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The same-sex couple on Vietnam’s ‘The Bachelor’ explains how they secretly fell in love.

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In 22 seasons of “The Bachelor” and 14 seasons of “The Bachelorette,” we’ve yet to see a season centered around a same-sex couple. When Elan Gale, an executive producer for the ABC shows, was asked this year if an LGBT season might be coming soon, he didn’t rule it out but didn’t commit to the idea, either, saying: “We’ll see what the future holds.”

According to an interview by Solo-ish on The Washington Post, there’s been at least one bisexual contestant on “The Bachelor,” but two same-sex contestants have never ended up together. However, it’s happened in Vietnam. This fall on the country’s Bachelor show, contestant Minh Thu told the male lead that she’s found love but not with him — with fellow contestant Truc Nhu. In an emotional rose ceremony, Minh Thu asked Truc Nhu to come home with her.

Truc stayed on the show a little longer, but once she was eliminated, she got together with Minh. Solo-ish asked the couple about their relationship, which they discussed through the help of a translator. The following exchange has been edited for clarity and length.

Solo-ish: Minh Thu, what was the moment you realized you had feelings for Truc Nhu?

Minh Thu: At the end of the second episode, Truc Nhu was the last person to get her name called for a rose. I was worried she was going to be eliminated, and I realized I didn’t want to be far from her. After that, my feelings started to seem like something more.

During Episode 3, the other people on the show joked that Truc Nhu might be up for elimination again. Before we started filming that day, I cried a lot. I asked myself why was I crying so much. After that, I gradually was able to understand what my feelings were.

Solo-ish: Truc Nhu, how did you feel when Minh Thu confessed her feelings for you? Were you surprised?

Truc Nhu: I was surprised. I didn’t know if Minh Thu had thoughtfully reflected. Did she really like me, or was she doing something to make the show exciting?

But when I saw her face looking back at me, her expression was so true. Actually, during that time [when Minh Thu was talking to the Bachelor], I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I just knew that Minh Thu wanted me to go home with her. I was surprised she was daring enough to say that on TV. It’s like she wasn’t afraid of what people would say.

Solo-ish: Tell me how your love blossomed on the show.

Truc Nhu: When the show started filming, we were assigned to the same room. When I looked through the door’s peephole and saw Minh Thu waiting outside, her expression seemed snobby. I let her knock three times before I let her in. Minh Thu was very adorable and polite when speaking to me. I was a bit more guarded and cold at first.

After we finished filming the second episode where I was the last one called for a rose and almost eliminated, I looked back at the rest of the contestants almost in a way of saying, “It was great to know all of you. Now it’s my time to leave.” I saw Minh Thu, and her eyes were shaking with tears because she was scared I would leave. It made me wonder why she was so worried and sad about me being eliminated. When the results came and I wasn’t eliminated, I went downstairs, and she was waiting for me so that we could go back together.

Minh Thu: Everyone had already left. That was about 2 in the morning.

Truc Nhu: That’s right, at that time you must have been so tired. That’s when you’re supposed to go home, brush your teeth, change clothes, to go to bed, etc., since there was only one bathroom. Even with that, Minh Thu was still waiting for me.

For Episode 3, some of the cast said that they’d thought I’d probably be eliminated in this episode. Minh Thu was crying —

Minh Thu: Like rain.

Truc Nhu: It was about that time where we started to realize there were feelings, even though we didn’t quite know how to express it. We would often talk by the beach near where we were staying. We talked about what we wanted for our futures, what kind of jobs we were interested in. Eventually feelings gradually grew until the episode where Minh Thu confessed how she felt.

Solo-ish: Would you like to see a same-sex Bachelor show in Vietnam? What do you think it will take to get to that moment?

Minh Thu: Whether we would like to see it or not isn’t what is important. What’s important is whether Vietnamese audiences would accept it. Currently, we’ve experienced some acceptance for our story in Vietnam, but the support hasn’t nearly been as open as it has been internationally. Vietnam is gradually becoming more accepting, but it will take some time to become ready for an LGBT show like that. In a few generations, this would be acceptable.

Solo-ish: What is your relationship like off the show?

Minh Thu: We’ve been together about three months and moved in together a month ago.

