Ministry cuts teaching major enrollment quota
Ministry cuts teaching major enrollment quotaVietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training will reduce the enrollment quota for teaching majors in the 2018-19 academic year by 33 per cent compared to the figure of last year. The enrollment quota for teaching majors for the 2018-19 academic year in the country will be cut by 33 per cent compared to the figure last year. The reduction follows a review on January 5 of teaching needs in each locality and schools’ training capacity, according to the ministry. In recent years, the ministry has been reducing the enrollment quota for teaching majors, with the aim of having only 10 per cent of the country’s total newly enrolled students to be teaching majors by 2020. From 2013 to 2016, the quota for training teachers was higher than the ministry’s targets.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 06:56 UTC
1.5 million Vietnamese join middle class each year
1.5 million Vietnamese join middle class each yearVietNamNet Bridge - A World Bank report recently released shows that the Vietnamese middle class has been expanding rapidly with 1.5 million people each year in recent years. 1.5 million Vietnamese join the middle class each yearReal estate trade and securities investments are legal investment channels, which helps enterprises raise funds. Do the 1.5 million people get rich from ethical business, or from exploiting legal loopholes? When securities investors buy stocks, their money goes to production and business purposes.Expected to account for 33 percent of Vietnam’s population by 2020, the middle class is a major contributor to the country’s developmentA survey by Brookings Institute found that the growth rate of the Vietnamese middle class in the 2005-2015 period was 14 percent per annum and it is expected to rise to 18 percent in 2016-2020. RELATED NEWSVietnam’s middle class enriches foreign companiesMiddle-class Vietnamese: who are they?
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 05:15 UTC
Hanosimex to list on UPCOM on April 19
Hanosimex to list on UPCOM on April 19The Ha Noi Stock Exchange has approved the Ha Noi Textile Garment Company (Hanosimex) to list 20.5 million shares on Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) on April 19. An automatic cotton towels product chain at the Hanosimex’s factory in the Dong Van 2 Industrial Park, northern Ha Nam Province. The company earned VND2.4 trillion in revenue, of which revenue from the fibre industry reached VND1.6 trillion, 70 per cent of total revenue. Revenue from sewing reached VND335 billion, accounting for 14.2 per cent of total revenue. Hanosimex aims to earn VND2.5 trillion in revenue in 2018 and VND2.8 trillion in 2019.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 05:15 UTC
Mixed aged pupils share classroom in mountainous area
They live in Say Village in Trung Thanh Commune, Quan Hoa District. The village has 34 primary pupils, however, due to the classroom and teacher shortage, first and second graders and third and fourth graders share the same classroom. Only grade 5 pupils have their own classroom. When it rains heavily, pupils and their school bags often get wet. The road to the classrooms in Say Village
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 05:03 UTC
Vietnam, China’s Macau ink double taxation avoidance pact
Vietnam, China’s Macau ink double taxation avoidance pactAn agreement was inked between Vietnam and China’s Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) to avoid double taxation as well as prevent tax evasion, according to a press release by the Macau SAR’s financial service department on April 16. Vietnam and Macau ink agreement to avoid double taxation as well as prevent tax evasion. It aims at preventing the two governments from simultaneously taxing the same incomes received by residents in the two territories. Leong said that besides taxation cooperation, the Macao Special Administrative Region is looking forward to deepening bilateral cooperation with Vietnam in such sectors as trade, tourism and education. The signing of the agreement was of great importance in increasing financial transparency and preventing double taxation, and providing better conditions for developing economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, he added.-VNA
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 04:52 UTC
Vietnamese steel sector looks to overcome trade defence measures
