The severe heatwave which is hitting the northern region is forecasted to end on August 15 while the central region is still being ravaged by the heat.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, there will be heavy rains in the northern region on August 15 to 17 and end the current heatwave.
However, severe heat will still occur in the northern and central regions on August 14 and 15. The average temperatures from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa provinces are 35 to 37 degrees with 11 to 16 hours of over 35 degrees.
Central region will still suffer from the heatwave and there is a high risk of wildfires.
On August 14, the UV index in Hanoi and Danang, as well as other provinces, is estimated to stay high. People are advised to avoid going out and protect their skin from the sun.
A high school teacher in Ho Chi Minh City has been handed the death penalty for murdering his lover, who was also his colleague, after she had abruptly canceled their planned wedding last year.
Vo Minh Thang, a 27-year-old resident in District 11, stood his second trial at the Superior People’s Court in the southern metropolis on Wednesday.
Thang was charged with murder after killing his wife-to-be Nguyen Thi Tuyet, 27, who resided in Binh Thanh District.
He was previously sentenced to life in prison at his first-instance trial by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court in March.
But the municipal People’s Procuracy and the victim’s family appealed the verdict and demanded a harsher penalty.
The case was then transferred to the High People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City.
At Wednesday’s court, the higher-level judge agreed to raise his penalty to capital punishment, given the severity of the offense.
According to the indictment, Thang and Tuyet were teachers at Vo Thi Sau High School in Binh Thanh District.
They were in a romantic relationship and were about to tie the knot last year.
Tuyet, however, canceled the planned wedding in March 2018. Thang repeatedly tried to contact her to work things out but eventually ended up in vain.
On the morning of April 23, 2018, they met at the school and had an argument.
As Tuyet headed home on her motorcycle, Thang followed and forcefully pulled her over along Truong Sa Street in Binh Thanh.
The two had got into another quarrel before Thang took out a knife from his motorbike trunk and stabbed her multiple times. The victim was killed on the spot.
Thang intended to committee suicide but he changed his mind and turned himself in to police.
Over 900 Vietnam War grenades were detonated Wednesday in the central province of Quang Tri by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).
The grenades were among 1,414 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) found in two munition bunkers on a hill in Trieu Son Commune on Monday and Tuesday.
The munitions, produced and used by the U.S. in the Vietnam War, included grenades, mortars and motor rockets, MAG officials said.
Quang Tri, a major battlefield during the Vietnam War, was hardest hit by bombings. It was a center for American military bases and principal battleground during the 1968 Tet Offensive, as well as the location of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separated the North and South.
After Vietnam reunified in 1975, only three out of Quang Tri’s 11,000 villages remained intact and over 390,000 hectares (964,000 acres) of land, or 82 percent of its total area, were said to have unexploded bombs and explosives.
According to the Quang Tri Military Command, there are still over 100,000 tons of unexploded ordnance (UXO) underground or underwater, including bombs, mines, missiles, rockets, artillery and mortar shells, and other explosive devices.
Unexploded ordnance still threatens a fifth of Vietnam’s land mass and explosions are not uncommon. According to the United Nations, 104,000 Vietnamese people have been killed by bombs, landmines and artillery shells since the end of the war in 1975.
Many people from poor rural areas have been killed or maimed by inadvertently triggering the devices, or while trying to cut them open to resell the explosives and the metal to scrap dealers.
The MAG, an international group specializing in detecting and handling unexploded ordnance, has been operating in Quang Tri since 1999. Last year, the group destroyed over 100,000 landmines and unexploded bombs and cleared about 55.8 million square meters of land from unexploded ordnances.
Ta Ngoc Van, who has freed over 800 trafficking victims, has been chosen a ‘Class of Asia 21’ Young Leader.
The annual list of young leaders in the continent is compiled by the Asia Society, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that works to address a range of challenges facing Asia and the world.
It chooses leaders under the age of 40 from 31 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.
Van, 37, is chief lawyer and founding member of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a Hanoi-based nonprofit organization that rescues Vietnamese women and girls trafficked to China for the sex trade as well as victims of forced labor.
He has worked hard to secure the freedom of over 800 trafficking victims and provided legal representation to 90 victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse in 48 court cases, according to the Asia Society.