Truc Nhu: Our relationship is gradually growing. We’re trying to get to know each other more carefully, where we can support each other in ways where the other person may be lacking. We believe that maybe you can’t guarantee that something will last forever, but day by day we are trying to firmly build something together. We can’t just rush it like we’ve done in previous relationships. With us, right now, we value having strong communication …

Minh Thu: … and being honest to each other.

Truc Nhu: We usually go through three or four phases in love: Falling in love madly; second, we start having issues, arguments and things would keep getting worse after that; lastly, we could either overcome it and live happily, or we fail. For us, we want to take it carefully from the beginning.

Solo-ish: In the United States, “Bachelor” couples often find their relationships to be difficult once the cameras are gone. Has it been hard or easy in ways that have surprised you?

Minh Thu: It’s really after the show when you’re back to real life, that you truly start to know and understand each other. However, you’re still in the public eye, and having people care about your relationship after the show and paying attention to you, which can be troublesome. It can be hard, because everyone is going to have an opinion on your relationship. If you spend your time focusing on that — what people are thinking about you, how they see you — instead of just living your life, then it’s difficult. However, if you take the time to instead focus on yourself, what your feelings are, it gets easier.

Truc Nhu: To be honest, I don’t see many difficulties for us. If there’s any challenges, we’re able to mentally overcome it and move past it quickly.

Solo-ish: I understand this is the first same-sex relationship for both of you. Tell me what that’s been like.

Minh Thu: It’s different compared to our past relationships. For example, I think there are some general differences about how men’s minds and women’s minds function when it comes to relationships. In general, as a woman I feel like I’m very aware of everything, and am independent and can handle many things on my own. However, men typically feel a greater need to be seen as the conqueror, to play the role of the hero or the strong one in order for their feelings to develop. That’s just too many rules for me. With our current relationship, it’s much easier and clearer. I can express my feelings better, and I can just do whatever I want without trying to overthink it.

Truc Nhu: It’s like I have found my little twin sister.

Minh Thu: It’s been more comfortable. Since both of us are women, we understand each other better.

Read full article on WashingtonPost.com

Vietnamese students in the United States increase for 17th straight year

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According to Dtinews, the number of Vietnamese students in the United States has increased consistently for 17 straight years, according to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual “Open Doors” Report.

The report for the 2017-2018 academic year (AY) shows that Vietnam remains the sixth leading country of origin for all international students in the United States, with 24,325 students, up 1,887 students since last AY 2016-17, an 8.4 percent increase. The data shows that 1,094,792 international students came to the United States in the 2017-2018 AY, a 1.5 percent increase over last year. International students now make up 5.5 percent of all higher education students in the United States, up slightly from 5.3 percent last year. Vietnamese students contribute $881,000,000 to the U.S. economy.

Of the 24,325 Vietnamese students in the United States, 69.6 percent were undergraduates, 15.2 percent were graduate level students, 8.6 percent enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the remaining 6.6 percent were pursuing non-degree programs.

Engineering, Business and Management, and Math and Computer Science remain the top selected fields of study by international students in AY2017-18. Math and Computer Science were the fastest growing fields of study with an increase of 11.3 percent from AY 2016-17, followed by Legal Studies and Law Enforcement with an increase of 10.4 percent from AY 2016-17. The top 10 states for international students include California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

The data also revealed that Vietnam is becoming a more popular destination for American students. In AY2016-17, Vietnam welcomed 1,147 students from the United States, an increase of 13.3 percent. Open Doors report is released annually during the International Education Week (IEW), a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi is celebrating IEW 2018 with an open house and various information sessions in Hanoi, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri provinces to promote study in the United States, provide information on student visas and U.S. government scholarship opportunities, reaching approximately 400 students and teachers in person, and around 1,200 online.

The U.S Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is marking IEW 2018 with a series of activities in Hue and at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City. The “American Roadtrip” at Hue University and Quoc Hoc High School is helping to advise students on U.S. exchange programs, study in the United States, student visas, and soft-skill development. At the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City, an information session on November 15 at 2:00 pm will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed on standardized tests required for university entrance. A panel discussion with senior international banking executives on November 16 at 2:00 pm will help parents navigate the financial aspects of supporting their children’s overseas education.

