A conscience-stricken robber returned VND100 million ($4,300) and two smartphones he stole from a woman in Binh Duong Province. Provincial police said Friday that the robber also wrote a letter of apology to the victim.
Guards of the An Phu Ward’s People’s Committee found the money and the letter inside a bag left outside the building on January 28.
In the letter, the robber, whose identity is unknown, said he borrowed money from loan sharks and could not pay it back. After continuous harassment through text messages and phone calls, he could not take it anymore and decided to commit the robbery.
He said he deeply regretted his action.
“I didn’t expect there would be so much money. [The one I robbed] must have had some urgent businesses to have that kind of money.”
“I promise to pay it back to society in the future. I hope everyone can forgive a sinner like me and I would like to sincerely apologize to the one I robbed,” he said.
He concluded the letter by asking the People’s Committee members to return the cash and phones to the victim.
Investigations showed that the robbery did indeed happen on January 28 in An Phu Ward. Phan Thi Bich Tuyen, 25, was driving her motorbike when a man, also on a motorbike, snatched her bag. The bag contained VND107 million ($4,600) in cash, an iPhone X and an iPhone 6.
After failing to chase down the robber, Tuyen reported the incident to An Phu police. He reportedly kept VND7 million and returned the rest.
Local media later reported that Tuyen has requested the police not to track down the robber.
“I believe everyone is good at heart,” she said.
7,600 loan-related crimes have been recorded in Vietnam in the last four years, according to data from the Ministry of Public Security.
56 of them were murder cases and the rest includes intentionally inflicting injury, robberies, seizing properties and assets using force, frauds and scams.
The Vietnam men’s national football team has climbed one place from 100th to 99th in the latest FIFA rankings thanks to their excellent results at the Asian Cup 2019, according to the website Footy Rankings.
The team also finds themselves ranked in 16th position among the teams in Asia and 1st place among the teams in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Qatar, the winners of the Asian Cup 2019, jumped 38 places from 93rd to 55th in the world rankings and to 5th in Asia.
Iran took the top spot in Asia and are currently 22nd in the world rankings while Japan are second in Asia and also rose 23 places to rank 27th in the world.
The city administration announced the addition Monday after earlier announcing fireworks displays at seven other venues – the Saigon River Tunnel in District 2, Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11, Ethnic History-Culture Park in District 9, Ben Duoc Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District, the Can Gio District Administrative Center, the Hiep Phuoc Industrial Complex in Nha Be District, and the Military Headquarters in Binh Chanh District.
Letting off fireworks has been a tradition during major national celebrations like Reunification Day on April 30 and Independence Day on September 2. VNExpress reports.
The Lunar New Year, known as Tet in Vietnam, is a national holiday, with people getting 9 days off this year from February 2 to 10.
According to VNExpress, Landmark 81 in Binh Thanh District was built last July and is Vietnam’s tallest building and the 13th tallest in the world. The mixed-use building has hotels, apartments, offices, a shopping mall, restaurants, and bars.
January witnessed 1,526 traffic accidents which left 728 people dead and 1,137 people injured, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
The numbers of accidents, fatalities and injured people increased by 116, 98 and 49 respectively compared to December 2018.
The police dealt with over 368,800 violations and collected over VND255bn in fines. Nearly 64,600 cars and motorbikes were seized. Compared to December 2018, there was a 43,800 increase in the number of incidents, with fines up VND32.18bn and the number of vehicles involved increased by 5,681 vehicles.
As many as 110 people were killed in 147 traffic accidents in the four-day New Year holiday alone.
Most of the main routes in Hanoi and HCM City have been overcrowded and jammed in the lead-up to Tet.
Road use has massively increased as people are shopping for the festive period while people from other provinces are travelling into the cities to deliver goods. Meanwhile, both Hanoi and HCM City still have many on-going constructions that have badly affected the traffic flow.
Lax urban management has also seen pavements used by temporary businesses. Road rage and disregard of traffic laws have become increasingly common.
Vu Van Vien, head of Hanoi Department of Transport said they had ordered to stop any construction work affects roads and pavements from January 25. Ring Road 3 and Lang expansion projects are being sped up.
The authorities in Hanoi and HCM City have asked related agencies to monitor the main routes to deal with congestion and accidents more quickly.
US and China are considering a meeting between the leaders of the two countries in Vietnam, in late February, South China Morning Post reported.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump may meet on February 27 and 28, in the city of Da Nang where they are expected to continue pushing to resolve the trade dispute between the two nations.