Vietnamese steel sector looks to overcome trade defence measuresWith growth of up to 22 percent forecast this year and firms with bright prospects, Vietnam’s steel industry has high potential to reach many markets if it overcomes difficulties in trade defence lawsuits and high import volume. According to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), in 2017, the sector faced 30 trade defence lawsuits from other countries, many of which have continued into 2018. Domestic firms are unable to produce many material products such as hot-rolled steel and steel billet, thus making production slow and expensive, he added.With the recent market recovery and extensive economic integration, especially the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the upcoming singing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU, the Vietnamese steel sector can expand markets, making the growth target of more than 20 percent feasible.But the fact is when Vietnam increases exports, import markets will strengthen trade defence measures.Tran Tuan Duong, General Director of Hoa Phat Group said that Vietnamese firms should maintain the domestic market, while abiding by free trade agreements’ regulations and working with countries when lawsuits occur.“Market protection solutions are not enough. Businesses themselves should enhance their competitiveness and grasp all opportunities for development,” Duong stressed.A representative from the Vietnam Steel Corporation asserted that obstacles facing exports mostly come from trade barriers and defence measures from importing countries. The representative underscored the need for more effective market forecast and flexible production.Despite a lack of capacity and experience, Vietnamese firms can still fight trade defence in the context of integration, the representative said.Meanwhile, the VSA highlighted the need for cooperation with countries when trade defence problems arise, along with the development of professional teams to deal with investigation and data gathering.-VNA
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 04:41 UTC
Quang Nam cinnamon seeks a spot on the world stage
Quang Nam cinnamon seeks a spot on the world stageTra My cinnamon, a specialty of the central province of Quang Nam, has received a timely boost in the form of plans to promote investment to preserve and develop cinnamon trees. Cinnamon products have been widely consumed in both domestic and export markets, creating a major source of income for people in cinnamon-growing areas. The People’s Council of Quang Nam province also issued a resolution on the conservation and development of Tra My cinnamon. The price of cinnamon products has gradually improved, so that cinnamon growers can live by planting this type of tree. However, that requires boosting cinnamon quality and investing in new cinnamon plants.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 04:41 UTC
Vietnamese leaders welcome Iranian Parliament Speaker
Vietnamese leaders welcome Iranian Parliament SpeakerNA Chairwoman welcomes Iranian Parliament Speaker’s visitNational Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the Iranian delegationNational Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has expressed belief that the ongoing visit by Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Ardeshir Larijani will contribute to consolidating traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Iran. The Iranian parliament speaker suggested boosting ties in potential fields such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, bank connectivity, tourism-culture, film, television, and exchange of lecturers and students. He noted the Iranian Government is creating conditions for Vietnamese tourists, including granting visas at ports of entry. At the end of the talks, Chairwoman Ngan accepted an invitation to visit Iran from the Iranian Speaker, saying that she will arrange time for the visit. The VFF leader expressed his hope that the Iranian Parliament will make more contributions to deepening the bilateral collaboration in an effective manner, especially in economy.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 04:41 UTC
Work on Thu Thiem urban area’s smart complex to start in Sep
Work on Thu Thiem urban area’s smart complex to start in SepChairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and CEO of Lotte Asset Development Lee Kwang Young have agreed to start construction of a smart complex in the city’s Thu Thiem New Urban Area on September 2. CEO of Lotte Asset Development Lee Kwang Young presents the planning of the smart complex in Ho Chi Minh City's Thu Thiem New Urban Area to Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong. Phong, for his part, said Ho Chi Minh City aims to turn the Thu Thiem urban area into a multifunctional finance-trade-service and residential centre, so the smart complex will apply information technology in management and residential services. The smart complex project, covering 7.54 hectares, is set to cost 20.1 trillion VND (nearly 885.5 million USD), excluding compensation and site clearance expenses. Thu Thiem New Urban Area is located on the east of the Sai Gon River, facing District 1, with a total area of 657 hectares.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 03:22 UTC
Vinasun cuts revenue forecast