One dead as car hits four motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City

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One person was killed while many others were injured after a seven-seater car slammed into multiple motorbikes on a street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, on Tuesday.

The accident happened at around 6:00 pm on Nguyen Huu Tho Street.

The car, whose driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, first hit a couple on a motorbike, before plowing into three other motorcyles, according to eyewitnesses.

Le Tuan Thong, 45, one of the victims, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper he was carrying his wife on their motorbike, heading from Kenh Te Bridge to Nguyen Van Linh, when the seven-seater car crashed them from behind, throwing both of them to the street.

The vehicle continued to mount the sidewalk and only came to a complete halt when it plunged into a nearby dry canal.

An unidentified man died on the spot after the accident, whereas some four others were severely injured.

Police had to block part of Nguyen Huu Tho Street and are investigating the cause of the accident.

Son Luong report on Tuoitrenews

How to port your Vietnamese phone number to another network operator

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As Vietnam is all set for the official launch of mobile number portability (MNP) on Friday this week, the communications ministry on Tuesday released instructions on how to transfer phone numbers from one carrier to another.

In the first three months from November 16, three major mobile network operators in Vietnam – Viettel, VinaPhone and MobiFone – will offer the service to post-paid subscribers to test its impact on the telecoms market.

In the first quarter of 2019, the service will be rolled out for prepaid subscribers of the three operators as well as those of Hong Kong-invested Vietnamobile.

Meanwhile, Gtel, a mobile network operator owned by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, has not announced any plans to offer MNP to its subscribers.

Once the service is launched on Friday, mobile users who wish to transfer their phone number to another network can register for the switch at any office of their current operator.

The transfer fee is limited to no more than VND60,000 (US$2.60), and customers will receive a blank SIM card after paying for the service.

They must then initiate the number porting process by texting ‘YCCM’ to 1441 with their current SIM card.

A text message will be sent to the user’s mobile phone confirming the initiation. If they wish to abort the transfer at this stage, simply text ‘HUYCM’ to 1441.

To complete the process, the user can insert the blank SIM card into their mobile phone, upon which they should receive a text message announcing that the transfer has been successful.

The entire procedure should take less than 24 hours, with no more than one hour of interruption during which the phone number cannot be reached, according to a Ministry of Information and Communications official.

In reality, users should expect the interruption to last for only a few seconds in the majority of cases, the official added.

There will be no limit on the number of times a mobile user can port their number to a different network, but there is a 90-day interval between the two changes.

“We expect a surge in the number of applications for mobile number portability in the first few days of rolling out the service, but the demand will likely level out after a while,” said Pham Hong Hai, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications.

Tuan Son report on Tuoitrenews

Former Mobifone directors arrested over AVG purchase

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Mobifone’s former director and deputy director have been arrested for wrongdoings over the loss-making purchase of the Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG).

The investigation over the AVG purchase is being expanded after the Government Inspectorate’s proposal to prosecute those who are involved in the purchase was approved in July in accordance with the anti-corruption directives.

The Ministry of Public Security announced that the investigators had found evidence and arrested Cao Duy Hai, former director of Mobifone, for violating regulations on the management and use of state capital.

Pham Thi Phuong Anh, former deputy director of Mobifone, was also arrested.

In August 2016, the Government Inspectorate was asked to investigate the acquisition of AVG by Mobifone and announced that they had found many violations. Mobifone and AVG agreed to cancel the deal and refund the amount received in the VND8.89trn (USD395m) failed acquisition. The deadline was over but Mobifone had only paid 95% of the acquisition.

AVG has faced continued difficulties since it was established. In 2015, it accumulated a loss of more than VND1.6trn (USD70m), 45% of its charter capital. When proposing to buy 95% of AVG’s shares, Mobifone omitted the financial difficulties and failed to follow the bidding procedures in choosing consultants for the case.

It was concluded that Mobifone, the Ministry of Information and Communication, and related agencies had committed many violations in assessing AVG’s financial situation and choosing consultants, allegedly leading to state budget losses of VND7trn (USD308m).

