Trong cương vị Nhà Đồng Tài Trợ của đêm nhạc Michael Learns To Rock – “Take Us To Your Heart Tour” diễn ra vào tối 17/11, Prudential Việt Nam mang đến một cảm xúc âm nhạc hoài niệm và tái khẳng định cam kết đem lại trải nghiệm tốt nhất cho Khách hàng.
Hoạt động này nằm trong khuôn khổ chiến dịch “Sống Lại Tiếng Yêu Đầu” của Prudential dành cho Khách hàng Kênh Hợp tác, nhằm gợi nhắc về một miền ký ức cảm xúc đáng nhớ của thời thanh xuân, như những giai điệu bất hủ từ Michael Learns To Rock.
Sân khấu ấn tượng tại đêm nhạc mang đến cảm giác hoài niệm về một miền ký ức cảm xúc đáng nhớ của thời thanh xuân, như những giai điệu bất hủ từ Michael Learns To Rock.
Đêm nhạc “Take Us To Your Heart” diễn ra ngày 17/11 tại Nhà thi đấu Phú Thọ, TP. HCM đánh dấu sự trở lại lần thứ tư của nhóm nhạc Michael Learns To Rock tại Việt Nam, thu hút hàng nghìn người hâm mộ cùng khách mời đặc biệt – ca sĩ Erik. Các khán giả nói chung và Khách hàng Prudential nói riêng cùng được hòa mình cùng không khí âm nhạc hoài niệm qua những bản hit vượt thời gian như 25 Minutes, I Still Carry On, Sleeping Child… Đến với đêm nhạc, Khách hàng Prudential còn được trải nghiệm không gian đặc biệt tại khu vực booth của nhãn hàng, nơi họ có thể check-in và nhận ngay một combo quà tặng hấp dẫn, bao gồm quạt mát, nước uống và một bức ảnh polaroid lưu giữ khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ.
Khu vực check-in riêng dành cho Khách hàng của Prudential tại sự kiện.
Một trong những Khách hàng Prudential được nhận vé tham dự, chị Bảo Trân (Phú Nhuận, TP. HCM) chia sẻ về cảm xúc của mình khi tham dự đêm nhạc: “Đây là lần đầu tiên mình và người bạn có cơ hội tham gia một đêm nhạc lớn như thế này. Những ca khúc của Michael Learns To Rock không đơn thuần chỉ là âm nhạc mà còn là những kỷ niệm đẹp, gợi nhớ những cảm xúc khó quên trong cuộc sống. Thật hạnh phúc khi được sống lại những khoảnh khắc ấy cùng hàng ngàn khán giả hôm nay.”
Chiến dịch Khách hàng “Sống Lại Tiếng Yêu Đầu” là món quà Prudential & các Ngân hàng Đối tác gửi đến Khách hàng nhằm gợi nhắc về miền ký ức đáng nhớ qua những thanh âm quen thuộc, và khẳng định sự đồng hành lâu dài của Prudential bên cạnh Khách hàng qua từng cột mốc của cuộc sống. Hoạt động đồng hành cùng đêm nhạc “Take Us To Your Heart” và các hoạt động truyền thông trên mạng xã hội như cuộc thi chia sẻ kỷ niệm về tiếng yêu đầu, các bài hát gắn liền với thế hệ thu hút sự quan tâm và tham gia đông đảo của Khách hàng chính là trạm cảm xúc đầu tiên của hành trình chiến dịch “Sống Lại Tiếng Yêu Đầu
Các thành viên của ban nhạc Michael Learns To Rock cháy hết mình trước hàng nghìn khán giả.
Trong thời gian tới, Prudential sẽ tiếp tục hành trình chiến dịch với chuỗi hoạt động đặc biệt dành riêng cho Khách hàng trong mùa lễ hội cuối năm. Với những món quà tri ân đầy ý nghĩa, Prudential cùng các Ngân hàng Đối tác mong muốn trở thành cầu nối, giúp các Khách hàng trao gửi “tiếng yêu” qua những món quà ấm áp cho bản thân và cho gia đình.
Nhiều năm qua, Kênh Hợp tác của Prudential Việt Nam không ngừng nỗ lực mang đến những trải nghiệm ý nghĩa cho Khách hàng qua nhiều chương trình âm nhạc giàu cảm xúc khác nhau. Có thể kể đến các đêm nhạc, từ “Hẹn Yêu” năm 2022 đến “Sống Lại Cảm Giác An” năm 2023, và đến năm 2024, Prudential tiếp tục hành trình cảm xúc với thông điệp trân trọng và bảo vệ những mối quan hệ quý giá, đồng hành cùng Khách hàng tận hưởng từng khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ.
Thông tin chi tiết các hoạt động tiếp theo của chiến dịch Khách hàng “Sống Lại Tiếng Yêu Đầu”, vui lòng cập nhật tại đây.
Vietnam’s tourism sector is poised for significant growth, with international arrivals expected to hit 20-25 million annually in the near future. According to IHG Hotels & Resorts, the country has already welcomed 14 million international visitors in the first 10 months of 2024 and is on track to close the year with 18 million arrivals, signaling a robust recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of East Asia-Pacific at IHG, affirmed that Vietnam’s tourism has fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. “The number of international tourists to Vietnam this year could reach 18 million, and this figure is expected to rise to 20-25 million in the coming years as demand for travel to Vietnam continues to surge,” he said.
Key factors contributing to the resurgence of Vietnam’s tourism sector include Visa Policy Reforms: Simplified visa processes to attract more visitors; Enhanced Air Connectivity: Increased flights linking Vietnam to major global markets; Innovative Tourism Offerings: Development of unique and diverse tourism products.