Along with 24 countries in the world, in Vietnam, Viettel and VinaPhone officially provide eSIM (embedded SIM) for their customers.
Viettel stated that its first 2019 customers can change from the current SIM to the new eSIM free of charge. After that, it will launch the transformation publicly.
At the moment, Viettel only delivers eSIM in its shops which open even on Tet holiday.
It will soon support online registration for new eSIMs or changing from existing physical SIMs to eSIMs. This means instead of visiting a shop to obtain a physical SIM, Viettel’s customers will be able to subscribe on the Internet and receive a QR code with a phone number, followed by the activation step via any camera app or QR code scanner app.
Similarly, VinaPhone has already finished the piloting period, when many of its customers and members of major technological forums had a chance to experience eSIM and its various functions.
It now announces that its customers can register for an eSIM at home and then activate it with 3 simple steps in 20 seconds.
These people will receive the new eSIM free of charge and with the highest priority.At the moment, eSIM can be used on certain versions of iPhone like XS, XS Max and iPhone XR that supports eSIM, all of which require iOS 12.1 or later.
Indonesia the only other Asian country on UK travel site’s list.
Vietnam has been listed as one of top 20 most beautiful countries in the world by Rough Guide.
Based on the votes of readers from all over the world on its social media channel, the UK travel site provided the list for travelers to consider when booking their next holiday.
From the impressive rock formations of Ha Long Bay off the northern coast to the terraced rice fields of mountainous Sapa on the Chinese border, Vietnam has a wealth of easily accessible natural beauty, the site wrote.
Its cities are alluring too, whether you prefer the modern skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh City or the appealing contrast in Hanoi between the old and the new as the country has rebounded with vigor in the 40 or so years since the end of the American War.
Rough Guide also appreciated that direct flights now arrive from cities worldwide, roads are being upgraded, new hotels are springing up, and Vietnam’s raucous entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, bringing a lively ambiance to the country.
Other countries on the list included the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Iceland, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway, Finland, Mexico, Peru, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Vietnam welcomed some 15.5 million foreign visitors in 2018, up 19.9 per cent against 2017. The number of international tourist arrivals has surged three-fold from 5 million in 2010. It also catered to 80 million domestic travelers last year, generating VND620 trillion ($26.66 billion) in revenue.
Vietnam was ranked the world’s fourth fastest-growing travel destination in the 2018 UN World Tourism Organisation report for its impressive growth in international arrivals over recent years.
Vietnam’s recent economic achievements notwithstanding, much effort is needed for it to close the gap with other countries, a minister has said. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said at a conference Wednesday that while Vietnam’s GDP per capita had surged by 27.4 times in the last 30 years to almost $2,590 last year, Malaysia had achieved this figure 20 years ago.
Thailand had done so 15 years ago and Indonesia 10 years ago.
The main limitations of its economy were low labor productivity, economic efficiency and competitiveness, and the country also faced the risk of being stuck in the middle-income trap.
According to the 2018 Vietnam Annual Economic Report, average productivity per worker was VND60.73 million ($2,600) in 2017, lower than that of China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Currently the country also faced challenges like the U.S.-China trade war, the minister said.
For these reasons, institutional reforms were necessary to achieve a more sustainable economy, he noted.
Macroeconomic stability and high economic growth with innovation in science and technology were imperative.
The private sector had to remain one of the pillars of the economy in future, Dung said. “If Vietnam doesn’t catch the 4.0 train, the gap between it with other countries will become wider. Vietnam needs to narrow that gap.”
Vietnam’s GDP has grown at 6.8 percent a year on average for the last 20 years, and the economy has grown 39 fold in the period to $245 billion last year.
Growth last year was 7.08 percent, the highest in a decade.
The People’s Court of Hoa Binh province on January 30 announced sentences to seven defendants implicated in a serious medical incident that killed nine patients at the provincial General Hospital on May 29, 2017.
Defendant Bui Manh Quoc, Director of the Tram Anh Water Treatment Co., Ltd received a 54-month jail sentence while Hoang Cong Luong, doctor in the hospital’s Department of Intensive Care was sentenced to 42 months in prison on the charge of “unintentionally causing deaths” in accordance with Clause 2, Article 98 of the Criminal Code 1999.