On August 21, the Ministry of Information and Communication announced that Cao Duy Hai had been fired over the violations. Pham Thi Phuong Anh was reprimanded in the same months for being irresponsible by the Party Committee of the Centrally-run Businesses’ Sector.

Source: Dtinews

Crippled youth goes the extra mile to help an old man

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Finding an old man wallowing in his own filth, a young man with an amputated leg stepped in to help.
His stomach heaved and his heart broke.

Luu Nguyen could not hold back his tears as he beheld the sight before him.

It stank badly. An old man was curled up on a filthy cot. The floor was dirty with urine and feces. A piece of bread mixed with cat poop.

“I had smelt something unpleasant on the second day I got here. When I remarked on it, my teacher said it came from a lonely old man next door.”

Luu decided to call on the old man and the filth and stink that greeted him was overwhelming.

Over the next two nights, he stayed in bed, thinking about what had happened to him threes year earlier.

Personal tragedy

On September 12, 2016, when Luu, then 20, was working for a jewelery store in Ho Chi Minh City, he was hit by a 7-seater car.

“I begged the couple and their two children in that car to take me to the hospital, but they just looked at each other with fear. I begged the crowd as well, but they just looked away and avoided me. Fifteen minutes later, as I became desperate, a waiter working for a nearby restaurant took me to the hospital in a taxi. Until now, I don’t know who he was, so I can thank him.”

Badly injured, a major part of his left leg had to be amputated. Luu cried for hours in the operating room. Finally, he came to terms with his fate as his karma. After the accident, Luu went back to his hometown Binh Dinh Province, to recover.

Early this year, he started a new career as a tattoo artist. And early this month, he arrived in Vinh Yen, Vinh Phuc Province to attend a course to develop his skills, hoping to open a store in his hometown later.

And then, he ran into this old man living in his own filth. Luu could not get him out of his mind.

“I remembered leaving the operating room with no one by my side. Then I thought of my disability. If I don’t get married, I might be like him – lying in urine and feces,” said Luu, fighting back tears as he spoke.

His own disability would not allow him to help the old man on his own, but luckily, some of his female colleagues, moved by the plight described by Luu, decided to pitch in.

On the fourth of this month, Luu and his friends spent half a day to get he old man out of the house and cleaned the house and all the furniture over the next two days. He gave the old man a shower, bought him new clothes as well as blankets and pillows to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

A routine

On the morning of November 9, Luu woke up to an alarm. He’d been used to getting up later after the accident. Now he had something to do before starting classes.

Rubbing his left leg amputated below the knee, he put on his prosthetic leg, and then a shoe on one foot and a sandal on the other.

“Grandpa, have you woken up? Luu shouted. No answer. Just the noise of wild cats. He entered the old man’s house and turned on the light. The old man, body wrapped in a blanket, looked up and seemed unconcerned. A strong unpleasant smell was in the air.

“Have you just pooped on the bathroom floor? It’s getting clogged again. Please use the potty I’ve just bought for you,” Luu said, as he checked the old man’s blanket and changed his clothes. Then he cleaned the old man’s face and fed him.

Wearing a face mask and gloves, he started to clean the house. One hour later, Luu had finished his chores. He returned to the store where he’d come to learn tattooing, after spraying the house with disinfectant and offering incense to man’s dead wife. It was 9:30 am already, all the other students were present and the teacher had already called Luu four times.

Over the last 11 days in Vinh Yen, Luu has spent a week taking care of the old man. He buys and feeds him breakfast and cleans the house every morning. He also buys lunch and dinner.

Luu said, the old man can walk with a walker but has trouble in remembering things. Because of the broken toilet, he poops in the bed.

“His name is Tien and he is 87 years old. His wife passed away five years ago and they don’t have children. He has to live on government aid,” said Pham Quy Loi, head of Residential Group 11, Ngo Quyen Commune, Vinh Yen.

“He is very irritable, so his neighbors don’t want to help him anymore. Even though I help him, he swears at me sometimes. If I am lucky, he would ask me to stay for dinner or stay overnight,” said, Luu grinning.

Luu’s teacher, Hong Sen, 35, said that she first thought the young man was helping the old man to attract attention online, but her doubt turned to admiration on seeing him visit and take care of the old man at least three times a day.