These advancements have solidified Vietnam’s reputation as one of the world’s most attractive travel destinations. The country has recently earned international recognition, ranking 8th among Asia’s most attractive and safe destinations, according to Best Diplomats, an international diplomatic training organization. Additionally, Travel Off Path highlighted Vietnam as one of Asia’s top destinations, and Time Out listed Vietnam as one of the “9 Safest Destinations in the World for Female Solo Travelers”, the only Southeast Asian country on the list.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite this growth, industry experts highlight the need to address gaps in luxury travel offerings. Vivek Bhalla, Managing Director of Southeast Asia and Korea at IHG, noted a lack of high-end accommodations tailored to luxury travelers.
To meet this demand, IHG plans to expand its presence in Vietnam’s luxury and lifestyle segments. Upcoming developments include the launch of Vignette Collection in Hoi An; The debut of Hotel Indigo in Ho Chi Minh City, offering localized and personalized experiences.
Located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Dinh Church is also a highlight attracting domestic and foreign tourists to visit, admire and take pictures.
Broader Hospitality Expansion
IHG is also expanding in other hotel segments to cater to diverse traveler needs: Crowne Plaza: Five new properties are in the pipeline; voco Hotels: The brand will debut in Quang Binh with the opening of voco Quang Binh Resort; Holiday Inn: The brand is set to expand with nine additional hotels across Vietnam, complementing its current locations in Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Tram.
Future Growth Prospects
IHG aims to double its presence in Vietnam, growing its portfolio from 16 hotels (4,800 rooms) to over 40 hotels (12,000 rooms) in the coming years.
“With Vietnam’s tourism showing strong growth potential, we are confident in our ability to scale our operations and meet the increasing demand across all market segments,” said Mr. Bhalla.
This expansion underscores global confidence in Vietnam’s position as a leading global tourism destination.
Vietnam continues to solidify its position as one of the top 10 best destinations in the world for expats, thanks to its stable economy, high safety standards, and appealing lifestyle. These factors have made Vietnam a favored location for work and settlement among international visitors, leading to a growing demand for apartment ownership in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In the first half of 2024, over 1,000 apartments in Hanoi were sold to foreigners. Experts attribute this surge to several key factors, including competitive property prices, high investment potential, high-quality developments, and favorable policies that allow foreigners to own property in Vietnam.
The Rise of East Hanoi as a Prime Destination
East Hanoi has emerged as a hotspot for international buyers. The area boasts large-scale urban developments by leading investors, modern and synchronized infrastructure, low population density, and an upgraded transportation network. These features make it easy for residents to commute to Hanoi’s Old Quarter as well as neighboring industrial hubs such as Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Dong Anh, and Hung Yen, which host numerous multinational corporations.
Adding to the appeal, the National Exhibition and Fair Center—a sprawling 90-hectare complex and one of the largest exhibition venues globally—began construction in August 2024. Scheduled for completion by July 2025, this landmark development is expected to drive economic growth in East Hanoi and further boost its real estate appeal.
Hanoi’s Long Bien bridge
Long Bien: A Haven for Foreign Buyers
Long Bien District, in particular, has drawn significant interest from foreign buyers due to its lush green landscapes, open spaces, affordable property prices, and legally secure projects. These factors address the common legal complexities foreigners face when purchasing property in Vietnam, making Long Bien an attractive and hassle-free choice.
A Magnet for Investors
As demand from international buyers continues to grow, developers are increasingly focusing on projects tailored to meet the living standards and preferences of foreign residents. Among these, the Khai Son City project stands out. With its modern living spaces, diverse amenities, and prime location, it has quickly become a focal point for both buyers and investors seeking opportunities in Hanoi’s thriving real estate market.
With its growing global appeal and strategic developments, Hanoi’s real estate market is poised to remain a key destination for international buyers in the coming years.
Disregarding danger, three young Swiss men climbed to the nearly 100-meter-high spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to raise the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam in protest against the war.
On January 19, 1969, the two-colored flag—blue and red with a yellow star in the center—flew atop the highest spire of Notre Dame, sparking widespread public attention. News agencies around the world reported on the appearance of the National Liberation Front’s flag at this iconic French landmark on the day of the preliminary session of the Paris Peace Talks. This conference involved four parties: the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the United States, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, and the Republic of Vietnam, with the goal of ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.
Despite the risks, three young men from Switzerland returned to their hometown of Lucerne, more than 600 km from Paris, relieved after a harrowing 30-hour journey to raise a flag in support of a nation nearly 10,000 km away. They were Bernard Bachelard, 26, a physical education teacher; Noé Graff, 24, a law student; and Olivier Parriaux, 25, a physics student.
“We wanted to support the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam ahead of the Paris Peace Talks, discredit the Nguyễn Văn Thiệu government, and condemn war crimes,” recalled Olivier Parriaux, now 80 years old, as he shared the story on November 18 during his first visit to Ho Chi Minh City with Bernard from November 15-19.
Olivier explained that since the 1960s, strikes, protests, and calls to end the war in Vietnam had taken place globally, involving millions of participants. He and his friends were among those who felt compelled to take more decisive action. The opportunity arose in early 1969, with significant global events approaching, including the Paris Peace Talks (scheduled for January 25) and U.S. President Nixon’s inauguration (on January 20).
The three decided to raise the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to make a statement. This 700-year-old landmark was a symbol of France, recognized worldwide. They planned to place the flag on the cathedral’s 94-meter-high spire.
Having never been to Notre Dame Cathedral before, the group studied its structure through books. Fortunately, they found an atlas with detailed diagrams of the cathedral, helping them identify a way to access the spire. Meanwhile, Bernard Bachelard’s wife sewed a 17.5-square-meter flag using silk fabric. Olivier noted that the flag’s size and material were carefully chosen to ensure it was thin, durable, light, and capable of fluttering well in the wind. They also devised a method for securing the flag during the climb while allowing it to unfurl with a single pull of a rope.
At 6 a.m. on January 18, the three left home in a car bound for Paris. By 6 p.m., when tourists had mostly left the area, they approached Notre Dame Cathedral.