Vinasun cuts revenue forecastTaxi firm Vietnam Sun Corporation (Vinasun) plans to cut its full-year revenue for the fourth time for 2018 due to rising competition from foreign ride-hailing firms. Vinasun also forecasts its post-tax profit for this year would be VND95 billion, half of the figure in 2017. Vinasun has reported slower growth rates in both net revenue and profit since the two ride-hailing applications Uber and Grab entered Viet Nam in mid-2014. From 2010-15, Vinasun’s net revenue increased from over VND1.64 trillion to VND4.25 trillion. Tougher taxi market after mergerAccording to Vinasun’s deputy general director Ta Long Hy, the merger between Uber and Grab in Viet Nam could result in a monopolistic taxi market and local taxi companies could suffer from such a market condition.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 02:03 UTC
Folk singing strives for tourists’ delight
Folk singing strives for tourists’ delightAs soon as the folklore art form of Xoan singing was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the northern midland province of Phu Tho has made the folk art performances a tourism product. Though it takes not so long from her hometown to Phu Tho province, Vu Minh Duc, a Hanoian visitor is yet to enjoy a Xoan singing performance until now. Nguyen Xuan Hoi , Chairman of Phu Duc Xoan Singing Club in Kim Duc commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province said he he is so proud that visitors and travel agents are now turning their heads to his homeland as the province has operated tours introducing Xoan singing to public. Among those, the tour of “Xoan singing in ancient village” has become a highlight in the province’s tourism map. Xoan singing has won back Vietnamese hearts and is on its way to gain foreign visitors’ favour.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 01:52 UTC
Vietnam likely to be loser in debt claim battle with Uber
Vietnam likely to be loser in debt claim battle with UberVietNamNet Bridge - Lawyers, citing current regulations, say that it will be very difficult to collect tax debts from Uber, which has sold its Vietnam business to Grab. Uber has left VietnamIn 2017, the HCMC Taxation Agency released a decision on collecting arrears and imposing fines on Uber, totalling VND66.68 billion. Uber B.V, the holding company in the Netherlands, sued the HCMC Taxation Agency in the HCMC Court. In 2017, the HCMC Taxation Agency released a decision on collecting arrears and imposing fines on Uber, totalling VND66.68 billion. “State management agencies had to spend one year to discuss before deciding to collect tax arrears from Uber.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 01:18 UTC
Hanoi adds classes for Golden Goat influx
Hanoi adds classes for Golden Goat influxVietNamNet Bridge – High schools in Hanoi are expected to enroll 85,800 students in the 10th grade this school year, an increase of 19,500 students compared to the previous year. Public high schools in Hanoi, however, can only accommodate some 60 per cent of them. The annual high school entrance exam in Vietnam consists of one standardised mathematics and one literature test. Each student can apply to two public high schools. Apart from the 108 public high schools, Hanoi has a few other specialised magnet schools that plan their own exams.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 01:07 UTC
Businesses, farmers struggle to develop tea brands
Businesses, farmers struggle to develop tea brandsVietnam is exporting tea mainly in the form of raw materials. In an effort to increase tea export value, both farmers and businesses in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, the country’s largest tea producer, are seeking to develop brand names for their products. After many attempts, he realized that it was very hard for tea farmers to create brands for their products. However, experts said, tea quality is not similar in different growing areas and product packaging still fails to meet standards. Agriculture officials said to develop tea brands, it is necessary to ensure tea safety and quality.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 01:07 UTC
HCM City plans food safety crackdown
HCM City plans food safety crackdownVietNamNet Bridge – The head of the HCM City Food Safety Management Board has said inspections will be stepped up to ensure food safety. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, head of the HCM City Food Safety Management Board, urges food manufacturers to be more responsible for food safety at a conference on April 14. – Photo sggp.org.vnPham Khanh Phong Lan, speaking at a conference on food manufacturers’ responsibilities on Saturday, said food safety is important for the socio-economic development of the city, which has seen an enhancement of health and origin inspections in the past few years and increase in the number of modern abattoirs and other facilities. All district administrations would dispatch more inspection teams to deal with unregistered street vendors, who she said pose the risk of food poisoning. The public should be educated on tips to avoid food poisoning – such as buying food only from safe sources – and provided with certain cooking tips, Khanh said.
Source:VietNamNet News
April 17, 2018 00:56 UTC