“Luu said he helped the old man out of sympathy. But I told Luu, the fact that you help others does not guarantee someone will help you in the future.

“He can only rely on himself; for example, in this career, he must become outstanding, not just average,” she said.

Luu will finish his course in 20 days.

These days, many people have offered to help Tien after Luu shared his story online.

Luu does not know what the future will bring.

“He doesn’t like it, but I would like him to stay in a nursing home; otherwise, I will hire a maid to help him clean the house. I don’t know what the future will bring, but I will help him as long as I stay here.”

Source: Vnexpress

November 14: VN-Index reclaims ground

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Market better today following yesterday’s losses.

The VN-Index increased on low liquidity on November 14 as oil stocks sunk after oil prices fell overnight.

Increases were seen from the opening. Seafood and textile stocks such as VHC, MPC, FMC, CMX, TCM, TNG, TDT and GIL continued to be the focus of cash flows, with many rising strongly at the beginning of the session.

Despite the increases, money flowing into the market was quite low. By 10am, the VN-Index had increased 2.22 points (0.25 per cent) to 907.6 points but the matching value on HSX was only VND640 billion ($27.4 million).

The figure stood at only VND1.5 trillion ($64.3 million) on HSX by the end of the morning session and VND253 billion ($10.8 million) on HNX.

Liquidity weakened as sellers basically “restructured” their accounts, returning to safe stocks after a long period of market decline.

Bluechips such as FPT, MSN, VJC, PNJ and MWG, and BID, CTG and VCB rose and supported the market.

Real estate and construction also saw many gainers, such as VGC, PC1, VPI, DXG, CTD, KDH and LDG.

Meanwhile, oil and gas stocks GAS, PVS, PVD, PVB, PVC and PXS continued to see strong net selling in the context of global oil prices experiencing their strongest decline in three years overnight.

Textile stocks were not only more positive than the market overall, many also set new highs.

Yesterday, when the VN-Index shed 1.4 per cent, textile stocks such as TNG, GMC and TDT climbed to their highest price since listing.

Hai Van report on Vneconomictimes

Vietnam’s police arrested two more officials of MobiFone in graft crackdown

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Two more officials of a state-run mobile carrier being arrested by Vietnam’s police, the latest sweep in nation’s graft crackdown that has already engulfed hundreds of government officials.

The arrests follow last month’s election of new President Nguyen Phu Trong, cum Vietnam’s party chief and architect of the crackdown, which saw a member of the powerful decision-making politburo among those arrested and jailed.

According to a report on Reuters, Cao Duy Hai, the former General Director and Pham Thi Phuong Anh, deputy director of MobiFone were accused of “violating regulations on the management and use of state capital,” the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

Police have accused the company of causing losses to the state budget by overpaying for a stake of 95% in a loss-making pay-TV provider, the ministry said in a statement

MobiFone, one of Vietnam’s three largest mobile carriers by subscribers, bought the controversial stake in Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG) in 2015 for nearly US$386 million.

In July 2018, local police arrested a former chairman of MobiFone and a senior official of the Ministry of Information and Communications accused of involvement in the case.

The information minister of Vietnam was suspended that month and replaced in October over alleged ties to wrongdoing at the company. In an unrelated investigation, police arrested a former deputy labour minister last week over accusations of economic mismanagement.

In 2018, Vietnam has opened 427 corruption cases to investigate 889 officials, its chief government inspector, Le Minh Khai, said in a statement on Tuesday this week.

This year, Vietnam”s police have completed investigations into 212 other graft cases that involved misappropriation of more than US$200 million and 300,000 square metres (3.23 million sq ft) of land, Khai added.

“Preventing, and fighting against, corruption will continue to be a key task in 2019,” the statement said.

Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by James Pearson and Clarence Fernandez
Read full article on Reuters.com

German businesses wish to expand investment in Vietnam

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More than half of German businesses wish to expand their business in Vietnam over the next 12 months and 52% want to hire more employees for their factories.

According to a survey conducted by the Network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs), through collecting feedback from over 3,500 German companies worldwide.

“The Vietnamese economy will continue to grow and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to further boost Vietnam’s growth” said Mr. Marko Walde, Chief representative of GIC/AHK Vietnam.