Mr. Olivier Parriaux recounts the process of raising the flag on the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on the night of January 18, 1969. Photo: Lê Tuyết
All three were slim and experienced climbers from the Alps, Europe’s highest mountain range. Among them, Bernard, the smallest but most agile as a physical education teacher, was tasked with raising the flag, assisted by Olivier. Noé Graff remained below to keep watch.
Bernard led the climb, followed by Olivier. Starting from the base of a tree, they scaled the cathedral’s roof, passed one bell tower, and reached the central roof leading to the spire. To get to the top, they had to navigate four statues of apostles and continue climbing inside the tower.
Despite their research, differences between the atlas and reality posed unexpected dangers. The distance from the first bell tower to the roof edge was described as one meter but turned out to be 2.5-3 meters. The gap required a running start to jump, which was impossible on the cathedral roof.
Bernard jumped first, crossing smoothly. Olivier followed but slipped, grabbing onto the roof edge just in time. Bernard quickly helped him up. “We were 36 meters above the ground—a height that could have been fatal if we fell,” Olivier recalled.
Another unexpected challenge was the size of the statues. The atlas described them as two meters tall, but they were twice that size. Additionally, the steep roofs offered little to hold onto. It took nearly an hour to pass the statues.
“We moved very slowly because the structure, built centuries ago, was no longer stable,” Bernard recounted. The higher they climbed, the narrower the spire became, until only a tight embrace could encircle it near the cross. At this point, Olivier stopped while Bernard continued inching upward to secure the flag.
“Winter winds were strong, and being nearly 100 meters above ground without safety gear made the cold even harsher,” Bernard recalled. “Our hands ached from gripping the rings, and our faces were blackened by years of accumulated rust.” However, the moment the flag unfurled atop the spire, all hardships were forgotten. “All we felt was pure happiness,” he said.
On their way down, Olivier used a saw to cut away the metal bars they had climbed to reach the spire. “I cut about 10 meters of bars, enough to prevent anyone from climbing up to remove the flag quickly,” he explained.
The flag-raising mission was completed by 2 a.m. on January 19. The group then took their horse-drawn cart straight to the offices of Le Monde newspaper to deliver a press release announcing that the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was flying atop Notre Dame Cathedral.
However, their challenges were far from over. As they drove through a large square, they encountered a police patrol. “I thought all three of us would be arrested,” Olivier recalled. The situation in France was tense at the time, with local authorities actively cracking down on protesters.
“I was most worried for Bernard, as he worked for the government and was married, while Noé and I were just young bachelors,” Olivier said. Fortunately, when the police noticed their Swiss license plate, they smiled and waved them on, allowing the group to escape.
By 4 a.m., police near Notre Dame spotted the flag fluttering atop the spire and sounded the alarm. However, they were unable to climb the spire because Olivier had cut the access bars. It wasn’t until 3 p.m. that authorities brought in a helicopter to send personnel up to remove the flag.
Prof. Dr. Trinh Quang Phu, Director of the Oriental Development Research Institute, who was in Paris at the time as a journalist, recalled being deeply moved upon seeing the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam flying high.
“My colleagues and I, along with journalists from many countries, raised our cameras to capture the moment. It was truly special and filled with emotion. I wondered who the heroes behind this act were and where they came from,” Prof. Phu reminisced. The flag, fluttering in the wind, served as a rallying call for peace-loving people around the world to oppose the war.
While public opinion and the media were abuzz, the three Swiss men who raised the flag remained silent. According to Olivier, they initially kept their actions secret for safety reasons. Even after the U.S. withdrew its troops and peace was restored in Vietnam, the group refrained from speaking out, believing, “What we did was insignificant; what mattered was the impact of the event at the time.”
However, five years ago, when Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was devastated by a fire, the group was deeply moved as they watched the iconic spire burn and collapse into the flames. They felt compelled to share their story as part of the cathedral’s history. The group authored a book, Le Viet Cong au sommet de Notre-Dame (The Viet Cong Flag on the Spire of Notre Dame), detailing the event.
Fifty-five years later, at the invitation of Nguyễn Văn Nên, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee, two of the three men visited Vietnam—the country they had quietly supported and fought for in their own way.
“During our days here, visiting many places, we’ve realized how deeply the war’s aftermath still lingers,” Olivier said. He pointed out the continuing dangers of unexploded ordnance, which still claims lives, and the enduring impact of Agent Orange on people and Vietnam’s natural environment.
As a result, the group has committed to a new fight: advocating for justice for Agent Orange victims. They plan to support this cause by raising funds and seeking legal assistance for those affected.
While on-chain metrics show no uptick in Runes protocol on chain metrics as of Monday, these typically follow social activity and narratives, with prices leading afterward.
Bitcoin-based memecoins are gaining traction among some crypto traders on X as a beta bet on bitcoin (BTC) amid its surge to lifetime peaks, making the sector a hot narrative to watch for everyday traders.
Tokens such as PUPS, DOG•GO•TO•THE•MOON (DOG), BILLION•DOLLAR•CAT (BDC), MEME, among others, have gained as much as 35% in the past 24 hours to lead gains among all tracked categories, CoinGecko data shows. Smaller tokens such as CYPHER•GENESIS (CYPHER) has risen over 77%.
The market capitalization of Runes tokens, the protocol that supports these assets, have flipped BRC-20 (another Bitcoin-based protocol) in the past 24 hours, data shows.
Such moves came as BTC added more than 30% in the past 30 days on the back of Republican Donald Trump’s presidential election, boosting sentiment and growth across the sector for his pro-crypto stance.
Runes were created earlier in 2024 to facilitate the creation and management of fungible tokens on Bitcoin. Runes allow users to create fungible tokens, which are interchangeable digital assets similar to how Bitcoin itself or Ethereum’s ERC-20 tokens function.
These utilize Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs) model. Each UTXO can hold any amount of various Runes, making the management of tokens more aligned with Bitcoin’s native structure, potentially reducing network congestion caused by “junk” UTXOs from other token standards like BRC-20.
