Transport Ministry cracks down on Uber, Grab once againA new regulation is set to crack down on ride-hailing companies Uber and Grab in Viet Nam, according to transport officials. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the General Department of Vietnam Roads are currently planning amendments to 2014’s Decree 86, focusing on business condition reviews for transport firms. Tran Bao Ngoc, director of the MoT’s Transportation Department, said in an early March meeting that the new decree’s main objective was to better manage transport businesses using software. Hung affirmed that since Viet Nam’s laws stipulated that only transport service professionals can collect fares from passengers, once Uber and Grab drivers profit from their transport services, they are effectively transport firms. Meanwhile, Grab is finalising its acquisition of Uber’s business in Southeast Asia, according to news site Bloomberg, buying the latter’s operations in certain markets in exchange for a stake in Grab.

HCM City to increase parking feesHCM City will increase automobile parking fees on some sidewalks and roadsides in the city centre to VNĐ20,000-40,000 (US$0.9-1.8) per hour from June 1. HCM City will increase automobile parking fees on some sidewalks and roadsides in the city’s centre to VNĐ20,000-40,000 (US$0.9-1.8) per hour from June 1. The adjustment of automobile parking fees was approved by the People’s Council last Friday in an aim to reduce the number of cars parked on pavements and roads. Automobile owners can pay parking fees via their mobile phone accounts or bank accounts. Parking fees are currently around VNĐ5,000 ($0.22), irrespective of the length of time.

According to Cushing Anderson, programme vice president of Business Consulting Services at IDC, clients in the Asia-Pacific region said that PwC is highly capable of supporting business change across their organisations. After conducting its IPO, Protrade Corp. will put 119.7 million shares, equalling 39.91 per cent of the stakes, on sale to strategic investors. Novaland is trading more than 652.6 million shares and with this issuance ratio, the company could issue an additional 202.3 million shares. More than 272 million shares were traded on the southern bourse at over 7.56 trillion VND (332.64 million USD). A total of 94.4 million shares worth over 1.9 trillion VND (83.6 million USD) were traded.

VN Gov’t to smooth way for auto firmsDeputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has urged the ministries of Transport and Industry and Trade to implement current policies and assist in the removal of obstacles for auto businesses. Cars at the Chu Lai - Truong Hai Auto Manufacture and Assembly Complex in the central province of Quang Nam. His request is aimed at enabling auto businesses to develop their operations in Viet Nam. Dung also assigned the Ministry of Finance to send a report to the Government soon on tax policies for the development of the automobile industry. Meanwhile, the income of people has also improved, and the transport infrastructure is more systematic, resulting in increasing demand for cars.

VN stocks progress on GDP forecastVietnamese shares advanced further on Monday on high investor confidence and good performance of real estate stocks, however, growth rates were slowed down as profit-taking hit bank stocks following their recent gains. The VN-Index peaked at 1,165.63 points and the HNX Index touched the highest level of the day at 134.41 points. On the opposite side, bank stocks were hit by strong selling after they led the benchmark index to surpass the peak of 1,130 points last week. The worst-performing bank stocks included Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB) and Eximbank (EIB). “The decline of bank stocks today, after the strong rally, increased the risk of the overall market’s downtrend.

Finance, banking sector under pressure to undergo digital conversionVietNamNet Bridge - The technical breakdown at the HCM City Stock Exchange (HOSE) in late January shows that the finance and banking sector in Vietnam urgently needs to undergo digital conversion, analysts have said. Vietnam's largest stock exchange had to close for two days to fix the technical problems. It was once used at the Chicago Stock Exchange and Thailand Stock Exchange. Digital technology is expected to change the face of Vietnam’s banking sector. IBM believes that from now to 2020, blockchain will be one of 10 leading technologies in the world, including Vietnam.