His efforts have earned him the trust of police and government officials, who regularly invite him to assist in their anti-trafficking and law reform initiatives, the organization said.
“Human trafficking is a hidden crime. When government officials and non-profit organizations step in to crack down on the problem, more victims can be rescued and more criminals brought to justice,” Van, currently at the China-Vietnam border on an anti-trafficking mission, told VnExpress International.
“Anyone can become a victim of human trafficking, from uneducated women and children from poor areas and ethnic minority groups to intellectuals like reporters, university students and teachers,” he said.
He stressed that the trafficking victims are not only from the northern border provinces like Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, and Quang Ninh. Blue Dragon has rescued hundreds of trafficking victims from all 63 localities in the country, he said.
While he was happy with the honor bestowed on him by the Asia Society, he remained focused on what he had to do: “What I hope is that I can avoid publicity, so that it will facilitate my mission to rescue trafficking victims from dangerous areas.”
Van was the first to win the Trust Women Anti-Trafficking Hero Award from Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2015. The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report in 2014 named him among its “Heroes Network,” those who fight for human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
The 2019 Class of Asia 21 Young Leaders also includes Megha Rajagopalan, a 2018 Human Rights Press Awardee and an international correspondent for BuzzFeed News; Esra’a Al Shafei, who founded a network of online platforms to represent marginalized communities in Bahrain; and Farhad Wajdi, who helped build a school in a refugee camp in Pakistan at the age of 14 and later set up a non-profit organization that challenges gender inequality in Afghanistan.
The honorees will meet from November 15 to 17 in San Francisco and Silicon Valley in the U.S. for the annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit.
Trafficking is lucrative
Human trafficking is a colossal industry with annual revenues of $150 billion that affects over 40 million women, children, and men, coercing them to forced labor and sexual exploitation.
Citizens of the Asia Pacific region have twice the possibility of becoming enslaved compared to a developed country, according to a report by the International Labor Organization.
Vietnam, in particular, is a major source of cross-border sex and labor trafficking. According to the anti-human trafficking foundation Pacific Links, 60 percent of all traffickers arrested in Vietnam are former victims.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Security said in June that they were working with other countries to bring home 385 human trafficking victims who remain abroad.
About 80 percent of human trafficking victims in Vietnam end up in China, according to the ministry.
Many of the trafficked children are approached through social networks such as Facebook and Zalo, the popular Vietnamese messaging app.
Besides financial difficulties, police say negligence, easy immigration procedures and gender imbalance in destination countries are major reasons for the increasing incidence of trafficking in Vietnam.
China, the world’s most populous country, suffers from one of the worst gender imbalance rates due to its one-child policy and illegal abortion of female fetuses by parents who prefer sons. This has led to increasing trafficking of Vietnamese women and baby girls.
A country of wondrous coastlines, luscious green jungles, fresh tropical fruit, friendly local people, and enthralling history, Vietnam should definitely be on your bucket list. There’s something for every type of traveler in this popular Asian country, whether your idea of a perfect vacation involves kayaking in the ocean, browsing through markets loaded with handmade goods, or visiting the crumbling ruins of ancient temples.
It’s difficult to narrow down the reasons why you should visit Vietnam at least once in your life, but we’ve managed to come up with the top 10. Check them out below!
IT’S PRETTY AFFORDABLE
Unlike other amazing destinations that you’ll probably spend months paying off, Vietnam is relatively affordable. According to Trip Savvy, Vietnam is a popular destination among backpackers for this very reason: it’s quite affordable. You’ll get to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world without sending yourself broke!
There are plenty of ways to save money while traveling through Vietnam. This might include traveling by budget airline or by using public transport such as buses or trains to get around the country. You’ll also find lots of choices for budget accommodation in Vietnam.
IT’S PEACEFUL AND RELAXING
Vietnam is an ideal location to travel to if you’re in need of a break from your busy life. If stress has taken over and you find yourself tightly wound up, a trip to Vietnam could be just what you need because it’s full of peaceful and relaxing destinations where you can just chill out.
These range from stunning natural landscapes that will allow you to reconnect with the planet to ancient temples encouraging a sense of serenity. While some places in Vietnam are super busy, it definitely has its quiet, reflective locations too.
TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
Many people travel to Vietnam purely to explore the local history. Vietnam has been involved in key world history events, the most significant of which for many tourists is the Vietnam War. Travel to the country today and you’ll see relics from this crucial point in history that are still standing today.
While you don’t need to visit Vietnam to learn more about the Vietnam War, doing so will open you up to a completely different perspective. You’ll get an insider look at old war monuments and hear local stories about what life was like during this time.
TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN VIETNAMESE CULTURE
Vietnamese culture is something that you won’t want to leave behind when it’s time to go home. In between visiting major landmarks and popular attractions, you’ll get the chance to spend time with friendly locals who will share with you their way of life.
Leaving what you know behind and experiencing the world from the perspective of a Vietnamese farmer, for example, will open up your eyes. Not only will you learn a lot about Vietnamese culture, but in doing so you’ll learn a lot about yourself.
THE STUNNING NATURAL LANDSCAPE
The landscape in Vietnam is spectacular. On any trek through the country, you’ll have to stop and ask yourself if the surroundings are actually real. The best thing about it is that there are so many different kinds of settings to see within the borders of the same country.
Vietnam boasts some beautiful national parks and some of the world’s largest natural caves, according to Tripzilla. There is ample chance to see luscious jungle and forests, flowing rivers and waterfalls, and some of the most stunning coastlines on the planet.
THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON OFFER
Not only is the Vietnamese landscape outstanding, but it serves as the perfect setting to engage in a few thrilling outdoor activities. Watersports are on the top of many bucket lists since the clear blue waters off the Vietnamese coast are hard to resist.
If you want to stick to land activities only, there’s plenty to choose from. A large number of travelers to Vietnam rent motorbikes and make their way at their own pace across the country. While this doesn’t sound too daunting, the windy Vietnamese roads will definitely throw you out of your comfort zone.
THE DIVERSE SHOPPING OPTIONS
If shopping is more your cup of tea than biking across the country or kayaking beneath gushing waterfalls, then Vietnam is still an ideal destination for you. As The Culture Trip points out, the country specializes in unique fashion and handicrafts that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
Browse through the markets and you’ll find traditional clothing, scarves, jewelry, accessories, and just about anything you could want. In the bigger cities, you can get custom-made clothes in as little as 24 hours, and for a fraction of the cost you would pay at home.
TO EAT AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE CUISINE
Foodies rejoice in Vietnam. The hearty and addictive cuisine has made waves all over the world, but there’s still nothing quite like eating authentic Vietnamese in Vietnam. Though you’ll find more expensive restaurants in the bigger cities, most travelers rave about the street foods on offer at stalls lining the busy roads.
For the best pho of your life and fresh papaya salad that helps you to escape from the heat, visit Vietnam. The country is also home to some of the freshest seafood on the planet—you won’t be able to stop at just one plate.
AND TASTE FRESH TROPICAL FRUIT
The tropical fruit available in Vietnam really deserves its own mention. Sweet, fresh fruit is like a gift from the gods at the best of times, but when the weather is hot and humid, and you’ve been sightseeing all day, there’s nothing better than filling up on some delicious local produce.
You’ll find fruits that you know from home, like pineapple, mango, watermelon, and banana, but they’ll be exceptionally fresh (and give you unrealistic standards of fruit forever). And there will also be the chance to try totally new tropical fruits.
TO SAMPLE RICE OR CORN WINE
To wash all that tropical fruit down, you’ll need a delicious drink. Chasing the Unexpected travel blog believes that the rice wine, or corn wine as it’s sometimes called, is so amazing that it’s one of the reasons you should go to Vietnam in the first place.
Though the drink has slightly different ingredients depending on where in Vietnam you are, it’s not actually a wine. More like liquor and similar in taste to vodka, the drink is sometimes referred to as “happy water”. You can’t leave Vietnam without sampling some!
A Steelers legend is returning to Vietnam in an ESPN film.
Rocky Bleier returns to Vietnam for the first time since 1969 in the ESPN SC Featured film “The Return” that airs Aug. 17-18 and 20, according to a release from ESPN.
The film is a documentary that revisits the 50th anniversary of Bleier being wounded in the Vitvan War.