According to a report on NDO, a state-owned media channel, Vietnam has been considered as an important partner of Europe and Germany in ASEAN. In addition, due to the US-China trade tension, foreign companies are looking to relocate their manufacturing to China’s neighboring countries in order to avoid tax increases arising from the dispute.

However, the legal framework for investment and business and a lack of high-quality manpower in Vietnam are major challenges for German investors.

The survey also notes that, despite decent growth in Asia, the expectations of German businesses are not as high as in early 2018.

German companies expect the region’s economic growth to slow down as a result of the US rate increases and the impacts of the US-China trade dispute.

Full article can be found at nhandan.org.vn

Report: Vietnam E-Commerce Market Outlook to 2019

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Vietnam E-Commerce Market Future Growth is Expected to be Led by Online Retail market followed by Demand for Travel and Entertainment Services Online: Ken Research

Vietnam is one of the Asia’s unexplored markets in terms of the compelling potential in E-Commerce.

E-commerce has managed to gain some attention in Vietnam only after 2011. The retail market in Vietnam has been considered as being one of the most dynamic markets in the South East Asia with such a high growth rate. Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City were ranked in the top 10 cities in the entire Asia for retail expansion. Ha Noi was ranked third after Beijing and Shanghai as the city with liveliest retail market.

Vietnam is one of the top three countries with the highest rate of growth of internet and mobile phone subscribers in Vietnam, with more than four million people using internet a day, offering great potential for online shopping development. In 2014, Vietnam had a total population of 90.7 million people out of which 35.4 million people have access to internet, making the internet penetration rate of 39%, amongst the highest in the region. Though the E-commerce market is not very old but still the country has many big players such as Lazada, Hotdeals, Vatgia and others which are driving the E-commerce in Vietnam. Vietnam E-Commerce is one of the fastest growing E-commerce markets in South East Asia. Cash on Delivery in Vietnam is the most preferred mode of making payments online.

Vietnam Ecommerce market, refer to the publication on “Vietnam E-Commerce Market Outlook to 2019 – Driven by Internet Penetration and Smartphone Usage” which is comprehensive analysis of the sector created after market mapping several industry veterans of ecommerce companies operating in each category. The report covers various aspects such as market size of E commerce market, online gaming market, segmentation by online retail market, online travel market, online Entertainment and service booking market, regional demand and on the basis of types of Goods sold and performance model. The report also provides competitive landscape and profile of major players operating in E-commerce market of Vietnam. The future analysis of overall E-commerce market and by segments has also been discussed in each of the sub segment. The report is useful for online retailers, large E-commerce companies and other stakeholders to align their market centric strategies according to ongoing and expected trends in the future.

Vietnam has a great potential to grow its E-commerce business, especially after the shifted investors attention from China towards Vietnam for the next manufacturing hub in the east. Vietnamese are getting digitally sound, especially in urban parts of the country which is the main targeted audience of the E-commerce players at least in their initial and growing phase.

The online retail market of Vietnam is driven by major players such as Lazada and Amazon along with local players such as tiki, Vatiga, Zalora and others due to their focus on localized content. In 2014, the online retailing market contributed more than 65% in the overall B2C market of Vietnam. Constant innovation, launch of newer brands online, proliferation of affordable smartphones coupled with rise in broadband access have largely propelled the market growth. Online Retail market has been segmented into clothes, shoes & cosmetics, technology Kitchen and home appliances, books and stationary, CD’s & DVD’s, mother & baby products and others.

Vietnam gaming industry is the biggest in the entire South East Asia which gives its online gaming market an edge. Vietnam Online Entertainment & Services booking market has attained small but significant growth in overall e-commerce market. The concept of online entertainment has become prevalent since the rise in internet penetration in Vietnam, owing to the emergence of various websites offering online booking of movie and event tickets as well as booking several professional services online. The rising share of online entertainment and services booking is supported by the fact that more players are entering the market with different business models to tap the major share of customer base.

