Saigon Times Podcasts

The Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam has released its indictments against 54 suspects in the Covid-19 repatriation flight scandal, with former Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung and 17 others likely to be sentenced to between 20 years in prison and death.

The Government has approved the Ministry of Finance’s proposal to revise down the value-added tax (VAT) from 10% to 8% for certain goods and services this year to boost consumption and economic growth.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, or CAAV, has approved a plan to pilot facial recognition technology for passengers at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi from April 17 to May 17.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, speaking at a meeting in HCMC between the central Government and HCMC leadership on April 16, requested the city to remove or change officials who show low or no responsibility.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to increase aircraft movements at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport to meet the rising travel demand during the April 30-May 1 holiday and summer vacation.

A new highly transmissible Omicron subvariant known as XBB.1.5 has been detected in HCMC, the city’s health department reported on April 14.

The Government has requested the Ministry of Finance to evaluate the impact of a global minimum effective corporate tax on the nation’s budget revenue and foreign investment attraction, and on foreign investors.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has requested the relevant parties to expedite measures to prevent red soil dust at the Long Thanh airport project from impacting the nearby residential areas.

David Riddle, Tan Hiep Phat Beverage Group vice chairman, has been picked as new CEO and legal representative of the Binh Duong-based company.

Tran Quy Thanh, aged 70, founder and CEO of Tan Hiep Phat Beverage Group, and his daughter Tran Uyen Phuong have been detained on alleged misappropriation of assets.

The cash-strapped HCMC Urban Railway No. 1 Co. Ltd. (HURC1), the city’s Metro Line No. 1 operator, has been on the verge of going bankrupt given prolonged financial constraints.

The Ministry of Finance proposed extending the deadline for businesses to settle all tax liabilities in 2023 to help reduce financial costs, maintain liquidity and improve cash flow.

Businesses in HCMC are expected to employ from 67,000 to 73,000 workers from April to June.

The Saigon Times Group, in collaboration with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), will hold a forum titled “Monetary policy in turbulent times”.

The Government at its recent meeting decided to keep the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth target at 6.5% for this year despite the steep economic slowdown in the first quarter of the year and challenges ahead.

To Anh Dung, former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, has been charged with accepting VND21.5 billion in bribes from the businesses he handpicked to join the Covid-19 repatriation flight plan.

After seven years and 12 rounds of negotiations over a free trade agreement, Vietnam and Israel have finally reached a mutually beneficial deal.

The Government has officially written to the National Assembly proposing a new policy for changing immigration procedures and e-visa issuance, and lengthening a visa-free stay for foreign visitors.

Although the number of new FDI projects approved in the first quarter this year grew over the same period in 2022, their capital pledges edged down.

Fresh investment capital in HCMC’s export processing zones and industrial parks reached US$90.14 million in the first quarter of the year, growing over 21% year-on-year and reaching 16.39% of the year’s plan.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spoke on the phone with U.S. President Joe Biden on March 29.

Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2023 has grown by 3.32% year-on-year, the second lowest growth rate since 2011, according to the General Statistics Office.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Document 178 ordering the lifting of hindrances to the real estate market and boosting the development of this sector.

The National Assembly Standing Committee has asked the Government to review a provision in the draft of the revised Housing Law that allows foreigners to own landed houses.

The Government is weighing increasing the duration of visa-free stay for international tourists to 45 days from the current 15 to attract guests from abroad.