Bleier, a Vietnam War veteran and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, was wounded by rifle and grenade fire while serving in Vietnam after being drafted by the Steelers in 1968.
Following two years of rehabilitation, Bleier returned to the Steelers. He was the starting running back by 1974.
In the film, Bleier and ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi travel to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier and members of his platoon were ambushed.
According to the release, the full-feature film debuts on Aug. 20, and a shorter version airs Aug. 17-18.
Companies look to Vietnam and beyond amid protracted trade war and rising costs at home
Chinese companies are following their foreign counterparts out of the country in search of alternative production bases to mitigate the impact of the prolonged trade war with the U.S. Nikkei reports.
Since last June, 33 listed companies have informed China’s two stock exchanges of their plans to set up or expand production abroad, according to data compiled by the Nikkei Asian Review.
As with foreign manufacturers, U.S. President Donald Trump’s multiple rounds of tariffs on Chinese goods, combined with rising wages and other costs, are prompting Chinese companies to move out of the country.
Nearly 70% of the 33 companies cited Vietnam as their preferred destination, while the remaining chose Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Serbia and Thailand.
Among those companies is Jinhua Chunguang, a rubber product maker, which announced on July 19 an investment of $4.35 million to set up a production base in Vietnam. This is in addition to its three existing plants in Malaysia and China. The company, based in Zhejiang Province near Shanghai, said the investment is a response to “changes in international environment,” as well as part of global expansion plans.
Jinhua makes hoses used in vacuum cleaners, which are subject to President Donald Trump’s third round of punitive import tariffs imposed on Chinese goods worth $200 billion in the second half of 2018, citing unfair trade practices.
Zhejiang Henglin Chair Industry is also looking to Vietnam, where it acquired a Taiwanese-owned factory as part of a $48 million investment to accelerate its expansion.
“We will begin production in the second half of the year,” an executive at the company told Nikkei at its factory in Anji county. Henglin counts Swedish furniture maker Ikea and Japan’s Nittori among its clients.
Textile manufacturers have also decided to increase production in Vietnam, despite the growing concerns of garment companies already operating there.
Huafu Fashion announced in December it was investing 2.5 billion yuan ($362 million) to build a factory there. The rolled yarn maker said setting up a manufacturing facility in Vietnam will allow it to source cheaper raw material, reduce labor costs and avoid the tariff barrier.
China’s nominal wage jumped by 44% to 6,193 yuan per month in the five years through 2017, according to data from the International Labor Organization. That is big compared to Vietnam’s 30% rise, Malaysia’s 28% and Mexico’s 11% during the same period.
Rising costs have been encouraging companies to move overseas even before the trade war, according to analysts. Indeed, China has had “going out” policy encouraging such moves since 2001, but few companies felt an urgent the need to pursue it due to the huge market at home.
“What the U.S.-China trade war has done is to accelerate this trend in the short-term, potentially benefitting countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam,” said Darren Tay, a risk analyst at Fitch Solutions.
Competitive wages are not only thing attracting foreign investors to these countries. “A skilled, well-educated workforce, good infrastructure and a strong network of free trade agreements, including being part of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and EU-Vietnam FTA” are also factors, according to Rajiv Biswas, a Singapore-based economist at IHS Markit.
While most countries welcome foreign direct investment from China as they would from anyone else, they are also leery of being used to avoid Trump’s punitive tariffs. The U.S. president recently threatened to impose a 10% tariff on the remaining $300 billion worth of imports from China starting Sept. 1.
“The authorities must set up measures to prevent Chinese products relabeled as Vietnamese bound for the U.S.,” Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association said in an interview.
In other countries, the production shift and accompanying investment are being embraced after a heavy focus on Belt and Road-linked infrastructure projects had sparked backlash.
Jiangsu Xinquan Automotive Trim announced in May it was investing 64.4 million ringgit ($15 million) in Malaysia. The investment will support its principle customer, Zhejiang Geely Holding, which produces vehicles in partnership with Malaysia’s national automaker Proton Holdings for sale in the Southeast Asian market.
“Malaysia welcomes Chinese investment that comes with technology transfer, the use of local talents and certainly not massive migration of Chinese laborers,” said an official with the trade office.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been deeply critical of Chinese investments approved by his predecessor. Mahathir told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing last August that Malaysia would not allow a “new version of colonialism,” referring to big-ticket infrastructure projects carried out in his country by Chinese companies.