Defendant Tran Van Son, employee of the hospital’s medical material and equipment division was jailed 42 months, Deputy Director of the hospital and head of the Department of Intensive Care Hoang Dinh Khieu along with head of the division Tran Van Thang 36 months, Director of the hospital Truong Quy Duong and Director of the Thien Son JSC Do Anh Tuan 30 months for “lacking responsibility causing serious consequences” as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 285 of the Criminal Code 1999.
The Hoa Binh General Hospital and Thien Son JSC must compensate nearly 1.7 billion VND and over 728 million VND, respectively to victims.
On May 29, 2017, 18 patients suffered from symptoms of anaphylactic shock like breathing difficulty, sudden blood pressure fall, stomachache and vomiting while receiving kidney dialysis at the kidney dialysis division of the Hoa Binh General Hospital’s Department of Intensive Care. Eight of the patients died in this incident.
According to the indictment of the provincial People’s Procuracy, Quoc directly repaired and maintained the Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter system of dialysis machines.
During the process, however, the machines’ water supply tubes were not purified carefully, leaving chemical residue. After pasteurisation of the RO filter system, Quoc did not check quality of water samples before handing the system over to the hospital.
Son, who was in charge of checking and supervising the replacement and maintenance of the filter system, failed to complete his assigned tasks.
Nephrologist Luong allowed the dialysis treatment to commence without checking water quality.
Thien Son company signed a contract on May 25, 2017 to repair and maintain the RO water filter No.2 used for kidney dialysis at the hospital. However, the firm then sold the contract to Tram Anh Water Treatment Co., Ltd.
Zero Waste Saigon, Starbucks Vietnam, and Keppel Land partner to showcase exhibition in HCMC by artist Von Wong.
“The Parting of the Plastic Sea” art piece in the atrium of the Estella Place retail mall in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 2 is being showcased in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest art installation made from plastic straws, with over 150,000 being used that were collected on streets around Vietnam.
To raise awareness about the impact of plastic waste on the environment and to encourage the public to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics, artist Von Wong, non-profit organization Zero Waste Saigon, Starbucks Vietnam, and leading green developer Keppel Land are partnering to exhibit the art piece.
The piece is created from recovered plastic packaging and straws that were meticulously collected from all over Vietnam with the help of volunteers, including schools like the British International School, the American International School, and the German School, along with local Starbucks partners. With a mission to surprise and educate passers-by, the hope is to give the public a visual representation of the connection between our plastic usage and the dangers it represents to our oceans.
“We are very proud to be part of this project together with our business allies,” said Ms. Patricia Marques, General Manager of Starbucks Vietnam. “Our partners are very excited to participate in building this installation.”
“Keppel Land adopts a proactive and holistic approach towards sustainability,” said Mr. Linson Lim, President of Keppel Land Vietnam. “Through initiatives such as lending support towards ‘The Parting of the Plastic Sea’, we seek to raise awareness about environmental protection and encourage our stakeholders to move away from single-use plastics and join us as we shape a more sustainable future.”
“I believe that each and every person has the ability to positively affect the world with their actions,” artist Von Wong said. “I hope that this installation can become a tool that anyone can use to encourage others to turn down the next straw they are offered. Alone, these straws represent a tragedy, but the #strawpocalypse campaign also represents ‘hope’ of what is possible when people and companies come together to make a difference.”
“Saying no to a plastic straw is a way that each person can have a positive impact on protecting the environment,” said Ms. Julia Mesner, founder of Zero Waste Saigon. “Plastic straws are one of the most useless pieces of waste because they are unnecessary for most people. Our motto is ‘Every action counts’. Making a small action today will lead people to bigger actions that will change the world for the better.”
From January 25 to March 24, members of the public are encouraged to visit Estella Place and share their experience of the installation on social media accompanied by the hashtag #strawpocalypse. They are also encouraged to pledge their support and make a commitment to tell others “No-straw, please”.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight by the year 2050. Although Vietnam is home to only 1.26 per cent of the world’s population, it is responsible for 6 per cent of the plastic that enters the ocean.
Vietnam is the second cheapest country to retire to this year, according to the Annual Global Retirement Index. The index, published by Ireland’s publication International Living, lists the best retirement havens by scoring countries in 13 categories, including visas and residence, cost of living, entertainment and amenities, healthcare, and business opportunities.
While Vietnam is only ranked 19th among 25 countries in the index, it is the second best in terms of cost of living.
