

Introduction:

(Eurekalert) On October 16, 2023, BGI Genomics completed the first-ever NIFTY® technology transfer program in Vietnam. NIFTY®, its proprietary non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) product, will be utilized by the GENOLIFE Genetic Technology Institute laboratory based in Hanoi.
Covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, GENOLIFE is the country's largest gene sequencing laboratory and leading provider of genetic analysis tests, including hereditary cancer gene testing. All equipment systems for performing CE-IVD compliant NIFTY® testing are directly installed by BGI Genomics experts accompanied by a rigorous training program.

In line with Vietnam’s Health Ministry recommendation to replace or supplement pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) tests with NIPT, this cooperation between GENOLIFE and BGI Genomics will provide Vietnamese women with NIFTY® tests which are a non-invasive method to screen for trisomies such as trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome).

Oraphan Wanacharoen, a BGI Genomics Field Application Scientist involved in training GENOLIFE, commented, “We are committed to make genetic testing affordable and accessible to all of Vietnam. Our NIFTY® technology is highly accurate and fast. This will greatly enhance the detection of trisomies and boost reproductive health in the nation.”

This technology transfer enhances reproductive health outcomes in the country and enables Vietnamese women to access one of the most comprehensive NIPT on the market, with the ability to screen 118 chromosomal abnormality syndromes for the fetus while optimizing time and testing costs.

Read more here: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029863

[wjfox]

Truong My Lan: Vietnamese billionaire sentenced to death for $44bn fraud

1 hour ago

It was the most spectacular trial ever held in Vietnam, befitting one of the greatest bank frauds the world has ever seen.

Behind the stately yellow portico of the colonial-era courthouse in Ho Chi Minh City, a 67-year-old Vietnamese property developer was sentenced to death on Thursday for looting one of the country's largest banks over a period of 11 years.

It's a rare verdict - she is one of very few women in Vietnam to be sentenced to death for a white collar crime.

The decision is a reflection of the dizzying scale of the fraud. Truong My Lan was convicted of taking out $44bn (£35bn) in loans from the Saigon Commercial Bank. The verdict requires her to return $27bn, a sum prosecutors said may never be recovered. Some believe the death penalty is the court's way of trying to encourage her to return some of the missing billions.

The habitually secretive communist authorities were uncharacteristically forthright about this case, going into minute detail for the media. They said 2,700 people were summoned to testify, while 10 state prosecutors and around 200 lawyers were involved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68778636



EPA

[caltrek]

To Lam Becomes New State President
May 21, 2024

Entire article (less photograph):

(Vietnam+) Hanoi – The 15th National Assembly (NA) on May 22 elected To Lam as the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

After listening to a draft resolution on the election of To Lam, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security and deputy to the 15th NA as the State President for the 2021-2026 tenure, which was delivered by NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong, NA deputies voted to approve the resolution using the electronic voting system.

With 472 “yes” votes out of 473 attending deputies, or 96.92% of the total number of NA deputies, the NA approved the resolution.

The resolution takes effect right after its approval./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/to-lam-becom ... 7368.vnp

[caltrek]

World Media Spotlights Russian President’s Vietnam Visit
June 19, 2024


Introduction:

(Al Jazeera) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held talks with Vietnam’s leaders, hours after flying into Hanoi for a visit to an old ally that has positioned itself as an increasingly influential geopolitical player, wooed by most major nations. Putin flew to Vietnam from North Korea, where he met that country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, on Wednesday.

The visit to Vietnam, among other things, is Russia’s way of showcasing that while Putin is treated as a pariah by the West, he still holds political clout in the East, experts have said. Communist-led Vietnam will welcome Putin for a two-day visit, the Kremlin said.

Read more of the Al Jazeera article here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/ ... rth-korea

Naturally, Vietnam+ also covered this development:

Introduction:

Hanoi (Vietnam+) – The international media continued their articles on the state visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 19-20.

British daily newspaper The Guardian.com posted an article titled “Russia and Vietnam agree to strengthen ties during Putin state visit”. It wrote that during the visit, Putin and Vietnamese President To Lam signed 11 memorandums for cooperation in areas including civil nuclear projects, energy and petrol cooperation, education, and disease prevention. Putin told reporters the talks were constructive and that both sides had “identical or very close” positions on key international issues.

The France24.com site also provided the similar content in the article “Putin signs cooperation deals with Vietnam as he seeks to bolster Asia ties”.

Meanwhile, German broadcaster DW quoted Putin as saying that strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam was one of Moscow's priorities, and Russia was ready to cooperate with Vietnam on energy and security. Its article wrote that Vietnam is the third country Putin has visited since being sworn in for his fifth term in May, after China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

China's South China Morning Post also ran an article on the love that the Vietnamese people have for the Russian leader.

Read more here: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/world-media- ... 8954.vnp

[caltrek]

Beware of Vietnam’s New Authoritarian President
by Elaine Pearson
June 19, 2024

Introduction:

(Al Jazeera) A rare internal power struggle in Vietnam over the past few months resulted in the ousting of several major leaders for corruption and the appointment of a new president, former police general To Lam.

But democratic governments courting Vietnam as an attractive market and alternative to China should be wary. Rather than a hopeful sign, Lam’s rise to power is indicative of the Vietnam government’s worsening repression, its complete intolerance of criticism, and utter hostility to basic civil and political rights.

As head of Vietnam’s abusive Ministry of Public Security since April 2016, Lam is no stranger to notoriety. In November 2021 – while Vietnam was struggling through a COVID-19 lockdown – a video surfaced of the celebrity chef “Salt Bae” feeding a $2,000 gold-encrusted steak to Lam in London.

The video went viral. To make matters worse, Lam was enjoying the carbon-emitting feast while leading an official delegation to the United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

Shortly afterwards, the rights activist Bui Tuan Lam, who parodied the feast on social media, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
But eating a $2,000 steak when per capita income in Vietnam was only $3,756 in 2021 is the least of Lam’s misdeeds. He’s done much worse.

Read more here: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202 ... president

[caltrek]

According to Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment, the first six months of 2024 saw investments from other countries as follows:

Singapore 5.5799 billion in U.S. dollars
Japan 1.731
Hong Kong 1.730
The Republic of Korea (South Korea) 1.411
China 1.299

Notice how the capitalist countries of Singapore, Japan, and South Korea invested a total of 8.721 billion in U.S. dollars in comparison to Communist China and Hong Kong with investments totaling only 3.029 billion in U.S. dollars.

The Vietnamese government may remain Communist, but the economy would seem to be trending capitalist.

Source of investment data: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/fdi-inflow- ... 9543.vnp

Any thoughts on that?