The projects were part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has attracted criticism for leaving several developing countries deep in debt. Some of the companies involved in the projects in Malaysia had raised the ire of the 94-year- old Mahathir by importing equipment and laborers from China, rather than using local labor and resources.
According to Nikkei, the diversification of Chinese investment from a focus on resources and infrastructure toward manufacturing will be welcomed by many developing countries, said Biswas of IHS.
“Many developing countries are still dependent on commodities exports and their governments put a high policy priority on building up their manufacturing sectors to diversify their economies and create new jobs.”
By CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer, Nikkei staff writer Yusho Cho contributed to this article.
Vietnamese shares finished Wednesday on a positive note but growth narrowed at the end of the session as investors stayed alert and tried to keep away from potential risks.
The benchmark VN-Index on the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange inched up 0.22 per cent to close at 968.91 points.
The VN-Index fell 0.87 per cent on Tuesday.
Nearly 151.5 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth VNĐ3.46 trillion (US$148.8 million).
The Vietnamese stock market was driven by the insurance, technology, agriculture, construction and retail sectors.
Their sector indices rose between 0.9 per cent and 2 per cent, data on vietstock.vn showed.
Those sectors grew despite investors caution about current market conditions, according to securities firms.
The increases of local stocks in the early stages of the day trapped a number of investors at high price levels, VNDirect Securities Corporation (VNDS) said in its daily report.
That trap and concerns about the uncertainty of global stocks forced investors to start selling, showing they wanted to minimise risks towards their portfolios, the company said.
Foreign investors sold a net VNĐ225 billion worth of local stocks. Their moves complied with the global trend in which investors tried to run from risky assets and into safe havens such as bonds, VNDS said.
There were some signals that international markets would experience some uncertainties in the short term and investors seemed confused, VNDS said, adding they were betting that global stocks would decline strongly.
Global stocks cheered on Tuesday night after US President Donald Trump delayed imposing a 10 per cent tax bill on $300 billion worth of American products, worrying the tax bill could hit US year-end shopping season.
However, data from the Chinese administration showed the second largest economy had the weakest industrial output growth in 17 years.
The caution of professional investors was quite clear because short term capital inflow, which is referred to individual investors’ purchases, depends on their decisions, VNDS said.
Investors began seeking opportunities in small-cap firms, according to MB Securities Co (MBS). However, it often means the end of the market’s short-term uptrend as large-cap stocks are running out of momentum to lift the market.
On the Hà Nội Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index dropped 0.30 per cent to end at 101.98 points.
The northern market index lost 0.51 per cent on Tuesday.
More than 22.6 million shares were traded on the northern market, worth VNĐ336 billion.
The vulnerability of children to trafficking, the increased risk faced by children on the move and the need for strengthened prevention and support mechanisms in communities were key areas highlighted in a new report released in Hanoi on Tuesday.
‘Casting Light in the Shadows: Child and Youth Migration, Exploitation and Trafficking in Vietnam’ explored patterns and dynamics in child trafficking and labor exploitation, identified particular factors that increase children’s vulnerability to trafficking, and examined survivors’ experiences of reintegration and access to support services.
The study, conducted by Coram International, in partnership with UNICEF and Vietnam’s Institute of Labour and Social Sciences (ILSSA), found that an estimated 5.6 percent of children in the Southeast Asian nation may have experiences related to child trafficking, the three organizations said in a joint press release.
It confirmed that the children exposed to trafficking risks were from all parts of Vietnam but the report noted that children in some regions faced higher-than-average risk.
The children were also found across a range of industries, with girls/young women and boys/young men found to be equally at risk.
“Reliable, sex and age disaggregated data on child exploitation and trafficking are essential for informing policies and programs, facilitating the planning of services and enabling the participation of survivors and their families,” Lesley Miller, UNICEF Vietnam deputy representative, said at the launch of the study, jointly held in Hanoi by Coram International, UNICEF and ILSSA.
“This study provides important evidence of the prevalence of child trafficking and the experiences of exploited or trafficked children.
“It also reveals that both boys and girls are impacted, reinforcing the need for gender-responsive prevention and responses.”