“Vietnam is a fascinating and vibrant destination, rich in natural beauty, steeped in history and brimming with opportunity. Whether you want to live in the heart of the city, nestle among pine-forested mountains, or overlook a sun-washed beach, you’ll find modern, high-quality housing for low prices,” the report said.
Saigon and Hanoi are the most expensive cities in the country, while a life of retirement in other tourism-centric cities like Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Vung Tau will be much easier on the wallet, it suggested.
However, Hanoi and Saigon are still considered some of the cheapest Southeast Asian cities to live in, according to the 2019 Cost of Living Index published by user-contributed database Numbeo.
Vietnam has consistently been ranked as one of the world’s cheapest destinations for travelers for its low living costs. Numbe estimates an expat’s monthly living cost in the country ranges from $700 to $1,400.
Forbes magazine in 2017 ranked Vietnam as one of the cheapest destinations to visit, with affordable luxury resorts, healthy food at cheap prices and beautiful sights.
Vietnam reached a turning point in 2015 when it became one of the countries with the fastest aging populations in the world.
Competitive landscape of major players including Vietinbank, Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, Vietnam International Bank, Saigon Hanoi Bank, Tien Phong Bank, FE Credit, Home Credit and HD Saison have been extensively covered mentioning company overview, major business strategies, USP, car finance delivered, products and services, market share, strengths, financials and various other parameters. Value chain analysis has been given prime importance covering role & nature of major entities along with mentioning the major vendor selection criteria and pain points. The report also covers future industry analysis (by credit disbursed and by auto loan outstanding), future market segmentation, SWOT analysis, growth opportunities, upcoming business models, government regulations and analyst recommendations. The report is useful for existing auto finance companies, potential entrants, investors and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to ongoing and expected trends in the future.
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Executive Summary
Market Overview: Vietnam auto finance market has witnessed continuous growth since 2013 and has constituted approximately 6% of the overall South Asian auto finance market in 2018. The market compasses similar trends fairly in-line with domestic vehicle sales market, qualitatively & quantitatively with banks and non banking financial institutions being the major operating entities in the space. The market is currently in its growth stage.
Market Size: Vietnam auto finance market has enlarged registering a CAGR ofclose to25% during 2012-2018 in terms of total auto loan disbursed. The market size by number of new automobiles financed has increased at a CAGR of close to 30% (2012-2018) owing to consumer’s preference shift towards cars from motorbikes with mounting purchasing power. This increase can also be attributed to the rise of ride sharing services in the country and improvements in the financial infrastructure. The growth stagnated in 2017 due to customers waiting for the new 0% tax on imported cars which came into effect on January 1st, 2018. Growing consumer confidence index, constant prime lending rates, growing car sales have been the major push factors.
Market Segmentation
By Type of Vehicles: On the basis of credit disbursed for commercial vehicles registered a robust CAGR during 2012-2018. On the basis of auto loan outstanding, passenger vehicle recorded a CAGR above 20% while commercial vehicles experienced a CAGR of above 8%. The continuous increase in demand for passenger vehicles can be attributed to the rising GDP per capita in Vietnam along with improvements in infrastructure, and the growth in social status from the ownership of a car.
By Type of Institutions: By auto loan outstanding,banks & subsidiaries have led the market in 2018with their stable financial structures and high trust factor associated with the provision of their services.A very minimal proportion was captured by NBFIs.Captives and independentconsumer finance companies in Vietnam also form part of this segment.
By Loan Tenure: On the basis of auto loan outstanding, 5 year loan tenure has been the most popular one in 2018. This was followed by 4 year loan tenure and 3 year tenure respectively. Short term loans have been less popular hence 2 year and 1 year loan tenures have comprised of a very small share in the market.
Competitive Analysis
The market is fragmented owing to large number of banking (79) and non banking institutions (27) present in the market. Although banks, subsidiaries and non bank financial institutions have had a dominant market share in 2018, consumer financing companies are expanding rapidly in Vietnam. There are around 16 consumer financing companies generally catering to the low income segment of the population. Prominent entities include Vietnam International Bank, Tien Phong Bank, Saigon Hanoi Bank, Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam and Vietcombank, whereas the major non-banking financial institutions include FE Credit, Home Credit and HD Saison.