Data, however, show no uptick in Runes protocol on chain metrics as of Monday. Onchain metrics typically follow social activity and narratives, with prices leading afterward.
Beta bets are a way to gain exposure to a network, ecosystem or asset using related tokens. Since early 2023, memecoins have emerged as the preferred beta asset for various ecosystems, such as Ethereum or Solana, which has contributed to their appeal among investors.
Interest in memecoins generally comes amid low market volatility in more serious crypto sectors, such as layer-2s or storage, and rising negative sentiment around tokens backed by venture capital funds – which are increasingly perceived as overpriced and a bad bet for retail traders.
The focus on meme coins to bet on growth isn’t unique to Bitcoin. Several Solana-based meme coin tokens surged from December 2023 to March as the network’s SOL tokens took off – contributing to ecosystem growth and attention — while fuelling the mothership’s prices.
The issuance comes at a time when the European stablecoin market is poised for a shake-up as regulations for issuers will enter into full force by the end of this year.
As stablecoins gain traction, Netherlands-based fintech firm Quantoz aims to take a slice of the European market.
The company will issue the regulatory-compliant stablecoins pegged to the euro (EURQ) and U.S. dollar (USDQ) on the Ethereum blockchain. The tokens are fully backed by fiat reserves and highly-liquid financial instruments like government bonds, the firm said on Monday.
The firm has obtained the Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from the Dutch Central Bank, a necessary requirement for stablecoin issuers to operate in the EU. Quantoz has secured investments from venture capital firm Fabric Ventures, crypto exchange Kraken and stablecoin behemoth Tether, though it didn’t disclose the size of the fundraising round.
EURQ and USDQ will first be listed on Bitfinex and Kraken and available for trading to eligible users starting Thursday.
Stablecoins, are tokens pegged to fiat currencies, have grown to a $180 billion asset class within cryptocurrencies and are a key piece of infrastructure for the digital asset market. They serve as liquidity to buy and sell crypto on exchanges, and are getting increasingly popular for everyday payments and remittances due to cheaper and faster settlements on blockchains compared to traditional banking rails.
Quantoz’s rollout comes at a time as crypto businesses in the EU are in crunch time before region-wide rules (MiCA) to operate within the trading bloc will enter into full force by the end of this year. MiCA requires stablecoin issuers to get compliant or potentially retreat from the market of 450 million consumers as regulated players such as exchanges delist unauthorized tokens. While Circle, the company behind the $36 billion market cap USDC, said that it fulfilled the requirements to operate in the region Tether has been a vocal critic of the new rules and is yet to obtain the necessary licensing.
“There’s a gap in the stablecoin market here in Europe, and we see that as an opportunity,” Arnoud Star Busmann, CEO of the firm’s payments-focused subsidiary Quantoz Payments, said in an interview with CoinDesk. “We are confident that our tech and regulatory compliance put us in a good position to fill that gap, especially now that we have strong partners like Kraken and Tether.”
Stablecoins can be impactful in areas where traditional banking infrastructure falls short, such as high-volume, low-value transactions, Busmann said. “Imagine being able to move cash in and out of money market funds without the traditional delays of.
Quantoz also has a tokenization business, a red-hot trend in crypto of creating digital versions of traditional financial instruments such as bonds. Tokenized assets combined with stablecoins can also offer a more efficient way for businesses and institutions to manage their treasury, thanks to their near-instantaneous settlement instead of one or two days of delay, he explained.
“We are building an ecosystem that can support a wide range of use cases, from everyday payments to more complex financial transactions,” Busmann said.
On November 15 (Hanoi time), 127 contestants at Miss Universe competed in the semifinal event held at Arena CDMX, Mexico. The event opened with the National Costume round, with contestants walking in alphabetical order as the emcees introduced each unique costume and its inspiration.
Ky Duyen appeared near the end, wearing a traditional Nhat Binh robe adorned with intricate embroidery and glistening stones. Her costume unfolded into a striking “cocoon-to-butterfly” effect as she walked, symbolizing Ky Duyen’s transformative journey through life’s challenges toward a brighter future. Her performance drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
Ky Duyen’s costume presentation quickly went viral on Facebook, receiving praise for her poise and timing. Comments included, “Opening the umbrella just as they announced Vietnam – stunning!” and “After seeing others perform, Ky Duyen truly stood out.” Many praised the costume’s elegant, distinctive design, noting its balance of traditional Vietnamese identity and modern aesthetics. “It wasn’t overly elaborate but beautifully represented our heritage,” one fan remarked.
Designed by Dang Tran Tri with guidance from Nguyen Minh Cong, the “Ngoc Diep Ky Nam” outfit was inspired by the butterfly umbrella from Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty in the 20th century. This historical piece reflects the meticulous craftsmanship of past artisans, once used as wall decorations and symbols of longevity in noble households.
The costume features pink, purple, and blue hues, with butterfly patterns meticulously arranged across the wings to create a dynamic, moving canvas as Ky Duyen walked.
Ky Duyen shared that her vision for the costume involved three elements: celebrating Vietnamese culture, sharing a personal narrative, and capturing modern fashion. The team spent a week crafting the piece, mostly by hand. Ky Duyen packed the costume herself among other essentials for her journey at the end of October. On November 9, she briefly lost the costume while traveling but recovered it within two days.
Vietnam has a history of making a memorable impact in the National Costume round with creative costumes such as the “Banh Mi” (H’Hen Nie – 2018) and “Vietnamese Iced Coffee” (Hoang Thuy – 2019).
The group of 10 international tourist markets to Vietnam in the first 10 months of 2024 has seen changes, with South Korea becoming the largest sending country.
According to the National Tourism Administration, in the past 10 months, there were more than 14.1 million international visitors to Vietnam, an increase of 41.3% over the same period last year. In October 2024 alone, Vietnam welcomed 1.42 million international visitors.