The study discovered that the majority of trafficking victims made active decisions to migrate in pursuit of opportunities and subsequently experienced exploitation in the context of these pursuits, often due to their vulnerability.
Children and young people from deprived backgrounds and those living in poverty were particularly vulnerable to trafficking.
The study found the majority of victims of child trafficking were subjected to some form of violence and labor exploitation.
Less than 1 in 10, or 9.48 percent, of the respondents to the household survey who had been trafficked or labor-exploited reported receiving a particular form of support.
“The majority of trafficking survivors never access support services,” Kara Apland, senior researcher of Coram International, co-author of the report.
Furthermore, services were found to be focused on a particular profile of trafficking victims: typically, female victims of sex or marriage trafficking, who were trafficked across borders.”
Evidence from the study confirmed the harmful effects of trafficking on survivors, who faced stigma and challenges reintegrating into their communities, particularly women and girls.
The evidence presented in the report has implications for policy and programming initiatives to combat child trafficking and labor exploitation.
Based on consultation with the government, international organizations and NGO partners, the report details a number of recommendations to address the issues.
Among these, promoting an integrated approach to anti-trafficking is key, ensuring that child trafficking prevention and response efforts are core elements in the ongoing national efforts to develop a comprehensive child protection system.
Prioritization of children’s access to education and skills training and, for older children and young people, safe employment opportunities as well as livelihood programs are also among the recommendations.
The report confirms that such programs must be underpinned with trafficking prevention messages that raise community awareness of risks to girls and boys, that build the capacity of law enforcement, and that actively combat the stigma often directed at the victims.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will reopen to visitors August 15 after two months of annual maintenance work.
The public reopening follows an inspection conducted by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc Wednesday.
The management board of the mausoleum in a meeting with Phuc stated that President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body is being maintained in the best condition and the technological system and equipment are working well. “Security around the Ba Dinh Square and the adjacent Monument to the Fallen Hero is ensured.”
The board has suggested the building of an underground parking lot at the Ba Dinh Square to serve locals and tourists who come from far and wide to see the mausoleum.
President Ho Chi Minh passed away on September 3, 1969. In the following days, his body was embalmed by Soviet Union experts and a special Vietnamese medical team under a joint agreement between the two governments.
His body is placed in a glass coffin at the mausoleum named after him in Hanoi.
Opened in 1973, the granite memorial was inspired by Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow and built on the spot where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The embalmed body of Uncle Ho is preserved in the central hall inside the building, and protected by a military honor guard.
A group of scientists, including four Russian experts and seven Vietnamese who recently examined President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body at his mausoleum, said it was in “excellent condition.”
Millions of people visit the memorial every year, making it one of Hanoi’s most popular attractions. It received 1.2 million tourist arrivals in the first half of this year, mausoleum managers said.
Visitors have to abide by a strict prescribed dress code that includes having their legs covered to enter the mausoleum.
It is normally open to the public from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., except on Mondays and Fridays.
At night, locals and visitors gather to view the mausoleum lit up and a flag ceremony.
Police in Hanoi’s Thuong Tin District have arrested two people in a kidney trading ring.
According to Colonel Do Duc Cuong, head of the district police board, following being informed by local residents, the police detained two people are Nguyen Quang Dong, 29, from Hanoi and Le Hong Hung, 33, from the central province of Quang Binh on August 10.
At the police station, Dong said that he used to look for kidney sellers through the social network at the price of VND240 million (USD10,434) per kidney. He also paid other costs related to accommodation, tests and post-surgery treatment for the seller. After that, he searched for people who want to buy a kidney. Dong sold a kidney at VND450 million (USD15,565).
Dong took the kidney sellers to a rented house in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi, and then assigned Hung to take care of them. Each successful trade gave Dong a profit of VND45 million and he paid VND10 million for Hung.
The police have continued investigating the case.
People are advised to immediately report such organ trading cases to police.
Vietnam is planning premium healthcare upgrades to attract more high-spending patients who spend billions of dollars a year on overseas treatment.
The Ministry of Health is drafting a proposal to have the cost of premium hospital rooms in public hospitals go up 37 percent from VND2.5 million ($107.3 ) a day to VND4 million ($171.7).