Key Companies Covered in the Report:

Global Players: Lazada; Zalora; Vatgia; MyTour; Expedia; Trip Advisor; Ogilvy
Domestic Players-Online Retail: Tiki; Sendo; Thegioididong; Hotdeal
Domestic Players-Online Travel: Ivivu; Vietnamonline
Domestic Players- Online Advertisement: BBDO Vietnam; Brand Up
Domestic Players- Online Payment Gateway: One Pay; Mobivi; Ngan Luong; BaoKim; SohaPay

To know more, click on the link below:
https://www.kenresearch.com/technology-and-telecom/it-and-ites/vietnam-ecommerce-market-research-report/926-105.html

Contact:
Ken Research
Ankur Gupta, Head Marketing & Communications
Sales@kenresearch.com | +91-9015378249

North-South express railway to face losses for at least 10 years

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Three days remain until MNP launch

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Only three days remain until the beginning of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service, which allows local subscribers to switch to other mobile operators and retain their original phone number. Thus, the battle for mobile customers will gain a new edge.

This week, three domestic telecommunication giants – Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone – will officially launch the MNP service, which enables users to change suppliers without losing their phone number.

In the first three months, the service will only be available for postpaid mobile subscribers during this period, the carriers will be able to test the service and fix any inadequacies on time.

After that, the service will be ready to be applied for prepaid users, noting that those with unpaid bills will not be allowed to change networks and each switch will be carried out with a service charge of VND120,000 ($5.2).

Gtel will not implement this service and Hong Kong-invested Vietnamobile will be ready by January 1, 2019.

Vice Minister of Information and Communications Pham Hong Hai stated during the working session between the Telecommunications Department and the telecommunications enterprises on August 23 that it is imperative that the MNP be conducted, since the country lags behind others.

“This is a compulsory policy to shake up the telecom battlefield, boosting the enhancement of the carriers’ competitiveness and ensuring users’ benefits,” he emphasised.

According to economic expert Vu Dinh Anh, MNP will create direct competition among network suppliers.

“Competition between mobiles operators is getting intense. However, the race in prices and quality is overshadowed by providing convenient, diverse services,” An added.

It is estimated that around 10 per cent (10-13 million mobile users) will go for MNP, which is expected to make a great change in the market share of carriers, where the three giants currently hold 90 per cent.

In order not to confuse customers, the Ministry will issue more detailed instructions on the MNP protocol and service charge and networks suppliers have been preparing comprehensive plans and infrastructure.

Thanh Mai report on VIR

Vingroup dives into pharmaceuticals with 11 VinFa stores

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With a series of locations in trade centers and large-scale urban areas, VinFa promises to become a heavy-weight competitor of Mobible World and FPT Retail in the pharmaceutical industry.

Last weekend, Vingroup has launched the chain of 11 VinFa pharmaceutical stores in Hanoi, located next to Vinmart supermarkets or convenience stores in urban areas and apartment buildings.

The local pharmaceutical retail market is large but has yet to saw the emergence of a dominant player. Perhaps this inspired Vingroup to launch VinFa right after the appearance of An Khang Pharma of Mobile World and Long Chau Pharma of FPT Retail at the end of 2017 and early this year.

Following the success of the Vinmec Medical System and realising its expansion plan in the healthcare sector, in April 2018 Vingroup announced entering the pharmaceutical industry with the establishment of VinFa JSC.

The conglomerate also invested into VinFa Drug Research and Production Centre in Gia Binh district, Bac Ninh province. With a total investment of VND2.2 trillion ($95.7 million), this project’s first phase will be built in an area of nearly 10ha following international standards, including research, production, logistics, and support works

Along with pharmaceutical research, manufacturing, trading, and export-import tasks, VinFa will focus on the preservation, research, and development of traditional Oriental medicines from Vietnamese herbs. VinFa will also focus on the production of healthy food, vaccines, and medical equipment of international standards to better meet the high demand for healthcare and treatment.

With investment from Vingroup, the entire production process at VinFa will be equipped with the latest and most advanced technologies to optimise the efficiency and quality of pharmaceutical products.

In addition to exploiting the country’s precious herbal resources, VinFa plans to promote co-operation with prestigious pharmaceutical production industries from the US, Europe, and Australia. The aim is to receive consultancy, technology, and technical expertise as well as facilitate the import of raw materials and products.