Future Analysis and Projections
The credit disbursed in the Vietnam Auto Finance Market is projected to increase at a CAGR close to 26%. The major growth drivers include lower tax on imported vehicles, infrastructural improvement, a rising commercial vehicle segment, new catchment areas, continued dominance of motorbikes and the potential of consumer financing.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are expected to continue their dominance with increasing number of population shifting to these regions. VinFast, Vietnam’s first local auto manufacturer is establishing its new automobile & motorbike manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, which is anticipated to expand its economy and expand the market for car financing. Bien Hoa is expected to rapidly grow due to its close proximity to Ho Chi Min City and is experiencing rapid infrastructural improvements and economic growth, which is projected to bring in numerous auto financing companies. The tourism industry in Vietnam is booming and is projected to enhance the economy of coastal cities such as Da Nang and Nha Trang.
Key Segments Covered:-
By Type of Vehicles (Passenger Vehicles and Commercial Vehicles on the basis of Credit Disbursed and Auto Loan Outstanding)
By Type of Institutions (Banks & Subsidiaries and Non Bank Financial Institutes on the Basis of Auto Loan Outstanding)
By Loan Tenure (1 Year, 2 Years, 3 Years, 4 Years, 5 and More years on the basis of Auto Loan Outstanding)
Key Target Audience:-
Existing Auto Finance Companies
Banks & Subsidiaries
Captive Finance Companies
Non Banking Financial Institutions
New Market Entrants
Automobile Financing Companies
Government Organizations
Investors
Automobile Associations
Automobile Original Equipment Manufacturer
Time Period Captured in the Report:-
Financial Year 2013-2018: Historical Period
Financial Year 2019-2023: Future Forecast
Key Target Audience:-
Existing Auto Finance Companies
New market entrants
Government bodies
Investors
Automobile Manufacturers
Automobile Associations
Auto parts Equipment Manufacturer
Companies Cited in the Report:-
Banks & Subsidiaries
Tien Phong Bank
Vietcombank
Agribank
Vietinbank
Shinhan Bank Vietnam
Saigon Hanoi Bank
Techcombank
Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam
Vietnam international bank
Non-Banking Financial Institutions:-
FE Credit
Cement Finance Joint Stock Company
EVN Finance Joint Stock Company
Handico Finance Joint Stock Company
HD Saison Finance Company
Home Credit Vietnam Finance Company Limited
JACCS International Vietnam Finance Company Limited
Maritime Bank Finance Company Limited
MB Shinsei Finance Limited Liability Company
Mirae Asset Finance Company (Vietnam) Limited
Post and Telecommunication Finance Company Limited
Prudential Vietnam Finance Company Limited
SHBank Finance Company Limited
Technological and Commercial Finance Company Limited
Toyota Financial Services Vietnam Company Limited
Vietnam Shipbuilding Finance Company Limited
Key Topics Covered in the Report:-
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Genesis
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Value Chain
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Ecosystem
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Overview
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Size on the Basis of Credit Disbursed, 2012–2018
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Size on the Basis of Auto Loan Outstanding, 2013–2018
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Growth Drivers & Challenges
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Segmentation by Type of Vehicles (Passenger and Commercial on the basis of Credit disbursed and Auto Loan Outstanding)
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Segmentation by Tenure of Loan (1-5 Years on the basis of Auto Loan Outstanding)
Vietnam Auto Finance Market Segmentation by Type of Institutions (Banks and Non-Banks on the basis of Auto Loan Outstanding)
Government Regulations in Vietnam Auto Finance Market
Strengths and Weaknesses of Major Players in Vietnam Auto Finance Sector
Company Profile of Major Players in Vietnam Auto Finance Sector
Future Outlook and Projections in Vietnam Auto Finance Market (2019-2023)
Growth Opportunities in Vietnam Auto Finance Market
Future Market Segmentation of Vietnam Auto Finance Market
Publicis Groupe just announced the appointment of Luc Mandret as General Manager of MSL in Vietnam, reporting to Lukasz Roszczyc, CEO of Publicis Groupe in Vietnam. Luc Mandret will lead all the operations of the two offices in Hanoi and Ho-Chi-Minh City, and will focus on the development of MSL, the global Public Relations and Integrated Communications agency of Publicis Groupe, and will foster the collaborative ‘Power of One’ model.
Luc started his career as a consultant in the pharma industry, then he moved to work in the media industry, launching newspapers, blogs and online TV channels. He was also a lecturer at the Paris La Sorbonne University. Luc Mandret is a French national and located in South-East Asia for 18 months, bringing with him a decade of experience in consumer and corporate PR: he started his career in the PR industry in 2008 and then joined MSL in 2013 to lead the digital operations of Publicis Consultants, the PR agency of MSL in France.