Since each room has just one patient bed, with an extra bed for a family member and space for welcoming visitors, it is like a premium hotel room, and nurses are on call at all times, said Nguyen Nam Lien, head of the Department of Planning and Finance under the Health Ministry.
There is a growing demand for premium services in hospitals, he said, adding that the proposal will allow this demand to be met.
Industry insiders say Vietnamese go abroad because there is a lack of top notch treatment and facilities in the country.
“If the bill is implemented well, Vietnamese patients will enjoy healthcare services at lower prices than in other countries, contributing to local hospitals’ income,” Lien said.
A bone marrow transplant in Vietnam, for instance, costs $8,000-15,000, but it is 10 times more expensive in Singapore and five times more in Taiwan, Phu Chi Dung, director of the Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said.
Up to 100,000 Vietnamese use healthcare services in another country every year, spending about $2 billion, the health ministry estimates.
Popular destinations are Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. In Malaysia alone, the number of Vietnamese patients have risen from 8,000 in 2016 to 14,000 last year, according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. Vietnam is among the five largest healthcare markets for Malaysia, it said.
The bill is being drafted after Ho Chi Minh City last year began a medical tourism initiative by publishing a handbook on the city’s healthcare services for foreigners.
The city accounted for about half of the 80,000 foreigners who came to Vietnam for medical treatment in 2017. They spent $2 billion, of which HCMC accounted for $1 billion.
Last year, the health ministry recorded more than 300,000 foreigners coming to Vietnam for health treatment, up 50 percent against five years ago.
Vietnam’s fast-growing economy, with an aging population, is seeing increased spending on healthcare.
Healthcare expenditure in Vietnam was estimated at $16.1 billion in 2017, accounting for 7.5 percent of GDP, and is set to grow to $22.7 billion in 2021, a compound annual growth rate of 12.5 percent, according to market research firm Business Monitor International (BMI).
Flights were departing Hong Kong airport largely on schedule on Wednesday morning, a day after protesters caused chaos with a disruptive sit-in that paralysed the busy transport hub.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Tuesday after demonstrators blockaded two terminals, the second consecutive day the airport has been targeted in the latest escalation of a 10-week political crisis that has gripped the international finance hub.
Protesters physically blocked travelers from accessing flights throughout the afternoon, before battling with riot police outside the terminal later that evening and turning on two people they accused of being spies or undercover police.
But by the early hours of Wednesday morning the vast majority of protesters had left the building and flights began taking off on a more regular basis.
The airport’s website showed dozens of flights taking off overnight and listed hundreds more scheduled to depart throughout Wednesday, although many were delayed.
An AFP reporter at departures said check-in desks were operating normally and only a handful of protesters remained, most of them sleeping.
It was unclear whether the airport would again be targeted later Wednesday.
Activists turned their attention to the economically vital airport after weeks of huge peaceful rallies – and increasingly violent clashes between hardliners and police – failed to win any concessions from the city’s leaders or Beijing.
Distorting the truth
China on Tuesday refuted several United States politicians’ remarks concerning the Hong Kong issue, saying that the remarks are “distorting the truth”, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
According to reports, U.S. House Speaker Pelosi, Senator McConnell, Senator Rubio and Congressman Yoho on Monday tweeted that Hong Kong police repressed demonstrators with violence and that the Chinese central government eroded democracy and freedom in Hong Kong. Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the remarks are whitewashing violent crimes as a struggle for human rights and freedom, and deliberately misinterpreting the work of Hong Kong police as violent repression when the police were only enforcing the law, fighting crimes and upholding social order.
The remarks even incited the Hong Kong residents to engage in confrontation with the SAR government and China’s central government, she said.
“They can’t wait to see a world in turmoil,” she said.
She said the U.S. side had repeatedly denied its involvement in the on-going violent incidents in Hong Kong.
However, these remarks have provided the world with new and powerful evidence on the country’s involvement.
“In the U.S., members of the Congress are also called lawmakers. I cannot help asking the relevant senators and House representatives: are you lawmakers or law-breakers?” Hua said.
She said that Hong Kong affairs are entirely China’s internal affairs, and those U.S. politicians are neither entitled nor qualified to comment on them. “Just mind your own business,” Hua said. “Hong Kong is none of your business.”