Nguyen Huong report on VIR

SBV urges customer info security

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The State Bank of Viet Nam has issued a decree asking businesses to enhance customer information privacy after an alleged breach of mobile retail chain The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) revealed personal information of more than five million customers.

The breach hit the headlines last week after a hacker posted three files including more than five million emails, 31,000 bank card numbers and transaction histories on RaidForums.

The Gioi Di Dong quickly denied it was the source of the stolen data.

The company said it did not store any information related to customers’ bank card numbers or transaction history, adding that banking information is processed by payment service providers, meaning the information could not have been stolen from The Gioi Di Dong. The company said its information system was safe and operating normally.

On Saturday, the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications said it had found nothing to indicate The Gioi Di Dong’s system had been hacked.

After working with the company, the Authority of Information Security said the emails and bank numbers were likely collected from other sources and did not have anything to do with The Gioi Di Dong.

Still, the breach was alarming. The origin of more than five million emails and 31,000 bank card numbers has not been identified.

The State Bank of Viet Nam asked payment service providers and intermediaries to work with Thế Giới Di Động to identify the cause and monitor the transactions of cards involved in the breach to protect customers.

The central bank also asked payment service providers to comply with customers’ information privacy regulations.

The State Bank of Viet Nam said in a note on its website on Saturday that initial reports from banks had not found any cases of account appropriation of customers with cards exposed by the breach.

However, the breach caused security concerns among customers.

The central bank said it would work closely with other management agencies to uncover the hackers and their motives and dole out punishments in accordance with established laws.

Other worries

Several days after The Gioi Di Dong’s alleged breach, a hacker posted data which was said to be stolen from baby product retailer Concung.com and threatened to publish data stolen from technology retail chain FPT Shop.

According to security forum WhiteHat, the data said to have been taken from Concung.com included names, positions and working addresses of more than 2,200 employees. More than 2,100 phone numbers, 1,130 emails, 2,200 identity card numbers and 1,390 portraits were also revealed.

According to the Authority of Information Security, cyber attacks designed to steal personal information of customers became more common in 2018.

In Document No 8511/NHNN-TT, the authority asked firms to enhance customer privacy and information security.

Data collection, storage, processing and transmitting must be encoded to comply with security regulations.

The authority urged customers to think carefully before providing personal information to online services and to regularly change passwords.

Ngo Anh Tuan from security company BKAV said enterprises should invest in security systems, especially firms with retail stores and online marketplaces.

Source: VNS

Interest in Singles’ Day sales skyrockets in VN

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An analysis conducted by online shopping aggregator iPrice found that Việt Nam’s interest in November 11 Singles’ Day sales skyrocketed this year.

According to internet traffic data, the company discovered a huge jump of 210 per cent in the number of customers participating in the Singles Day sales in Việt Nam compared to the same time last year.

By analysing Vietnamese search trends on Google, iPrice found that keyword searches for “November 11” began growing steadily nearly two weeks prior to the date, three times higher in search interest compared to the same period last year.

In addition, Vietnamese consumers were now much more familiar with the November 11 tradition which originated from China, and excitedly look forward to it as an important annual promotion period.

For the event, big merchants offered different promotions with discounts being the most popular, together with vouchers, flash deals, payment method promotions, free shipping promotions, in-app games, web-based games and a TV game show.

The report said that merchants in Việt Nam were paying more attention to interacting and entertaining their customers rather than just attracting them with discounts.

According to an expert from advertising platform Criteo, the year-end months were the opportunity for merchants to boost e-commerce sales and November 11 Singles’ Day was still not the occasion offering the highest revenue.

Criteo statistics showed e-commerce websites in Việt Nam saw an increase of 238 per cent in revenue and 78 per cent in traffic on November 11 last year compared to normal days.

Criteo forecast that December 12 would also be a popular day for e-commerce websites.

Nguyễn Hương Quỳnh, director of market research company Nielsen Việt Nam, said that e-commerce was a playground for merchants, adding that e-commerce platforms were offering a number of promotions to attract buyers on special occasions.

Quỳnh said Vietnamese shoppers were attracted to online promotions. She stressed that it was more important for e-commerce platforms to think about how to attract buyers after promotion programmes end.

The Singles’ Day sales hit another record of US$30.8 billion in China this year.

Source: VNS