With MSL and Publicis Consultants, Luc is an adviser of C-level leaders to partner in their digital transformation and their reputation management. He has vast experience with various industries (FMCG, automotive, energy, cosmetics, banking and insurance, etc.) and a strong expertise from corporate and crisis communication to influencer management and experiential marketing.
Lukasz Roszczyc, CEO of Publicis Groupe in Vietnam, said, “We are further fueling momentum of MSL Vietnam by investing and bringing new expertise to the market. With Luc’s progressive experience in online influence, we will be pioneering new solutions and strengthening our Public Relations specialization to help our clients’ grow. Through the ‘Power of One’ model of Publicis Groupe and strong end-to-end integration, we are aiming to double MSL’s scale both in HCMC and Hanoi. Importantly, Luc is bringing global MSL thought leadership within growing sectors of Vietnam’s economy, and we will work together to inspire Vietnamese and MNC businesses to transform and be future ready.”
Guillaume Herbette, CEO of MSL: “I am delighted to welcome Luc Mandret back to the MSL global network. Luc’s commitment to be at the forefront of digital innovation, especially in the area of influence aligns with some of the most exciting areas of development in our global network. We look forward to his strong leadership and growth of our business in Vietnam”
On his appointment, Luc Mandret shares: “I am very excited to join such a great team, I will bring my experience in both public relations and digital influence, and I will advise our clients to develop the best influence strategy. With all our expertise in media relations, in event and activations, in social media and digital, in influencer marketing, and both consumer and corporate PR, we definitely are the best partner for brands. My priority is to be the best partner of our clients, and offer them impactful services”.
H’Hen Nie has been named among the Top 5 finalists of the Timeless Beauty award by Missosology and becomes the only Vietnamese representative to make it through into the award’s final stage.
Two Vietnamese beauties, Phuong Khanh Minh Tu and Tieu Vy, had previously been named among the original list. However, they were later disqualified.
Rounding off the Top 5 list are Ma Ahtisa, Miss International Philippines Manalo, Telma Madeira, Miss Earth Portugal, Tamaryn Green, Miss Universe South Africa, and Mariem Velazco, Miss International Venezuela.
This year, a panel of judges came together to select candidates from the 112 beauties who competed across the five major beauty contests including Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International, and Miss Supranational in 2018.
The beauties were judged based on a range of criteria, including their beauty, timeless appeal, their overall performance in one of the ‘Big 5’ pageants, and finally their global impact. Their average score from across the criteria was then calculated.
The Timeless Beauty award has been held annually since 2010. In the award’s history, the pageant has had a total of eight winners including Venus Raj of the Philippines in 2010, Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine in 2011, Irene Esser from Venezuela in 2012, Marine Lorphelin of France in 2013, Paulina Vega from Colombia in 2014, Edymar Martinez of Venezuela in 2015, Catriona Gray from the Philippines in 2016, and most recently, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa in 2017.
Air pollution in Hanoi has become worse in the past few days.
As of 3.30 pm on January 27, the air quality at 10 monitoring stations of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment stayed at orange alert which is unhealthy for sensitive people.
Since the air quality index is from 100 to 200, sensitive groups should reduce prolonged exertion. If the index is from 201 to 300, the general public is also advised to avoid prolonged exertion.
The index at the station on Pham Van Dong Street was 240. It was 238 on Hang Dau Street and 201 in Tan Mai Ward, Hoang Mai District. The best quality index measured was 177 in Tay Mo Commune, Nam Tu Liem District.
Previous reports show that Hanoi often has one or two days with hazardous level quality every year. On average, January 25 is the day with worst air quality.
Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of Vietnam Clean Air Partnership, said the fine particulate matter level in Hanoi also increased sharply and it was worrisome. Fine particulate matter is mostly made up of sulphate and nitrate particles. It can penetrate the respiratory system and cause cancer. Meanwhile, regular masks can hardly provide any protection against fine particulate matter.
According to Tung, the surge in the number of vehicles as Tet nears is one of the reasons or worsening air quality. The temperature inversion may be the other cause. The layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air and pollutants are trapped.
Tung said the wind direction, temperature, humidity in the past days had caused the phenomenon and citizens should follow the reports about air quality.
During a review meeting held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung had raised concerns over worsening air quality. He blamed the traffic and the huge amount of on-going constructions in the city.