In terms of market size, Asia contributes nearly 80% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam. The four major markets in Northeast Asia, including China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, contribute nearly 60%.
Among the 10 largest markets for Vietnamese tourism, South Korea is the largest market sending visitors with 3.7 million arrivals (accounting for 26.4%), surpassing China in second place, reaching 3 million arrivals (accounting for 21.3%). Visitors from Taiwan ranked third (1 million arrivals), the US ranked fourth (637,000 arrivals), and Japan ranked fifth (585,000 arrivals). Followed by Australia, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand.
The National Tourism Administration said that major markets in Northeast Asia were the main drivers of the growth in international arrivals. In particular, the Chinese market increased by 130.4% compared to the same period in 2023, followed by South Korea (up 28.5%), Japan (up 24.8%), and Taiwan (up 59.4%).
Nearby markets in Southeast Asia grew well, including Indonesia (85.5%), Philippines (64.5%), Laos (13.9%), Cambodia (12.1%), Malaysia (5.5%), Singapore (4.7%).
Many European tourist markets have grown well, especially those markets that enjoy a unilateral visa exemption policy to enter Vietnam with a temporary stay of up to 45 days, effective from August 15, 2023. Specifically, Italy increased by 54.5%, France (30.5%), Germany (23.6%), Spain (23.3%), UK (20.4%) or Russia (81.5%)…
The National Tourism Administration expects that, with the motivation from the open visa policy, along with the vibrant promotion and advertising activities in the last months of the year, the number of international visitors to Vietnam will continue to grow positively in the coming time.
Dr Sreenivas Tirumala, a senior lecturer of Information Technology at RMIT University Vietnam, previews some notable impacts that the second Trump administration might have on the digital and technological development of Vietnam.
The cooperation of the US is necessary for most developing countries, including Vietnam, to advance in science and technology, due to the huge capabilities and influence the US boasts in these domains. However, recent reports indicate that President-elect Donald Trump is coming up with stringent technology export policies that might impact Vietnam’s technological advances, particularly with artificial intelligence and cyber security.
Though the likelihood of continuing the technological cooperation agreements signed by businesses from both countries in September 2024 is high, the new policies around ‘America First’ – emphasising design, development and manufacturing in America – may impact technology transfer through offshore technological and services industries that are planning to invest in Vietnam.
Cyber security cooperation: What is expected?
Vietnam is an important partner for the US due to its strategic location. This implies that Vietnam will not have to be “self-reliant” when it comes to cyber security, which is one of the biggest problems that the country is facing.
The US can provide the necessary technologies to help Vietnam tackle this threat, which could help the US monitor various common threat actors. As decentralised cyber resilience networks are emerging, the US may consider investing in cooperation with Vietnam.
Cooperation for digital transformation: This is the right time.
Digital transformation is progressing at a good pace in Vietnam, including in e-government development. However, several areas still need automation, particularly in service industries, which US tech giants like Microsoft would be interested in pursuing.
While key fields like agriculture, manufacturing, and oil and gas could be improved through digital transformation, cooperation in these areas seems unlikely due to the in-country manufacturing and ‘Drill, baby, drill’ policies of Donald Trump, which encourage American companies to move back to the US or start new manufacturing domestically. Therefore, minimal, if any, support is expected in these areas in terms of technology transfers.
Artificial intelligence for social causes: An emerging area of partnership
The US has been a world leader in technological advancements, particularly artificial Intelligence (AI). As Vietnam is an emerging nation in AI, technological cooperation and transfer are very important. There is no specific mention of AI-based implementations or support in Donald Trump’s policies. However, recent developments in other technological cooperation suggest that the US may be interested in investing (and testing) their AI-based technologies for disaster management and natural calamities in Vietnam.
Seeking support in areas like air pollution and weather forecasting will be a win-win for both the US and Vietnam. The US would have the opportunity to test their new equipment and AI-based models in Vietnam before implementing them on a large scale back home.
However, given Donald Trump’s stance on climate change, the implications for cooperation in this arena remain uncertain.
In conclusion, considering past experiences along with the current stance of President-elect Donald Trump, a positive trend towards technology and knowledge sharing is expected, despite some potential limitations.
Story: Dr Sreenivas Tirumala, Senior Lecturer of Information Technology, RMIT University Vietnam
The co-head of the Ministry of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, is famous for his aggressive cost-cutting policies at his private companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and X. President-elect Donald Trump invited Elon Musk to co-lead the Ministry of Government Efficiency alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to reduce government spending.
At companies like X, Tesla, and SpaceX, Musk is renowned for his rigorous work culture and drastic cost-cutting measures.
A long-time executive at Tesla, who resigned in August, wrote on LinkedIn that working there was an “extraordinary” experience but “not for the faint-hearted.”
Ending Remote Work and Free Lunches
A few weeks after acquiring Twitter (now X), Musk sent an email at 2:30 AM in November 2022, announcing the end of remote work because “the road ahead is arduous and requires intense work to succeed.”
He also required employees to pay for previously free office lunches, mentioning an 80-hour work week.
That same month, Musk laid off about half of Twitter’s approximately 7,500 employees.
In a midnight email, he gave the remaining employees an ultimatum: work diligently or be fired with three months’ severance.
When Twitter employees criticized Musk online and in internal Slack messages, he fired them.
Firing 10% of Tesla Staff at Midnight
Tesla’s employee handbook sets very high standards, requiring self-reliance and doing whatever it takes to solve problems, even directly contacting Musk.
“Your number one job—and everyone’s—is to make this company successful… If you see an opportunity to improve how we work, speak up, even if it’s outside your responsibility… Good ideas mean nothing if kept to yourself,” the Tesla handbook reads.
In 2018, Musk said he slept on a couch and the factory floor at Tesla for many nights as the company ramped up production of the Model 3 sedan. He explained that he wanted to suffer more than anyone else in the company.