Students create automatic watering pump with waste materialsVietNamNet Bridge - Nguyen Dai Duong and Le The Hoan, students at Trieu Trach Secondary School in Quang Tri province, have created a simple watering system run with electric circuits used to water crops. The watering system created by secondary school studentsDuong and Hoan had the idea after seeing a security guard watering plants at the school every day. It took the two students 3-4 months to complete the technical drawing, find materials, create the electric circuit, and assemble the system. The watering system is made of cheap waste materials like old mobile phones and electronic components. RELATED NEWSHigh school students win top prizes at tech creativity competitionsStudents invent machine that produces drinking water from the airThanh Lich

Wildlife trafficking: the animal market in LaosVietNamNet Bridge - Reporters travelled 2,000 kilometers in Laos recently to discover how wildlife are carried to Vietnam. Wild animals such as deer, porcupine and pheasant were displayed for sale in the open air at markets in the province’s central area. “Most of the Vietnamese people coming here want to buy wildlife meat,” he said. “I have all kinds of wildlife meat to sell. RELATED NEWSWildlife trafficking world – Demand for animal bone glueVietnam gets strict on wildlife protectionChi Mai

The need to improve Vietnam’s labour forceThe abundant young labour force is one of Vietnam’s great advantages, as young people can adapt quickly to new science and technology. The 4th Industrial Revolution (Revolution 4.0) is developing around the world and directly affects Viet Nam. The fourth industrial revolution is progressing rapidly and affecting many aspects of economic and social aspects. In this context, it is possible to see that the 4th industrial revolution is posing great challenges to our human resources. Workers need to prepare for changing employment situations and need to master new skills.

Facebook value drops by $37bn amid privacy backlashFacebook's shares have fallen sharply, wiping $37bn off the firm's value, as it faces questions from US and UK politicians about its privacy rules. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham says it will be used to look at the databases and servers used by British data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica. Facebook shares ended trading 6.7% lower at $172.56, wiping almost $37bn off the social network's market value. Cambridge Analytica "strongly denies" the allegations levelled against it. Alexander Nix, chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, was questioned by a Parliamentary committee last month about using data to target messages.

US soldiers ’waging peace’ in exhibitionA special exhibition titled “Waging Peace – US Soldiers and Veterans Who Opposed America’s War in Viet Nam” opened on Monday at the HCM City War Remnants Museum. — File photo courtesy of the organiserThe one-month-long event is organised by the museum in cooperation with HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO), HCM City Peace and Development Foundation (HPDF), and the Viet Nam Veterans for Peace Organisation (VFP). On display are nearly 80 photos, posters and articles about American soldiers and veterans who participated in the antiwar movement from 1968, demanding an end to the war and peace for Viet Nam. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, said at the opening ceremony: “We do hope that this exhibition will be warmly welcomed by visitors. According to Carver, all the exhibits will be given to the museum after the exhibition.

HCM City Television Cycling announce new recordsThe annual HCM City Television Cycling will set up two new records in its 30th edition which will begin on March 29. Jerseys and bonuses of the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament are introduced at a press conference in HCM City on March 19. It is believed to be the biggest number of stages in not only Viet Nam but also in the world. Cyclists will then tour along the country through Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong and cross the finish line in HCM City on April 30. Currently, among the 13 best national crews are Bike Life Dong Nai, VUS-HCM City, Ynghua Dong Nai and Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang.

Patients get on well with organs from brain dead donorThe two patients transplanted with a heart and a kidney donated by a brain dead person in Hanoi are in sound condition and ready to be discharged from the hospital, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Thao, Deputy Director of the HCM City-based Cho Ray Hospital said on March 19. On February 26, Cho Ray Hospital doctors received the heart and the kidney sent by the Hanoi-based 108 Military Central Hospital. The donor is brain dead 45-year-old soldier, who had an accident on duty. The heart was taken from the brain dead donor in Hanoi at 13:00 on Feb. 26 and reached Cho Ray hospital in HCM City at about 16:15. The hospital has performed transplants in over 30 patients, using organs from brain dead donors over the past 10 years.

University of East Asia win VUG’s futsalUniversity of East Asia triumphed in the futsal category of Việt Nam University Games (VUG) in Đà Nẵng on March 19. Hundreds of Russians living in Việt Nam on Sunday voted for the next president across Hà Nội, HCM City and Đà Nẵng. He encouraged local shrimp breeders to switch to high-tech farming for higher profits. Typhoon Damrey, which was the twelfth to hit Việt Nam last year, was the strongest one in 2017. As a friend and close development partner of Việt Nam, Korea will continue to support Việt Nam’s government in its efforts to overcome challenges posed by climate change.

Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh took the floor and answered questions. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnam currently ranks 47th globally in innovation index and 38th in technological expertise. HCM City pledges to protect the legal rights and benefits of the business community, a city leader said. The private sector is still the major driver of the development of the city with GDP growth at 8.15 per cent. The city plans to co-operate with the HCM City Business Association to organize the “HCM City Economic Forum” in October.