Code to strengthen capital market and boost sustainable economic growth.
The first Vietnam Corporate Governance Code of Best Practices for Public Companies was launched on August 13 by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Hong Nhung reports on Vietnam Economic Times.
It was developed with technical support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and in partnership with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
The code lays out a series of recommendations on best corporate governance practices, primarily for Vietnamese public companies. It includes standards that go beyond the minimum legal and regulatory requirements, encouraging companies to move towards international best practices. This will also help Vietnam align with its ASEAN peers, which have long instituted similar codes.
“This code is the most recent effort to support public and listed companies in aspiring to international corporate governance standards, which will help raise the quality of companies listed on our stock exchanges,” said Mr. Tran Van Dzung, SSC Chairman. “The ultimate goal is to promote investor confidence and grow Vietnam’s capital markets, which will help fuel the sustainable development of the national economy.”
According to Vietnam Economic Times, the code consists of ten principles with detailed recommendations for best practices and is aimed at addressing priority issues in corporate governance performance by Vietnamese companies. Six principles are focused on the functioning of the board of directors, which is an area that requires further improvement in many Vietnamese firms.
The remaining four principles cover areas such as control environment, transparency and disclosure, shareholder rights, and stakeholder relations. The code also includes provisions relating to responsible business, such as promoting gender diversity and encouraging a stronger focus on environmental and social issues.
“Good corporate governance attracts capital,” said Mr. Philippe Le Houérou, IFC CEO. “Investors have greater confidence in companies with good corporate governance and in markets that are backed by sound legal and regulatory regimes. This Corporate Governance Code of Best Practices can help Vietnamese companies send a signal to investors to come and do business in Vietnam.”
While the code is mainly aimed at guiding good governance practices for Vietnamese public and listed companies, other companies can also utilize the code as a benchmark for best practices.
As the issuer of this code, the SSC, along with the Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi stock exchanges, will use it to promote good corporate governance practices and will monitor the voluntary adoption of the code by companies.
The procedures for investing or starting a business in Vietnam as a foreigner have been considerably simplified in recent years. Setting up a business in Vietnam is now quick and easy for foreign investors and entrepreneurs.
In what form should a company be set up in Vietnam?
Several choices are available to you to start your business in Vietnam. Foreign entrepreneurs can start a business in Vietnam by:
constituting a company with 100% foreign capital
constituting a joint venture
concluding a business cooperation contract
creating a representative office or a branch office
The representative office or branch office are useful dismemberments for a company abroad. However, these entities are not legal entities and cannot enter into contracts. The representative office can be a useful prerequisite for a commercial establishment. It has a link and prospecting object on the Vietnamese market.
Law about creating a foreign or local company in Vietnam
The establishment of the representative office is subject to a licence issued by the Department of Industry and Trade of its place of establishment. A representative office cannot directly carry out activities that generate a profit. A subsidiary may be established by a foreign company only in certain specific sectors including banking, insurance, securities, and some trading activities.
A foreign investor will have a greater interest in setting up a company as a 100% foreign-owned company than as a joint venture. Indeed, the company with 100% foreign capital is much freer in the pursuit of its business, as it is not controlled by the Vietnamese government (i.e. the provincial Department of Planning and Investment).
How to start a business in Vietnam as a foreigner?
All companies must be registered in the company register to benefit from a legal existence in Vietnam. Registration makes it possible to obtain a document certifying the existence of the company, called IRC for “investment registration certificate”.
Companies with foreign capital or where the majority of the capital is held by a foreigner also require an investment certificate, known as an IRC (investment registration certificate). This IRC is obtained by filing a request with the relevant ministerial departments.
Why start a business in Vietnam?
Vietnam has many advantages for foreign investment. First of all, it has a vast market of 90 million inhabitants and domestic consumption is proving to be sustained. The economy of this country is young and is constantly opening up to internationalisation, welcoming more and more foreign investors. Growth continues at a high rate. We can also see a postponement of investment from China to Vietnam. In addition, the workforce is young, dynamic and inexpensive and the cost of living is low. Find more about company registration, formin a foreign LLC or 100 % vietnamese company with this research article on movetosia.com.
By Robin, this article was first posted on newdaylive