At the 2022 Baron Investment Conference, Musk shared that he lived at Tesla’s factories in California and Nevada “for three consecutive years” to inspire employees to “give their all” and show them that he was also working hard.
In April, Tesla announced the layoff of 10% of its workforce to cut costs in a midnight email. This followed a report of an 8.7% year-over-year revenue decline.
Firing SpaceX Employees to Streamline Operations
In 2019, Musk laid off 10% of SpaceX employees in an effort to “become a leaner company.”
Vincent Peters, a former SpaceX employee, described the work culture there as “ruthlessly efficient,” where people are encouraged to leave meetings where they do not add value.
He recounted an incident where a government customer brought a 50-slide presentation, and after just 6 slides, 75% of the room had left. The customer then had to “fast-forward” to the last 5 slides.
Jim Cantrell, former Vice President of Business Development at SpaceX in the early 2000s, said that working with Musk could be a great experience if one shared his vision and could handle a boss who demands complete dedication.
Additionally, SpaceX has been striving to develop a fully reusable rocket system to reduce launch costs by a factor of ten.
In October, during the fifth test flight of the Starship rocket, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch site, marking a significant step in reducing space travel costs.
The European Union fined Meta 797.72 million EUR (approximately 840 million USD) for tying Marketplace to Facebook, imposing unfair trading conditions on competitors.
On November 14, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager stated that by linking Facebook to Marketplace, Meta “imposed unfair trading conditions” on other providers.
She added that Facebook’s parent company did this to profit from the Marketplace service, providing advantages that others could not match. “This is illegal,” she asserted.
Meta announced that it would appeal the decision, arguing that “the European Commission’s decision does not provide evidence of competitive harm to rivals or any harm to consumers.”
The EU’s prolonged antitrust investigation into Meta was launched in 2019 following allegations from competitors that the American tech giant was abusing its dominance by offering free services while profiting from the data collected on the platform.
In December 2022, the European Commission issued initial charges against Facebook for using data collected for free—mainly from businesses—and then selling advertisements to users, violating antitrust laws.
This is one of the final investigations overseen by Ms. Vestager, who will leave the commission in a few weeks after a decade in office.
During her tenure, Ms. Vestager has repeatedly targeted some of the world’s largest tech companies, such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
The European Commission determined that Meta “dominates the personal social networking market (…) as well as the national market for online social media display advertising.”
Facebook Marketplace, launched in 2016, is a popular platform for buying and selling secondhand goods, especially household items like furniture. Meta argues that their operating environment is highly competitive.
The company lists platforms like eBay, Leboncoin in France, and Marktplaats in the Netherlands as “formidable competitors.”
Meta has faced billions of dollars in fines in Europe for various violations in recent years. In September, the company was fined over $100 million for a security breach that exposed user passwords.
In January 2023, the company was fined over $400 million for several violations. In May 2023, Facebook’s owner was fined over $1 billion for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
However, these cases often take years to conclude, and Meta is in the process of appealing these fines.
Yet, there have been times when Meta had to concede. In the U.S., the company reached a settlement with the FTC in 2019, paying a $5 billion fine and implementing new privacy regulations.
The EU announced the fine against Meta amid a power transition in both the U.S. and Europe.
Over the past five years, EU regulators have passed a landmark law—the Digital Markets Act—aimed at curbing Big Tech and boosting the local tech industry.
However, some observers expect the new commission, set to begin its five-year term in a few weeks, to adopt a more conciliatory tone amid concerns of retaliation from the Donald Trump administration.
Faced with a slowing business situation, the Chairman of LVMH decided to rejuvenate the executive team, promoting his children to more important positions.
On November 14, LVMH announced a series of important changes in the executive board. Accordingly, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jean-Jacques Guiony will be transferred to the position of Director of the Wine and Spirits Division from February 1, 2025, replacing Philippe Schaus, who will leave the group after 21 years of service.
Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault also appointed Alexandre Arnault as vice president of the division. The 32-year-old is one of the billionaire’s five children and is vice president of Tiffany & Co., headquartered in the United States.
Alexandre Arnault was appointed in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as president. He is known to have close ties to the Trump family and was invited to dinner with his wife, Geraldine, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last year. “He is a very promising young man, the son of one of the great businessmen and leaders in Europe and the world,” Trump tweeted in February 2023.
The trend of rejuvenating the executive board and consolidating the power of his children has been implemented by billionaire Bernard Arnault recently. To date, 4 out of his 5 children hold important positions.
Specifically, Delphine Arnault, 49, is the President of Dior, the group’s second largest brand. Antoine Arnault, 47, is the Director of Image and Environment. While Frédéric Arnault is currently the CEO of LVMH’s watch division at the age of 30, and Jean Arnault, 26, is the CEO of Louis Vuitton’s watch division.
Alexandre Arnault, 32, who was recently appointed as deputy general director of the wine and spirits division, is said to have many opportunities and challenges. Because he has to co-lead the group’s weakest division.
LVMH’s wine and spirits sales fell 8% in the first nine months of the year, hit by a sharp slowdown in demand in its two key markets, the US and China. Alexandre knows the US market well and has a good relationship with Trump, but he will have a headache in China, with Beijing imposing tariffs on European spirits.
In addition, Alexandre Arnault will move to manage a business with extensive operations, from vineyards to distilleries, with a large and unionized workforce, requiring more direct management skills than the fashion and watch brand CEO positions that his brothers and sisters are currently holding.
Along with the changes to the wine division, LVMH also confirmed the departure of Chantal Gaemperlé, who had been its human resources director for the past 17 years. According to La Lettre on November 7, Gaemperlé was suspended due to an internal investigation into the accumulation of “material benefits” from subsidiaries. Maud Alvarez-Pereyre, currently the director of talent and transformation, will replace Gaemperlé.
The changes come just weeks after Chris de Lapuente, executive board member and CEO of select distribution — which includes Sephora, Le Bon Marché and duty-free — announced his retirement. LVMH’s deputy CEO position was also rejuvenated in March, with Stéphane Bianchi, 59, replacing Antonio Belloni, 70.
The sweeping reshuffle of the group’s 70 luxury brands comes amid a sluggish business environment. The global luxury market is worth $386 billion and is expected to shrink by 2% this year, according to consultancy Bain & Company, as rising prices and economic uncertainty have shrunk the customer base from 400 million to 350 million.
Bain estimates that sales in China will fall by 20-22%, factoring in currency fluctuations, a blow to luxury brands after years of booming growth in the world’s second-largest economy, thanks to a growing upper and middle class.
“This is the first time the luxury sector has declined since the 2008-2009 crisis, excluding the pandemic,” said Federica Levato, an expert at Bain. Investors fear the recession will be longer and more severe than expected. LVMH shares fell nearly 19% at the end of the year on November 15.
LVMH’s third-quarter revenue fell 3%, its first decline since the pandemic, to $20.8 billion. Sales of its fashion and leather goods division, which includes brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior, fell 5%, compared with a forecast for a 4% increase. This was the first decline since 2020.
In terms of markets, sales in Asia (excluding Japan) fell 16%, worse than the 14% decline in the second quarter, as purchasing power in China continued to be affected by the real estate crisis. According to LVMH, consumer confidence in the country has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic.
Also on November 15, DFS Group, a retailer owned by LVMH, announced that it would close its operations at the historic Fondaco dei Tedeschi building in Venice, Italy, resulting in the layoff of more than 220 employees. Over the past five years, the store has lost $105.36 million due to Covid and a decrease in Asian customers.
“This difficult decision is part of a global restructuring driven by the challenging economic climate and uncertain outlook facing DFS and the travel retail industry worldwide, particularly the poor performance of the Venice store,” DFS said in a statement. Another of the company’s stores, located near the famous Rialto Bridge, whose lease expires in September 2025, will also not be renewed.
According to Bain, the luxury goods industry is expected to grow between 0% and 4% in 2025, supported by sales in Europe and the Americas, while China is expected to recover in the second half of next year. Levato said that Mr. Trump’s victory and the possibility of tax cuts could encourage Americans to spend more.
In addition, the market’s growth prospects also depend on the strategies that brands choose, including pricing strategies. One sign that high prices are holding back consumers is that outlet stores (genuine brands that are discounted due to being out of season, in stock or having minor defects) are outperforming thanks to the trend of finding products at low prices.
Source: vnexpress.net – Phien An ( according to Reuters, Le Monde )
Cold air moving down to the North will cause temperatures in mountainous areas to drop to freezing levels, while in the plains the lowest temperature will be 18-20 degrees Celsius.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that around the afternoon and night of November 17, cold air will affect the Northeast region and then expand to the plains and Northwest.
The American website Accuweather predicts that tomorrow Hanoi will drop about 3 degrees compared to today, down to 21-30 degrees Celsius, and by mid-week the daily temperature will fluctuate between 19-28 degrees. High points over 1,500 meters above sea level such as Sa Pa (Lao Cai) will have 14-22 degrees at the beginning of the week, and by the end of the week it will drop to the freezing threshold (average daily temperature below 13 degrees) from 9-15 degrees Celsius.
The North Central provinces will also be affected by this cold air mass with common temperatures of 18-20 degrees, and in mountainous areas below 15 degrees.
In addition, the cold air will also cause strong northeast winds of level 3 on land and level 4 in coastal areas. At sea, from tomorrow, strong winds of level 6, gusts of level 7-8, waves 2-4 m high. In the North East Sea, strong winds of level 6-7, gusts of level 8-9, waves 3-5 m high.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Head of Weather Forecasting Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the reason why the temperature in the North remains high after the beginning of winter is due to the weakening of cold air mass and the appearance of divergent wind fields, creating conditions for prolonged heat.
It is forecasted that in the main winter months, from December 2024 to February 2025, the average temperature across the country will generally be approximately the same as the average for the same period in many years. In December 2024, the Northwest, Central and South Central regions will be 0.5-1 degrees Celsius higher.
Cold air causing widespread severe cold in the North is likely to appear from the second half of December and be active until February 2025. The meteorological agency recommends that people should be on guard against the possibility of prolonged severe cold spells, especially in the northern mountainous areas, accompanied by frost and ice.
There are more than two months until Tet but the airline ticket market is quite quiet, many busy flights every year still have tickets available.
At this time of year, many flights are sold out early. But this year’s survey shows that there is an abundance of tickets, with only a few flights on the peak days of the 4th and 5th of the first lunar month recording temporary sellouts.
The family of Ms. Hoang Anh, communications director of a consumer goods company in Ho Chi Minh City, usually books flight tickets in early September to return home early to prepare for Tet. However, this year, due to financial pressure, the whole family is still considering.
In a similar situation, Mr. Thanh, a delivery man in Ho Chi Minh City, said that instead of flying like every year, he switched to a bus to save half the cost.
Up to now, the “golden” routes such as Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi, Da Nang, Vinh still have tickets with round-trip prices ranging from 5.7 to 7.4 million VND (including taxes and fees). Routes to the Central region such as Ho Chi Minh City – Chu Lai, Hue, Dong Hoi only sold out on the 4th and 5th days of Tet (February 1 and 2).
On flights to popular tourist destinations such as Nha Trang, Phu Quoc or Con Dao, where tickets are usually sold out early in the year, this year there are still many options with flexible schedules. Round-trip tickets cost only 2.6 to 3.6 million VND – not much different from normal days and even lower than the same period last year.
According to Ms. Pham Thi Huong, the owner of an agency in Tan Binh District (HCMC), this is a particularly difficult year for the airline ticket industry. “Last year, I had to pay half a billion VND in advance to hold tickets for sale, but this year the number of customers has decreased sharply. I only issue tickets when customers book,” Ms. Huong said. Over the past month, the number of customers booking Tet tickets at Ms. Huong’s agency has decreased by about 30% compared to the same period last year.
Not only the agents, but also the airlines themselves have clearly felt the decline in purchasing power. All airlines said that ticket sales are slower than in previous years. A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the airline will continue to increase flights and add tickets to niche routes to ensure supply to the market. To meet the demand during the peak Tet holiday, Vietnam Airlines plans to rent 4 more planes, adding nearly 130,000 seats.
Particularly for tourist routes such as Con Dao and Phu Quoc, all airlines have recorded lower demand, partly due to recent natural disasters and economic impacts, which have reduced the number of tourists from the North going to the festival at the beginning of the year.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, domestic airlines will offer more than 5 million tickets during this time, of which Vietnam Airlines will sell more than 2.5 million tickets, Vietjet Air will sell 2.6 million tickets early and Bamboo Airways has also started a similar plan. However, ticket prices this year are higher than the same period last year due to escalating input costs and limited aircraft supply.
The agency will continue to closely monitor ticket bookings and price developments to direct airlines to add capacity when necessary, ensuring good service for travel needs during the 2025 Lunar New Year. However, with the current low purchasing power, the picture of the Tet air ticket market this year is clearly reflecting economic challenges and changes in people’s consumer behavior.
With 14.5 million followers on TikTok, Mr. Trump has said he would not ban the app, but the political and legal hurdles to fulfilling that promise are quite high.
After Donald Trump was elected President of the United States last week, tech CEOs such as Apple’s Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) all publicly congratulated him.
However, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has remained silent. According to CNBC , this is noteworthy because among the leading technology companies, TikTok faces the risk of being banned from operating in the US.
In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations by January 19 or face being banned. The move was met with bipartisan support.
Now, Trump’s return to the White House could provide a “lifeline” for the platform, according to CNBC . Trump began cozying up to the social network after meeting billionaire Jeff Yass in February, a major Republican donor and ByteDance investor.
Yass personally and his company Susquehanna International Group own 7% and 15% of ByteDance shares respectively, worth a total of $21 billion.
Mr. Trump launched his TikTok account in June and has amassed more than 14.5 million followers. During his campaign, he used the app’s uncertain future in the United States to rally voters. “We have no intention of doing anything to TikTok, but the opposition will shut it down. So if you like the app, vote for Trump,” he wrote on the social network Truth Social in September.
He has not publicly discussed his plans for TikTok since his election, but transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the new president will deliver on his promises. “The American people re-elected President Trump by a wide margin, giving him the authority to deliver on his campaign promises,” she said.
The Washington Post ’s own sources said the president is expected to try to block the TikTok ban after taking office. Given his experience with social media, Trump may not want to make a decision that would cause him to lose the attention and influence he has built on TikTok, Long Le, a China business expert at Santa Clara University, said.
However, some other experts say that trying to lift the ban could carry political risks for Trump, as he could be seen as being friendly to China, in contrast to the confrontational tone he adopted during his campaign. “This is a political issue,” noted James Lewis, a data privacy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Maintaining the TikTok ban could help Trump score points with lawmakers concerned about China’s global political and economic influence, said Milton Mueller, a professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy. “I don’t think he’ll score big points if he defends TikTok,” Mueller said.
In the scenario of wanting to throw a “lifebuoy”, Trump also cannot do it easily because he faces significant political and legal challenges, according to ABC News . The outcome may depend on support from a series of major congressional organizations and the Supreme Court to technology corporations such as Google and Oracle.
Specifically, the easiest way to reverse the policy is from Congress. To do so, both houses would need to vote to overturn Mr. Biden’s bill and send it to Trump for his signature. “The easiest way is to ask Congress to overturn the ban,” said Anupam Chander, a professor of law and technology at Georgetown University.
However, he noted that this is not an easy path. Seven months ago, the ban passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 352-65. In the Senate, 79 members voted in favor, compared to 18 against and 3 abstentions.
The second way is to bypass Congress, instead seeking to “buy time” in a lawsuit against the law that TikTok has filed and is being considered by a three-judge panel on the DC Court of Appeals (the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, one of 13 US federal appeals courts).
Even if the DC Court of Appeals rules against TikTok, it can still appeal and take the case to the Supreme Court before the ban goes into effect. The Supreme Court could decide that the case merits a stay, potentially throwing out the ban altogether. “The Supreme Court may want to consider this,” predicts Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota.
Alternatively, rather than repealing the law or relying on court intervention, Mr. Trump could turn to the Justice Department, which could theoretically choose not to enforce the law under his administration, reassuring companies like Apple and Oracle that they would not face prosecution if they violated it, such as allowing TikTok to be downloaded and installed.
Or the Trump administration could come up with a more flexible interpretation of the ban that would allow it to conclude that TikTok has complied with the requirement to separate from parent company ByteDance. Cornell University professor Sarah Kreps said Trump could choose to propose “selective enforcement” that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US without being penalized.
But if Trump chooses not to enforce it, that still won’t be enough. Companies like Apple and Oracle could decide to stick with the ban anyway, since they’re taking legal risks if the White House changes course, Rozenshtein said. “Trump is pretty unpredictable. If you’re Apple’s legal counsel, do you really want that risk hanging over your head?” he said.
The final option is to play matchmaker. Mr Trump could try to find a US investor to buy TikTok , helping the platform avoid a ban. But time is running out for such a large transaction. The law allows for a 90-day extension to sell TikTok, as long as the company is negotiating a deal. In that case, the deadline would be pushed back to April 2025. But the catch with this option is that TikTok has shown little interest and China has been opposed from the start.
For his part, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has remained silent before and after Trump’s victory. According to Long Le, the platform may be taking a neutral approach and a wait-and-see strategy.
Source: vnexpress.net – Phien An ( according to CNBC, ABC News )
